The 2021 Legislative Session began on Monday, January 12, 2021 and is scheduled to end on Sunday,  April 25, 2021. 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 5 PM is the deadline to pass bills out of their house of origin. 

Friday, March 26, 2021 is the last day for bills to pass out of the opposite house committee (except for  those bills in the House fiscal committees and the Senate Ways and Means and Transportation  committees). 

Friday, April 2, 2021 is the last day for opposite house bills to pass out of the House fiscal committees  and the Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees. 

Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 5:00 PM is the last day that the legislature may consider and pass opposite  house bills except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement  budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session. 

Sunday, April 25, 2021 is the last day allowed for the regular session under the WA State Constitution. Top Action of the Week:  

SB 5078 Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety 

SUPPORT 

SB 5078 establishes firearm safety measures to increase public safety by prohibiting the manufacture,  possession, distribution, importation, selling, offering for sale, purchasing or transfer of large capacity  magazines. A large capacity magazine is defined to mean an ammunition feeding device with the capacity  to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition, or any conversion kit, part, or combination of parts, from  which such a device can be assembled if those parts are in possession of or under the control of the same  person 

Status: SB 5078 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. 

Action: Contact your senators and let them know you support SB 5078, Ask that SB 5078 be pulled to  the floor for a vote by the March 9th cutoff date and ask that they vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

If you can only do one thing, contact your senators and ask for their support and passage HB 5078 out of  the House by Tuesday, March 9, 2021. 

You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1 800-562-6000. You can also  contact them by e-mail using this format: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. If you need to look up your  legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/ 

Note: Committee members for House and Senate Committees are listed at the end of this alert. 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 1 

We have also included hyperlinks on each of the bill actions below, which will take you to the WA State  Legislature’s comment page for the bill where you can enter your support or opposition to the bill and  include a comment (up to 1000 characters). 

For a public hearing you may register to testify on the bill, submit written testimony or state your position  without testifying. If you want to testify or to state your position on a bill without testifying you must  register for the hearing at least 1 hour prior to the start of the hearing. Written testimony closes 24 hours  after the start of the committee hearing. To register for any of these options – click here and then choose  the Senate or House and follow the instructions on the screen to register. 

Civil and Equal Rights 

Child Custody jurisdiction and enforcement related to countries who have the death penalty on the basis of  religious beliefs, political beliefs, or sexual orientation  

HB 1042 Revising the international application of the uniform child custody jurisdiction and  enforcement act to protect families from facing the death penalty in certain foreign jurisdictions on  the basis of religious beliefs, political beliefs, or sexual orientation. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1042 allows Washington courts to refrain from applying Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and  Enforcement Act standards in international custody matters if a parent or child are at demonstrable risk of  being subject to laws of a foreign country that carries a death sentence for apostasy, or a sincerely held  religious belief or practice, or homosexuality. 

Status: HB 1042 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote by the  full Senate. 

Action: Contact your senators and let them know you support HB 1042 and ask that they vote YES when  it comes to the floor for a vote. 

Legal aid for undocumented immigrants 

HB 1072 Removing only one of the restrictions on the use of civil legal aid funds. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1072 removes a restriction on the Office of Civil Legal Aid (“OCLA”) funding that prohibits  distributing funds to legal aid providers who use those funds to serve undocumented immigrants.  Status: HB 1072 has passed out of the House and is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is  eligible for an executive session at 10:30 am on March 11. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you  support HB 1072. 

Voter Eligibility 

HB 1078 Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total  confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1078 changes the voting rights law to automatically restore a felon’s voting rights as long as the  defendant is not in total confinement with the department of corrections. It states that a person serving a  term of community custody is not considered to be in total confinement of the department of corrections  and does not include confinement imposed as a sanction for a community custody violation. A person who  has had their voting rights restored must reregister to vote before voting 

Status: HB 1078 has passed out of the House and is in the Senate State Government & Elections  Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing at 8 am on Wednesday, March 10 and an executive  session on Friday, March 12 at 10:30 am. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate State Government and Elections Committee and let them  know that you support HB 1078. 

Ranked Choice Voting 

HB 1156 Increasing representation and voter participation in local elections. 

SUPPORT 

This is an avenue to truly fair elections. HB 1156 does the following:

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 2 

• It permits the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections for offices in counties, cities, towns,  school districts, fire districts, and port districts, and establishes certain requirements for RCV  ballot design and vote tabulation.  

• It adds a cost-recovery provision to the Washington Voting Rights Act (Act) for those who file a  notice alleging a violation of the Act, and  

• It permits the Secretary of State to provide grants to local governments to implement RCV or make changes to their electoral system in response to a notice filed under the Act, subject to  appropriation. 

Status: HB 1156 is now in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full  House. 

Action: Contact your representatives and let them know you support HB 1156 and that they vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

Peace officer accountability 

SB 5051 Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers. SUPPORT 

SB 5051 improves the certification, background check, and decertification of law enforcement officers.  The bill accomplishes this by 

• adjusting the membership of the Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) to a total of 17 persons  including representatives who have not been employed in the last 10 years as a peace officer.  improving the process to decertify peace and corrections officers who have engaged in serious  misconduct,  

• requiring the CJTC to issue public recommendations to the governing body of a law enforcement  agency regarding the agency’s command decisions, inadequacy of policy or training, investigations  or disciplinary decisions regarding misconduct, potential systemic violations of law or policy,  unconstitutional policing, or other matters 

• requiring law enforcement agencies to report misconduct to the CJTC, and  

• requiring a public database containing information about all conduct investigated by the CJTC. Status: SB 5051 has passed out of the Senate and is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee  on Public Safety at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 11. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you  support SB 5051 and ask for a YES to pass it out of committee. 

HB 1202 Addressing meaningful civil remedies for persons injured as a result of police misconduct, including by allowing for an award of attorney fees in addition to damages and injunctive and  declaratory relief. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1202 establishes a cause of action by an individual who was injured by a peace officer or a peace  officer who through reasonable diligence to aid or prevent the injury from occurring and failed to do so.  The bill outlines actions by the peace officer that constitute injury: 

• Conduct under civil law that constitutes assault, battery, outrage, false imprisonment, false arrest,  38 malicious prosecution, trespass, or conversion; or  

• Executed a detention, traffic stop, search, seizure, or entry into a home that is unlawful under the  state Constitution; or  

• Engaged in conduct that violated the duty of reasonable care or  

• Violated a provision of RCW 10.93.16 which deals with the restrictions that law enforcement  agencies most follow when dealing with immigration and citizenship status. 

A peace officer has a defense against an action if, when the injury occurred, the officer substantially  complied with a regulation, practice, procedure, or policy that was established by the employer or approved  or condoned by superior officers. If the peace officer proves this defense, the employer is independently  liable for the injury if the injury was proximately caused by a regulation, custom, usage, practice,  procedure, or policy approved or condoned by the employer. 

_Status: HB 1202 is the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House. Action: Contact your representatives and let them know you support HB 1202 and ask that they vote YES when it comes to the floor.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 3 

5066 Concerning a peace officer’s duty to intervene 

SUPPORT 

SB 5066 requires a peace officer to intervene when the officer witnesses a fellow peace officer engaging in  the use of excessive force. A peace officer who observes wrongdoing by a fellow officer is required to  report the wrongdoing to the officer’s supervisor. Law enforcement agencies must adopt written policies on  the duty to intervene and ensure that all law enforcement officers obtain training on the policy through the  Criminal Justice Training Commission. 

_Status: SB 5066 has passed out of the Senate and is now in the House Public Safety Committee where it is  where it is scheduled for public hearing at 10 am on March 12. 

Action: Contact your representatives in the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you  support SB 5066 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee. 

Unlawfully Summoning Police 

SB 5135 Concerning unlawfully summoning a police officer 

SUPPORT 

SB 5135 creates a private cause of action which allows a person to sue in a civil action for damages against  any person who knowingly causes a law enforcement officer to arrive at a location with the intent to: • Infringe on the other person’s constitutional rights 

• Discriminate against the other person 

• Cause the person to feel harassed, humiliated or embarrassed,  

• Cause the person to be expelled from a place in which the person is lawfully located, or  • Damage the person’s  

o reputation or standing in the community, or 

o financial, economic, consumer, or business prospects or interests.  

Status: SB 5135 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. Action: Contact your senators let them know you support SB 5135 and ask for a YES vote when it comes  to the floor. 

Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families 

Housing for low-income households and households in need 

HB 1070 Modifying allowed uses of local tax revenue for affordable housing and related services to  include the acquisition and construction of affordable housing and facilities. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1070 allows county and city governments to submit an authorizing proposition to the voters at a special  or general election that modifies allowed uses of local tax revenue for affordable housing and related  services, to include the acquisition and construction of affordable housing and facilities. HB 1070 

• Expands the allowable uses of a portion of revenues from the local sales and use tax for housing  and related services to include acquiring affordable housing.  

• Requires a county that seeks to acquire a facility using funds from the local sales and use tax for  housing and related services to consult with the city in which the facility is located prior to  acquisition and to ensure that at least 15 percent of the services provided in an acquired facility are  provided for residents of that city. 

• Clarifies that affordable housing includes emergency, transitional, and supportive housing for  purposes of the local sales and use tax for housing and related services. 

• Expands the allowable uses of a portion of revenues from the state shared lodging tax to include  housing and facilities for homeless youth for counties with a population of at least 1.5 million. Status HB 1070 has passed out of the House and has been referred to the Senate Housing & Local  Government Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 10:30 am on Wednesday, March 10 at  10:30 AM. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee, to let them know  you support HB 1070, ask them to schedule an executive session and pass it out of committee.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 4 

SB 5375– Concerning a study of the difference in low-income housing development in urban and  rural locations. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5375 directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to conduct a study to identify and  compare the amount of publicly subsidized low-income housing in urban and rural counties, and to  compare it with the demographics in those areas. To the extent practicable, the study will review  contributing factors that may impact differences. The study will also determine what funding sources have  been provided to low-income housing projects built in rural counties. SB 5375 was amended in committee  and requires the Department of Commerce to contract with at least one affordable housing development  consultant to provide technical and pre- construction assistance to rural communities during the 2021-2023  fiscal biennium. 

A substitute version of SB 5375 was passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It requires the  Department of Commerce to contract with at least one affordable housing development consultant to  provide technical and pre- construction assistance to rural communities. 

STATUS: SB 5375 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote by the  full Senate. 

ACTION: Contact your senators and tell them you support SB 5375 and ask that they vote YES when it  comes to the floor for a vote. 

Public assistance for low-income households and households in need 

HB 1151 – Bolstering economic recovery  

SUPPORT. 

HB 1151 establishes a consolidated emergency assistance program (CEAP) for families with  children. Benefits can be provided to alleviate emergent conditions resulting from insufficient  income. These benefits may be used to provide for: food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or other necessary  items. They may also be used for family reconciliation services, family preservation services, home-based  services, short-term substitute care in a licensed agency, crisis nurseries, therapeutic childcare, or other  necessary services. 

Federal emergency assistance funds will be used to supplement the state funds appropriated for the  operation of this program as long as other departmental programs are not adversely affected by the receipt  of federal funds. If state funds appropriated for the consolidated emergence assistance program are  exhausted, the department may discontinue the program. 

During a governor ordered a state of emergency and pursuant to an order from the governor benefits under  this program may be extended to individuals and families without children and the 12-month period may be  extended. 

The House Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee passed a substitute version of HB 1151 which  amends this bill to: 

• Allow Consolidated Emergency Assistance to be provided more than once in a 12-month period when  directed by the Governor. 

• Requires the Department of Social and Health Services to update the standards of need for cash  assistance programs. Currently cash grants are lower than the standard of need for food, clothing,  shelter, and other household costs. 

• Adds an emergency clause with an immediate effective date for the provisions related to the CEAP.  • Requires a one-time cash benefit for households whose eligibility for Basic Food is ending to be  funded with state funds.  

Status: Substitute HB 1151 has passed out of the House and is in the Senate Human Services, Reentry and  Rehabilitation Committee. 

Action: Contact your senators in the Human Services, Reentry 7 Rehabilitation Committee, let them know  you support HB 1151 and ask them to schedule it for public hearing and executive session.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 5 

SB 5214 – Concerning economic assistance programs. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5214 amends the current law that limits the amount of time an adult can receive economic assistance  from the state. It states that the current 60-month limit may be extended if, in addition to the current  exceptions, the recipient is participating satisfactorily in the program, is temporarily prevented from  working or looking for a job, and/or is in need of mental health or substance use disorder treatment. SB  5214 has been amended twice in committee and adds the following additional requirements: 

• the extension is the equal to the number of months that the person received a TANF grant during a  month of unemployment at or above 7 percent, and must be applied sequentially following other  hardship extensions that may apply; and  

• provides that the bill applies retroactively as of March 1, 2020 as well as prospectively • provides that a person receiving a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant in any  month after March 2020 in which the state unemployment rate is at or above 7 percent is eligible  for a hardship extension to the 60-month lifetime time limit for TANF grants, if the person is  otherwise eligible for TANF except that they have exceeded 60 months.  

STATUS: SB 5214 has passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House Housing, Human  Services & Veterans Committee. 

ACTION: Contact your representatives in the House Committee on Housing, Human Services &  Veterans, tell them you support SB 5214 and ask that it be scheduled for public hearing and executive  session. 

Economic inclusion 

SB 5241 – Promoting economic inclusion. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5241 directs the department of commerce to establish and oversee the implementation of economic  inclusion grants for local communities with an emphasis on economically distressed communities as  defined by the department of commerce. The purpose of these grants is to promote equity, economic  inclusion, and a stable financial foundation for people experiencing poverty (at or below 200% of the  federal poverty level). Recipients of the grants are required amongst other provisions to  

• Coordinate existing poverty reduction resources and benefits to make them easier to access • Develop a local leadership coalition or use an existing local partnership that includes people  experiencing poverty, people of color, homelessness programs, and representatives of the  workforce development council, community service offices, Medicaid, accountable communities  of health, and associate development organizations, and may include other members 

• Work with people experiencing poverty to ensure they have access to multiple benefits to help  them meet their basic needs 

• Ensure equitable access to state and local government services for people with disabilities • Ensure options for career development, English language learners, and other services for both  parents in two-parent families, including childcare if desired by the family, and 

• To the extent allowable under federal law, access to benefits may not be conditioned upon seeking  employment nor limited to people pursuing individual career plans, and benefits must be available  to people experiencing poverty who are in need of financial stability whether or not they are  pursuing career plans. 

The bill also allows the Department of Commerce in consultation with the steering committee and to apply  for federal waivers to remove federal barriers to coordinating service delivery across multiple programs,  where possible. 

STATUS: Second Substitute SB 5241 has passed out of the Senate and is in the House Housing, Human  Services & Veterans Committee. 

ACTION: Call you representatives in Housing, Human Services & Veterans, tell them you support SB 5241 and ask then to schedule public hearing and executive session. 

Working Families tax exemption 

HB 1297 – Concerning working families tax exemption 

SUPPORT 

HB 1297 updates and simplifies the structure of the working families tax exemption (WFTE). It also 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 6 

expands the tax exemption to include those with individual taxpayer identification numbers or an individual  who has a spouse or dependent without a social security number who would otherwise be eligible.  Remittance calculations are restructured. The department of revenue is to design and implement a public  information campaign to inform potentially eligible persons of the WFTE. 

STATUS: HB 1297 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full  House. 

ACTION: Call your representatives and tell them you support HB 1297 and ask that they vote YES on the  bill when it comes to the floor. 

. 

Assistance for homeowners navigating the foreclosure process 

HB 1108 Maintaining funding and assistance for homeowners navigating the foreclosure process. SUPPORT 

Homeownership is a key determinant to building wealth and there is a serious racial wealth gap here as in  the nation. Washington’s Foreclosure Fairness program has been underfunded and needs a permanent fund  source to stabilize to ensure housing counseling, legal aid and mediation to Washington’s families. The  Covid-19 pandemic will very likely lead to a rush of foreclosures once foreclosure moratoriums are lifted.  Rep. Orwall is introducing a series of bills to address foreclosure prevention. She is promoting revamping  the estate tax, as proposed by the Economic Opportunity Institute, to make it more progressive. The  proposal would generate over $100 million in the current biennium of which a portion would be dedicated  to homelessness prevention including foreclosure prevention.  

HB 1108 puts in place a temporary stopgap remedy requiring banks and credit unions that own or service a  mortgage for a residential property to offer foreclosure mediation services even though they may have done  less than 250 foreclosures in 2020. Also, the fees increased from $300 to $325 per nonjudicial foreclosure  trustee sale. The expiration date of the remediation requirement is December 31, 2022. 

The House passed an Engrossed Substitute Bill: It extends the mediation and certain other pre-foreclosure  requirements under the Deeds of Trust Act and the Foreclosure Fairness Act (FFA) to residential real  property of up to four units and removes the requirement that a property be owner-occupied to the existing  bill. 

Please ask budget writers to include the funding below for foreclosure prevention in the operating  budget, as Governor Inslee did, and keep an eye out for a sign-on letter for: 

$3.875m in FY 2021 in the proposed supplemental budget and $7.307m in both FY 2022 and 2023 in the proposed biennial budget for foreclosure prevention, specifically “to assist current and prospective  homeowners, and homeowners at risk of foreclosure. Funding provided in this section may be used for  activities to prevent mortgage or tax lien foreclosure, housing counselors, a foreclosure prevention hotline,  legal services for low-income individuals, mediation, and other activities that promote homeownership. The  department may contract with other foreclosure fairness program state partners to carry out this work.” 

Status: HB 1108 has passed out of the House on a unanimous vote. It is now in the Senate Business,  Financial Services, and Trade Committee where the public hearing will be on March 11, 2021 at 8:00 am. Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee and let  them know you support HB 1108. 

Property Tax 

HB 1332 Concerning property tax deferral during the COVID-19 pandemic 

SUPPORT 

Interest and penalties on delinquent property taxes are suspended during the COVID-19 state of emergency and for 12 months thereafter. During the COVID-19 state of emergency, extensions of the due date for any  property taxes payable in April 2021 for any real property used for business purposes for which the owner  

demonstrates a loss of at least 20 percent of revenue for 2020 compared to 2019 shall be available.  Taxpayers have to file an application provided by the Department of Revenue to obtain this extension. If  the application is approved, the county treasurer shall defer property taxes due in April of 2021 to become  due and payable before October 31st, 2021. 

The House Finance Committee amended HB 1332 to allow deferral of all 2021 taxes for qualifying  businesses via the establishment of a payment plan. Penalties and interest will not be applied to taxes under  a deferral payment plan.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 7 

Status: Engrossed SHB 1332 was passed out of the House on a 96 – yeas, 1- nay, 1 – absent, 1- excused vote and is likely headed to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you  support HB 1332. 

Notification of recorded documents with unlawful racial restrictions 

HB 1335 Concerning review and property owner notification of recorded documents with unlawful  racial restrictions. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1335 was amended in committee and now requires institutions of higher learning to provide research  related to review of existing recorded covenants and deed restrictions to identify those documents that  include racial or other restrictions on property ownership or use against protected classes that are unlawful.  After identifying these, the institution of higher learning they must notify the current owner of the property  with information on how the property owner may record a document striking from the referenced original  instrument all provisions that are void and unenforceable under law.  

Many homeowners would never find out about the existence of racial covenants. A number of real estate  companies have created a process through which racial covenant or deed restrictions are identified when a  property is listed, but that will only capture properties when they are sold. This bill is needed to take  proactive measures to assure that these covenants and deed restrictions that are void and unenforceable are  removed from these documents. This bill has the support of the realtors. 

Status: HB 1335 has passed out of the House on a 91 yea to 1 nay vote. It is now in the Senate Business,  Financial Services and Trade Committee where it eligible for a public hearing and executive session. Action: Contact your representatives and Chair Senator Mullet and request that a public hearing and  executive session be scheduled HB 1335. 

Automobile Insurance protections for consumers 

HB 1428 Concerning automobile insurance policies. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1428 gives consumers the right to choose a repair shop and force their automobile insurance carrier to  pay for repairs that would restore the vehicle and make the customer whole. 

• Requires basic contracts of automobile insurance to provide that, when an automobile is deemed  repairable, it must be restored to its condition prior to the loss.  

• Provides that payment must be based on reasonable and necessary costs at the claimant’s chosen repair  facility. 

• Provides insurance companies are not required to pay for parts supplied by the original equipment  manufacturer, unless necessary to restore the vehicle to pre-loss condition. 

Status: HB 1428 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House. Action: Contact your representatives on the and let them know you support HB 1428 and ask for a YES  vote when it comes to the floor. 

Protection from certain types of garnishment 

HB 1525 Concerning enforcement of judgments. 

SUPPORT 

With HB 1525 certain funds held in bank accounts, savings and loan accounts, stocks, bonds, or other  securities, are given automatic protection from garnishment (an order to compel third parties to divert funds  from a debtor), attachment (a legal judgement to secure property from a debtor), and execution (a  judgement to require payment of money or property) if the debt falls into one of these categories: • For private student loan debt: $1,000 in value is automatically protected. 

• For consumer debt: $1,000 in value is automatically protected. 

• For all other debts: $500 in value is automatically protected.  

A writ of garnishment must contain instructions to financial institutions directing them to comply with the  above automatic protections and release protected funds to the debtor. The financial institution is directed  to only hold funds for the creditor if the debtor’s accounts contain value in excess of the automatically  protected total.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 8 

Status: HB 1525 was voted on the house floor and passed with 97 yeas and 0 nays, and 1 excused. It is  now headed to the Senate. It is now in the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee. Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trades Committee and let  them know you support HB 1525. 

Credit Scoring in Insurance 

SB 5010 An act relating to prohibiting the use of credit scores to determine rates for personal lines of  insurance. 

SUPPORT with CONCERNS 

SB 5010 was amended from the original bill which banned the use of credit scoring in insurance. This bill  in its original form was brought forth as OIC/Governor request because credit scoring is discriminatory and  should not be used as a tool to decide insurance rates. People of color and with lower incomes are  disproportionately and negatively impacted by this practice – meaning they are paying higher insurance  rates because of their credit scores – and it must end. It is about racial equity and economic fairness. 

This quote from a recent Crosscut article sums it up: A 2015 analysis by Consumer Reports found that, in  Washington state, a driver with poor credit and a clean driving record would pay $690 a year more for  auto insurance than someone with excellent credit and a conviction for driving under the influence. In  2007, the legislature passed SB 5827 by Sen. Hobbs that banned the use of credit scoring for the purpose of  employment. Same concept. We hope this will be the year that credit scoring will also be banned in  insurance. 

Check out Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s (OIC’s) credit score website: 

https://www.insurance.wa.gov/credit-scoring-ban – the short video on this site – it is excellent! And media  links… in the OIC fact sheet. 

SB 5010 was amended in the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee. The original bill  was an Office of the Insurance Commissioner – and Governor – request legislation sponsored by Sen. Das  that would have banned the use of credit scoring in insurance. The bill was amended by Chair Mullet, with  agreement from Sen. Das and Senate leadership, to prohibit insurers from using a decreased credit score for  a consumer during a three year period. So, at the time of renewal or if the insurer is checking credit scores  (which they only do every three years), if a credit score has gone down, they can’t use the lower score. This  does nothing to help with the systemic unfairness of using credit scores generally which is a proven race  proxy, and which makes credit scores more important than driving records. 

The bill as amended made the following changes: 

• Prohibits the use of credit history in increasing rates or premiums at renewal for personal  insurance policies until June 30, 2024 

• Requires insurers to file a special credit score rate rule by July 1, 2021 and apply it within 90 days  after approval.  

• Requires OIC to approve the special credit score rate rule within 15 days of receipt. 

Status: SB 5010 is in the Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. Action: While we know this version of SB 5010 will pass the full Senate, we support passage of this bill  with concerns. Please ask your Senators to voice their disappointment that this bill does not address the  systemic unfairness and inequity of the use of credit scores in insurance but at least it does prohibit insurers  from using a decreased credit score for a consumer during the upcoming three year period. 

HB 1351 Concerning reasonable exceptions to insurance rates for consumers whose credit  information is influenced by extraordinary life circumstances. 

OPPOSE 

HB 1351 The insurance industry has come up with a counter strategy (to SB 5010) which says if you use  credit information a person can ask for exception from the rates produced by the algorithms if they show  independently verifiable proof of a catastrophic event.  

Status: HB 1351 has passed out of the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee and is in the  House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House. 

Action: Oppose HB 1351 as it doesn’t address systemic discrimination, is open to further discrimination  due to subjective review and puts the consumer in the position of asking for relief from rates that are 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 9 

determined by using credit scoring, which is a known race proxy (see the information above from the OIC).  Contact your representatives and let them know you oppose HB 1351 and ask for a NO vote should it come  to the floor. 

Consumer Protection Act 

SB 5025 Concerning the Consumer Protection Improvement Act. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5025 is legislation requested by the Washington State Attorney General that provides an update to the  civil penalties allowed in the Consumer Protection Act. Maximum civil penalties for violation of the CPA  are increased as follows:  

• violation of any injunction issued under the CPA—$215,000  

• any contract, trust, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce or monopolization or attempt to  monopolize any part of trade or commerce—$260,000 for an individual or $1,300,000 for a  corporation; and  

• unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce— $13,350 for each violation. 

Also, an enhanced penalty of $10,000 shall apply to unlawful acts or practices targeting specific individuals  or communities based on demographic characteristics, including age; race; national origin; citizenship or  immigration status; sex; sexual orientation; presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; religion;  veteran status; or status as a member of the armed forces. 

Status: SB 5025 was voted by the full Senate yeas, 31; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0. It is headed to the  House Consumer Protection & Business Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on  Wednesday, March 10 at 8 AM and an executive session on Thursday, March 11 at 10:00 am Action: Contact the members of House Consumer Protection & Business Committee and let them know  that you support SB 5025 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee. 

Debt-based Driver’s License Suspension 

SB 5226 Concerning the suspension of licenses for traffic infractions. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5226 deals with modifications as to when a WA State Driver’s license can be suspended: • Eliminates drivers’ license suspension for the failure to pay, respond, or appear at a requested  hearing for a traffic infraction for a moving violation. 

• Authorizes the Department of Licensing (DOL) to reinstate all driver’s licenses suspended for  reasons that are no longer grounds for suspension. 

• Requires DOL to take reasonable steps to notify anyone whose driver’s license was suspended  who may qualify for reinstatement and create an online application process for people to use to  determine whether they are eligible for reinstatement, within 90 days of the effective date of the  legislation. 

Status: SB 5226 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. Action: Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5226 and ask that vote YES on  SB5226 when it comes to the floor. 

Homestead Exemptions 

SB 5408 Concerning the homestead exemption 

SUPPORT 

SB 5408 is primarily sponsored by Northwest Consumer Law Center. Senator Derek Stanford introduced  this bill to increase the amount of the homestead exemption to protect Washington state families from  losing their homes or a substantial amount of equity in their homes from a forced sale and to allow those in  need, the ability to file a federal bankruptcy case without losing their primary residence or a substantial  amount of the equity to creditors.  

At $125,000—a figure last updated in 2007—Washington’s homestead exemption is currently one of the  nation’s lowest. Increases in home prices have dramatically reduced the value of the exemption throughout  the state—for example, home prices in Okanogan and Chelan counties rose by 37 percent in 2020 alone.  SB 5408 restores homestead fairness to Washington.  

The bill as amended in the Senate Law and Justice Committee does the following:

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 10 

• Changes the homestead exemption to the greater of $125,000 or the county median sale price of a  single family home.  

• Defines a forced sale to include any sale of the homestead property in a bankruptcy proceeding.  • Allows appreciation of the property to be included in the exemption after a bankruptcy filing, even  if it exceeds the statutory limit.  

• Allows Washington residents to claim the homestead exemption for property in other states. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing numbers of Washington homeowners rely on the homestead  exemption to protect their homes from creditors. Yet, rising home values have put this option out of reach  for many at the time they need it the most. SB 5408 addresses that problem. 

Status: SB 5408 was passed by the full Senate and is now in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary  Committee. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, let them know you  support SB 5408 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session. Let them know  that at time when our state budget is strained by the COVID-19 pandemic and potential COVID-19 relief,  SB 5408 provides real, tangible relief to vulnerable working people and ALL homeowners without costing  taxpayers a cent. 

Reproductive Rights and Health Care 

Requiring student health plans to cover maternity care and related services, including abortion HB 1009 Relating to student health plans. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1009 requires student health plans to cover maternity care and related services. This includes abortion  coverage. It ensures that student health plans are not exempt from state laws and rules requiring abortion  coverage and are held to the same standard as other market health plans. 

Status: HB 1009 passed out of the House and has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care  Committee. 

Action: Contact your Senators in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know  you support HB 1009 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee. 

Issuing certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth 

HB 1031 Concerning the government issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. SUPPORT 

HB 1031 and SB 5072 create a process allowing any person who gives birth to a stillborn fetus to request  and receive a certification of birth resulting in stillbirth from the applicable state or local registrar. Status: HB 1031 passed the House and has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care  Committee. It is scheduled for a public hearing on March 10th at 8 am. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know  you support HB 1031. 

Expanding Paid Family Leave 

HB 1073 Expanding coverage of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1073 expands access to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. It changes the eligibility  criterion from working at least 820 hours for an employer to making at least $1,000 with that employer, and  it expands the legal definition of family member to include any individual related by blood or affinity  whose close association is the equivalent of a family member and includes child, grandchild, grandparent,  sibling or spouse of an employee.  

Status: HB 1073 has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal  Affairs Committee where it is scheduled for a Public Hearing on Thursday, March 11 at 8:00 AM. Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee and tell them  you support HB 1073 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 11 

SB 5097 Expanding coverage of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5097 expands access to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. It changes the eligibility  criterion from requiring an employee to work for an employer with 50 or more employees to having been  employed by their current employer for 90 days or more. 

Status: SB 5097 has passed out of the Senate and is now in the House Labor and Workplace Standards  Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session. 

Action: Contact your representative on the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and let  them know that you support SB 5097. Ask that a public hearing and executive session be scheduled for SB  5097. 

Comprehensive Public Health Districts 

HB 1152 Supporting measures to create comprehensive public health districts 

SUPPORT 

HB 1152 requires counties to form comprehensive public health districts beginning January 1, 2023 and  repeals provisions related to establishing and operating local boards of health, local health districts, local  district boards of health, and city county health departments. 

Status: HB 1152 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House. Action: Contact your representatives and let them know you support HB 1152 and ask for a YES vote  when it comes to the floor 

School based health centers 

HB 1225 Supporting school based health centers. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1225 creates a school-based health center program office within the department of health to award  grants and coordinate with other agencies and entities to provide support, training, and technical assistance  to school-based health centers. School-based health centers advance equity by providing health care access  and support at schools. 

Status: HB 1225 passed the House and has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care  Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know  you support HB 1225 and ask that a public hearing and executive session be scheduled for it. 

Menstrual products in schools 

HB 1273 Menstrual hygiene products in school bathrooms. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1273, starting in the 2022-2023 school year, would require schools and post-secondary institutions to  make available, at no cost, menstrual hygiene products in all gender neutral and bathrooms designated for  females. This applies to schools and institutions serving students in grades 6 through 12 and institutions of  

higher education. HB 1273 was amended and requires that menstrual hygiene products also be available in  a school health room or other location designated by the principal for grades 3 through 5. Status: HB 1273 passed the House and has been assigned to the Senate Early Learning and K-12  Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and let them  know you support HB 1273 

Health Equity Zones 

SB 5052 Creating health equity zones. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5052 requires the Department of Health to use health outcome data to identify potential health equity  zones and coordinate with community organizations in those zones to identify projects to address the  zone’s most urgent needs related to health disparities. The Department is then required to report annually  on the projects implemented in each zone. 

Status: SB 5052 passed the Senate and is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is  eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 12 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them  know you support Engrossed 2nd SSB 5052 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive  session to pass out of committee. 

Expanding medicaid coverage during the postpartum period 

SB 5068 Improving maternal health outcomes by extending coverage during the postpartum period. SUPPORT 

SB 5068 extends Medicaid coverage to new birth parents from 60 days post-birth to 365 days post-birth. Status: SB 5068 passed the Senate and has been assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness  Committee. It is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, March 10th at 8 am in anticipation of  executive session scheduled for Thursday, March 11th at 10 am. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and let them  know you support SSB 5068. 

Miscarriage-related patient care 

SB 5140 Protecting pregnancy and miscarriage-related patient care. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5140 Prohibits health care entities from stopping health care providers from providing health care  services related to miscarriage management and treatment for ectopic pregnancies. 

Status: SB 5140 passed out of the Senate and has been assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness  Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on March 11th at 10am. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and let them know  you support SSB 5140.  

Universal Health Care 

SB 5399 Creating a universal health care commission. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5399 creates a universal health care commission for the purposes of developing a plan to create a health  care system in Washington that provides coverage and access through a universal financing system  including, but not limited to, a single-payer financing system, for all Washingtonians. By November 1, 2024, the commission must report its findings to the legislature, along with recommendations on  implementing a universal health care system in Washington to be implemented by 2026. Status: SB 5399 has passed out of the Senate and is now in the House Health Care and Wellness  Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them  know you support SSB 5399 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session. 

Health Equity in Medical Training 

SB 5228 Requiring health equity training in medical school courses. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5140 Requires the state’s two medical schools, University of Washington and Washington State  University, to add health equity training in the required courses. The bill also requires the medical schools  to set a goal to be more representative of the demographics of the state of Washington. 

Status: SB 5228 passed out of the Senate and has been assigned to the House College & Workforce  Development Committee. It is scheduled for a public hearing on March 10th at 8am. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House College & Workforce Development Committee and let  them know you support SSB 5228.  

SB 5229 Requiring health care professionals to complete health equity continuing education. SUPPORT 

SB 5229 Requires a licensed health care professional to complete health equity continuing education  training at least once every four years and requires health equity courses to teach skills that enable a health  care professional to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities, varying in  race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religion, age, ability, and socioeconomic status.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 13 

Status: and requires health equity courses to teach skills that enable a health care professional to care  effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities, varying in race, ethnicity, gender  identity, sexuality, religion, age, ability, and socioeconomic status. 

Status: ESSB 5229 passed out of the Senate and has been assigned to the House Health  Care & Wellness Committee. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them  know you support ESSB 5229 

Health Insurance Discrimination 

SB 5313 Making it an unfair practice for health carriers to discriminate against enrollees seeking  gender affirming treatment. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5313 Reduces discrimination by health carriers for enrollees seeking gender affirming treatment.  Specifically, it amends the law (RCW 49.60.178, 41.05.017; 49.60.040, 48.30.300) to make it an unfair  practice for health plans issued or renewed on January 1, 2022, to deny, exclude, reduce or terminate  benefits when a participant seeks provider prescribed gender affirming treatment. Also, if the health carrier  does not have an adequate network of providers with experience with gender affirming treatment, the  health carrier shall ensure the delivery of timely and geographically accessible medically necessary gender  affirming treatment at no greater expense than if the health carrier had an in-network, geographically  accessible provider available. 

Status: SB 5313 passed the Senate and is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let  them know you support SB 5313. 

Violence Against Women 

Sexual assault victims 

HB 1109 Concerning sexual assault victims 

SUPPORT 

HB 1109 requires that if a sexual assault kit results in in hit in the combined DNA index system shall upon  request of the attorney general report changes in case status as to any related criminal investigation and  prosecution to the office of the attorney general. The attorney general’s office is directed to establish  reporting requirements and to submit semiannual reports on the status of investigations and prosecution of  sexual assault cases. HB 1109 also requires that the criminal justice training commission conduct an  annual review of case files from law enforcement agencies in order to identify changes to training and  investigatory practices necessary to optimize outcomes in sexual assault investigations and prosecutions.  The analysis must include the impact that race and ethnicity have on sexual assault case outcomes. The bill  also expands the rights of sexual assault victims to: 

• Receive written notice of receive written notice of his or her right to a medical forensic exam at no  cost and other benefits under the Crime Victim Compensation Program 

• Receive a referral to a community sexual assault program and if the victim is a minor to a  children’s advocacy center 

• Consult with a sexual assault survivor advocate throughout the investigatory process and  prosecution. The presence of an advocate in the courtroom fulfills the survivor’s right to consult  with an advocate while he or she is providing testimony in a criminal trial. Medical facilities, law  enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, courts, and other criminal justice  agencies, including correctional facilities, are made responsible for providing advocates access to  facilities where necessary to fulfill the requirements associated with the survivor’s right to consult  with an advocate. 

• Receive timely notification from the law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney as to the  status of the case 

• Be informed of expected time frames for receiving responses to the survivor’s inquiries regarding  the case status 

• Access interpreter services where necessary to facilitate communication 

• For minors  

• The prosecutor to consider and discuss the survivor’s request for remote video testimony

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 14 

• The court to consider requests from the prosecutor for safeguarding the survivor’s  

feelings of security and safety in the courtroom in order to facilitate the survivor’s  

testimony and participation in the court proceedings 

• The minor has a right to receive a connection to services in accordance with the county  child sexual abuse investigation protocol, which may include a referral to a children’s  

advocacy center 

Status: HB 1109 has passed out of the House on a unanimous vote and is in the Senate Law and Justice  Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law & Justice Committee and urge them to pass HB 1109 out  of committee. 

Assault weapons and large capacity magazines 

SB 5078 Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety 

SUPPORT 

SB 5078 establishes firearm safety measures to increase public safety by prohibiting the manufacture,  possession, distribution, importation, selling, offering for sale, purchasing or transfer of large capacity  magazines. A large capacity magazine is defined to mean an ammunition feeding device with the capacity  to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition, or any conversion kit, part, or combination of parts, from  which such a device can be assembled if those parts are in possession of or under the control of the same  person 

Status: SB 5078 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. Action: Contact your senators and let them know you support SB 5078, Ask that SB 5078 be pulled to the  floor for a vote by the March 9^th cutoff date and ask that they vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

Display of weapons 

HB 1283 Including the open carry or display of weapons within the offense of criminal mischief. SUPPORT 

HB 1283 adds to the Criminal Mischief RCW the following: if a person “openly carries or displays a  deadly weapon in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to feel threatened.”  

_Status: HB 1283 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House. Action: Contact your representatives and let them know that you support HB 1283 and ask for a YES vote  when it comes to the floor. 

Domestic violence task force 

HB 1315 Creating a task force to identify the role of the workplace in helping curb domestic violence SUPPORT 

HB 1315 states that the workplace may be the only location in which an individual experiencing domestic  violence may be free from a perpetrator and feel safe. In either a physical or remote environment,  individuals experiencing domestic violence may also find the workplace a place of shared confidences.  Therefore, the legislature intends to create a task force to explore ways in which the employer and  employee community may help curb domestic violence.  

The task force will be a (up to) 12-member committee comprised of representation across industries,  violence and sexual assault coalitions, and to include a federally recognized tribe. The preliminary report is  due 12/1/2021, with final recommendations due 12/1/2022.  

Status: HB 1315 has passed out of the House on a unanimous vote and is in the Senate, assigned to the  Senate Labor, Commerce, & Tribal Affairs Committee. It is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday,  March 11th at 8 AM. 

Action: Contact your senators on the Labor, Commerce, & Tribal Affairs Committee and let them know  that you support HB 1315 and ask that they vote YES when it comes for a vote. 

Civil protection orders  

HB 1320 Modernizing, harmonizing, and improving the efficacy and accessibility of laws concerning  civil protection orders. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1320 consolidates the six types of civil protection orders into a single chapter of the RCW. The six  types of civil protection orders are (a) Domestic violence protection orders; (b) vulnerable adult protection 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 15 

orders; (c) antiharassment protection orders; (d) sexual assault protection orders; (e) stalking protection  orders; and (f) extreme risk protection orders. It also creates a pathway to consolidate jurisdictional  divisions to a more consistent approach with protection orders. The consolidation will come from  recommendations from the Washington State Women’s Commission in consultation with the administrative  office, the Gender and Justice Commission, and representatives of the courts, and is due 12/1/2021.  Status: HB 1320 has passed out of the House on a 53-44 vote and is in the Senate, assigned to the Senate  Law & Justice Committee, where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session. Action: Contact your senators on the Law & Justice Committee and let them know you support HB 1320 and ask for a YES vote when it comes to a vote. 

Prohibiting open carry of weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol 

SB 5038 Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state  capitol. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5038 prohibits a person from knowingly carrying a firearm or other weapon while attending a  demonstration – a march, rally, vigil, sit-in or picket which has the effect or intent of attracting a crowd – at  a public place or within 1000 feet of a demonstration. The bill also prohibits any person to knowingly open  carry a firearm or other weapon on the state capitol grounds, in any building on the state capitol grounds, in  any state legislative office, or at any location of a public legislative hearing or meeting during the hearing  or meeting. 

SB 5038 was amended with the following changes: 

o Adds an exception for federal law enforcement agents and armed forces of the United States and  Washington State. 

o Specifies buildings on the state capitol grounds and defines the west state capitol campus  grounds. 

o Change demonstrations to permitted demonstrations. 

o Changes the distance from 1000 feet to 250 feet within a permitted demonstration for a person  who may not open carry a firearm. 

_Status: SB 5038 has passed out of the Senate and it is currently in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary  Committee, where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.  

Action: Contact your representations on the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee to let them know  you support SB 5038 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee. 

Victims of nonfatal strangulation 

SB 5183 Concerning victims of nonfatal strangulation. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5183 directs the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) to develop practices for local  communities to increase access to forensic nurse examiner services in nonfatal strangulation assaults, and  to publish those best practices to its website by 1, 2022. It also directs OCVA to develop strategies to make  forensic nurse examiner training available throughout the state without causing unreasonable travel or  expenses for nurses and report those strategies to the Governor and Legislature by October 1, 2022. The Crime Victims Compensation Program is authorized to pay for forensic examination of domestic violence  victims of nonfatal strangulation and prohibits charging the victim for the examination. 

Status: SB 5183 has passed out of the Senate it is currently in the House Public Safety Committee, where  it is scheduled for Thursday, March 11th at 1:30 PM.  

_Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you  support SB 5183 and ask that they vote YES to pass it out of committee. 

Crime victim safety 

SB 5245 Concerning the safety of crime victims. 

SUPPORT 

SB 5245 was amended in committee and now provides that that the department of correction and witness  notification programs are expanded to add victims by domestic violence offenders, certain assault  offenders, vehicular homicide offenders, and controlled substance homicide offenders to receive 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 16 

notification of the offender’s pending release. Note that violent offenders, sex offenders, and domestic  violence protection order offenders are already included in this RCW.  

Status: SB 5245 has passed out of the Senate on a unanimous vote and is in the House, assigned to the  House Public Safety Committee, where it is eligible for an executive session and a public hearing. Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you  support SB 5245 and ask that they vote YES when it to a vote. 

Budget/Revenue 

2021-2023 Operating Budget. 

HB 1094 Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations 

SB 5092 Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations 

SUPPORT 

HB 1094 and SB 5092 are the starting bills for the 2021 2023 operating budget. Governor Inslee proposed  this budget as presented in these bills just before the beginning of this year’s legislative session. His  proposal is a good starting place for meeting our state’s needs. But our legislators need to hear from us  now and during their budget negotiations. The details in these bills will change.  

Our state’s economy crashed this year because consumer demand collapsed overnight after initial  mandatory closures due to COVID-19. In the months since, consumer spending has further collapsed as  thousands of businesses have closed and more than 1.4 million Washingtonians have filed first-time  unemployment claims.  

While our State’s budget picture has improved since last spring, the state still faces significant fiscal  challenges. New revenue is needed support the recovery effort and protect vital state services especially for  the people hardest hit by the pandemic and to protect previous investments in state services.  Funds are needed to  

1. strengthen WA’s public health system,  

2. provide support for childcare providers struggling during the pandemic,  

3. provide food assistance and unemployment insurance,  

4. provide relief for hungry and homeless families,  

5. preserve environmental protections,  

6. support agencies that keep our communities safe, and  

7. provide adequate funding for K-12 education and make investments in higher education  opportunities.  

Status: HB 1094 was scheduled for a public hearing on, January 14 in the House Appropriations  Committee.  

SB 5092 had its public hearing on January 12 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Neither bill has yet been considered in executive session and both will likely be replaced by legislative  proposals. It is anticipated that the House and Senate will release their budget proposals near March 17,  when the next financial forecast comes out. 

Action: In order and be able to serve our states residents especially those that are marginalized and disenfranchised in our state we need you to deliver a message to your representatives in regard to HB 1094 and senators in regard to SB 5092 that WA State needs a new progressive revenue stream and not budget cuts. Comprehensive tax reform is also needed to ease the disproportionately high tax burden on our poorest communities. 

Wealth Tax 

HB 1406 Improving the equity of Washington state’s tax code by creating the Washington state  wealth tax and taxing extraordinary financial intangible assets 

SB 5426 Improving the equity of Washington state’s tax code by creating the Washington state  wealth tax and taxing extraordinary financial intangible assets. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1406 and SB 5426 establish a 1 percent wealth tax on intangible financial assets of more than $1  billion. Only approximately 100 people in WA State would be affected. 

Status: HB 1406 had a public hearing on February 2 in the House Finance Committee. 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 17 

SB 5426 had its public hearing on February 4 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Both bills are considered necessary to implement the budget. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Finance committee and let them know that you support HB 1094 and request that it be scheduled for an executive session to pass out of committee. Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee in regard to SB 5092 and ask that it be scheduled for an executive session to pass out of committee. Let your legislators know that you support a new progressive revenue stream and not budget cuts. Our poorest communities can no longer afford the disproportionately high tax burden they currently face. 

Estate Taxes 

HB 1465 Making the estate tax more progressive by exempting small estates, reducing estate taxes on  medium estates, increasing the estate tax on larger estates, and addressing equity in homeownership  and homelessness. 

SUPPORT 

HB 1465 revamps the estate tax to make it more progressive. For an estate of an individual dying on or  after August 1, 2021, changes are made to the estate tax. The exclusion amount is increased to $2.5 million  and the language providing for annual adjustment is updated to reflect the change in the Consumer Price  Index for the Seattle metropolitan area. The rates for estates over $3 million through $9 million are  increased. Additional rate classes are created for estates over $9 million.  

The bill further dedicates 10% of the proceeds to the Equity in Housing Account to be used to address  homelessness, including foreclosure prevention, rental assistance, outreach engagement services, housing  services, and behavioral health, with priority for agencies, programs, and services which address current  and historical racial inequities 

Note: For the estate of a married decedent, all of the community property and all of the decedent’s separate  property are reported on the estate tax return. The community property assets are then reduced by 50  percent to reflect the deceased individual’s share of the property.  

Status: HB 1465 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for an executive session. This bill  is considered necessary to implement the budget and thus is still alive for consideration by the legislature. Action: Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee and let them know you support  HB 1465 and ask that they pass it out of committee. Let your legislators know that you support a new  progressive revenue stream and not budget cuts. Our poorest communities can no longer afford the  disproportionately high tax burden they currently face.  

Capital gains tax 

HB 1496 Creating a more progressive tax system in Washington by enacting an excise tax on sales and extraordinary profits of high valued assets. 

SB 5096 Concerning an excise tax on gains from the sale or exchange of certain capital assets SUPPORT  

WA State has the most regressive tax system in the US with those who make the least amount of money  paying the highest percentage of their income in taxes. Whereas the very wealthy paying a very small share  of their income in taxes.  

To address this issue, two versions of a capital gains tax have been proposed – one in the House – HB 1496  and one in the Senate – SB 5096. It is currently assumed that the Senate bill will be the one that is used to pass this tax. The comparison below (put together by the League of Women Voters) compares the two versions as they currently stand:

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 18 

A capital gains tax may soon be passed by the legislature in order to help estimate how much money is  available for the spending budget. The appropriations budgets will not be adopted until after the next  economic forecast on March 20. 

For a more in-depth explanation of what a capital gains tax in WA would do, see the Budget and Policy  Center’s report on Closing the Tax Break on Capital Gains. 

Status:  

HB 1496 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for an executive session. SB 5096 has passed out of the Senate on a 25 Yea to 24 Nay vote. It has not yet been assigned to a  committee in the House. 

This bill is considered necessary to implement the budget. 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee and let them know you support HB 1496. 

Contact your representatives and let them know you support SB 5096. 

State bank 

SB 5188 An act relating to the creation of the Washington State public financial cooperative. SUPPORT  

SB 5188 establishes a public financial cooperative as a cooperative membership organization to receive  deposits from state, local or federally recognized tribal governments and invest the deposits in lawful funds.  The cooperative can also develop and conduct a program to make loans (other than to the state) to its  members for project costs of infrastructure and development projects. Debt is issued in the name of the  bank rather than the State of Washington. The financial cooperative may be activated under the following  conditions: 

• the state treasurer completes a study that provides recommendations on staffing and operational needs for the financial cooperative; 

• an appropriation is provided from the state that is sufficient to allow the state to issue debt with a competitive rating; 

• articles of activation are completed in a format approved by the State Finance Committee and filed with the Secretary of State; and 

• a duplicate of the original articles of activation and additional information is filed with the Department of Financial Institutions. 

Status: SB 5188 has passed out of the Senate and is now in the House Consumer Protection and Business  Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 19 

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee and let them know you support SB 5188 and ask for that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee. 

HOUSE COMMITEES 

Appropriations Committee: 

Timm Ormsby (Chair), Steve Berquist (Vice Chair), Mia Gregerson (Vice Chair), Nicole Macri (Vice Chair), Matt  Boehnke, Kelly Chambers, Chris Corry, Michele Caldier, Bruce Chandler, Frank Chopp, Eileen Cody, Laurie  Dolan, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Noel Frame, Drew Hansen, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, Cyndy Jacobsen, Jesse  Johnson, Debra Lekanoff, Drew MacEwen, Gerry Pollet, Skyler Rude, Cindy Ryu, Joe Schmick, Tana Senn, Larry  Springer, Mike Steele, Drew Stokesbary, Monica Stonier, Pat Sullivan, and Steve Tharinger 

Capital Budget Committee: 

Steve Tharinger (Chair), Lisa Callan (Vice Chair), David Hackney (Vice Chair), Peter Abbarno, Jessica Bateman,  Mary Dye, Carolyn Eslick, Greg Gilday, Shelley Kloba, Vicki Kraft, Mari Leavitt, Drew MacEwen, Jacquelin  Maycumber, Joel McEntire, Gina Mosbrucker, Strom Peterson, Marcus Riccelli, Alicia Rule, Mike Steele, Sharon  Tomiko Santos, Mike Sells, Sharon Shewmake, and Mike Volz 

Children Youth and Families: 

Tana Senn (Chair), Tarra Simmons (Vice Chair), Alicia Rule (Vice Chair), Lisa Callan, Rob Chase, Tom Dent,  Carolyn Eslick, Roger Goodman, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Brad Klippert, Bob McCaslin, Emily Wicks, and Jesse Young 

Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee 

Drew Hansen (Chair), Tarra Simmons (Vice Chair), Peter Abbarno, Lauren Davis, Debra Entenman, Greg Gilday,  Roger Goodman, Jenny Graham, Steve Kirby, Brad Klippert, Tina Orwall, Strom Peterson, My-Linh Thai, Javier  Valdez, Amy Walen, Jim Walsh, and Alex Ybarra 

College and Workforce Development Committee: 

Vandana Slatter (Chair), Debra Entenman (Vice Chair), Mari Leavitt (Vice Chair), Kelly Chambers, Bruce  Chandler, Drew Hansen, Larry Hoff, Cyndy Jacobsen, Vicki Kraft, Dave Paul, Gerry Pollet, Mike Sells, and Robert  Sutherland 

Commerce and Gaming Committee: 

Shelley Kloba (Chair), Emily Wicks (Vice Chair), Drew MacEwen, Kelly Chambers, Steve Kirby, Melanie Morgan,  Eric Robertson, Brandon Vick, and Sharon Wylie 

Community & Economic Development 

Cindy Ryu (Chair), Dave Paul (Vice Chair), Matt Boehnke, Rob Chase, Chris Corry, Noel Frame, Cyndy Jacobsen,  Jesse Johnson, Vicki Kraft, John Lovick, Alicia Rule, Robert Sutherland, and Jamila Taylor 

Consumer Protection and Business Committee: 

Steve Kirby (Chair), Amy Walen (Vice Chair), Chris Corry, Jeremie Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos,  and Brandon Vick 

Education Committee: 

Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair), Laurie Dolan (Vice Chair), April Berg, Steve Berquist, Lisa Callan, Bob McCaslin,  Joel McEntire, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Skyler Rude, Mike Steele, Monica Stonier, Jim Walsh and Alex Ybarra 

Environment & Energy Committee: 

Joe Fitzgibbon (Chair), Davina Duerr (Vice Chair), Peter Abbarno, Liz Berry, Mary Dye, Matt Boehnke, Jake Fey,  Keith Goehner, Kirsten Harris-Talley, Mark Klicker, Alex Ramel, Sharon Shewmake, and Vandana Slatter 

Finance Committee: 

Noel Frame (Chair), April Berg (Vice Chair), Amy Walen (Vice Chair), Ed Orcutt, Rob Chase, Frank Chopp,  Jeremie Dufault, Kirsten Harris-Talley, Melanie Morgan, Tina Orwall, Alex Ramel, Larry Springer, Drew  Stokesbary, My-Linh Thai, Brandon Vick, Sharon Wylie, and Jesse Young 

Health Care and Wellness Committee: 

Eileen Cody (Chair), Jessica Bateman (Vice Chair), Dan Bronoske, Michelle Caldier, Lauren Davis, Paul Harris, 

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 20 

Nicole Macri, Jacquelin Maycumber, Marcus Riccelli, Skyler Rude, Joe Schmick, Tarra Simmons, Monica Stonier,  Steve Tharinger, and Alex Ybarra 

Housing, Human Services, and Veterans Committee: 

Strom Peterson, (Chair), Jamila Taylor (Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Jessica Bateman, Michele Caldier, Frank  Chopp, Greg Gilday, Mari Leavitt, and My-Linh Thai, 

Labor and Workplace Standards Committee: 

Mike Sells (Chair), Liz Berry (Vice-Chair), Dan Bronoske, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, and Gina  Mosbrucker 

Local Government Committee: 

Gerry Pollet (Chair), Davina Duerr (Vice Chair), Tina Berg, Keith Goehner, Dan Griffey, Eric Robertson, and Tana  Senn 

Public Safety Committee: 

Roger Goodman (Chair), Jesse Johnson (Vice Chair), Lauren Davis, Jenny Graham, Dan Griffey, David Hackney,  Brad Klippert, John Lovick, Gina Mosbrucker, Tina Orwall, Bill Ramos, Tarra Simmons and Jesse Young 

Rules Committee: 

Laurie Jinkins (Chair), Steve Berquist, Micelle Caldier, Lauren Davis, Tom Dent, Jeremie Dufault, Greg Gilday,  Jenny Graham, Mia Gregerson, Paul Harris, Cyndy Jacobsen, Mark Klicker, Joel Kretz, John Lovick, Melanie  Morgan, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Tina Orwall, Alex Ramel, Marcus Riccelli, Eric Robertson, Tarra Simmons, Larry  Springer, Monica Juarado Stonier, Pat Sullivan, My-Linh Thai, Amy Walen, and J.T. Wilcox 

Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee: 

Mike Chapman (Chair), Sharon Shewmake (Vice Chair), Bruce Chandler, Tom Dent, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon,  Mark Klicker, Shelley Kloba, Joel Kretz, Debra Lekanoff, Joel McEntire, Melanie Morgan, Ed Orcutt, Erick  Pettigre, Bill Ramos, Joe Schmick, Larry Springer, and Jim Walsh 

State Government and Tribal Relations Committee: 

Javier Valdez (Chair), Debra Lekanoff (Vice Chair), Laurie Dolan, Jenny Graham, Mia Gregerson, Mike Volz, and  Jim Walsh 

Transportation Committee: 

Jake Fey (Chair), Sharon Wylie (1^st Vice Chair), Dan Bronoske (2^nd Vice Chair), Bill Ramos (2^nd Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Liz Berry, Mike Chapman, Tom Dent, Davina Duerr, Debra Entenman, Carolyn Eslick, Keith  Gohner, Dan Griffey, David Hackney, Mark Klicker, John Lovick, Bob McCaslin, Ed Orcutt, Dave Paul, Marcus  Riccelli, Eric Robertson, Vandana Slatter, Robert Sutherland, Jamila Taylor, Javier Valdez, Mike Volz, Jim Walsh,  and Emily Wicks 

SENATE COMMITEES 

Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee: 

Kevin Van De Wege (Chair), Jesse Salomon (Vice Chair), Judy Warnick, Jim Honeyford, Christine Rolfes, Derek  Stanford, and Shelly Short 

Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long-Term Care Committee: 

Manka Dhingra (Chair), Keith Wagoner, David Frockt, T’wina Nobles, and Judy Warnick  

Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee: 

Mark Mullet (Chair), Bob Hasegawa (Vice Chair), Perry Dozier, Sharon Brown, David Frockt, Steve Hobbs, and  Lynda Wilson 

Early Learning and K-12 Committee: 

Lisa Wellman (Chair), T’wina Nobles (Vice Chair – K12 Education), Claire Wilson (Vice Chair – Early Learning),  Perry Dozier, Brad Hawkins, Sam Hunt, Jim McCune, Mark Mullet, and Jamie Pedersen,  

Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee: 

Reuven Carlyle (Chair), Liz Lovelett (Vice Chair), Doug Ericksen, Phil Fortunado, Sharon Brown, Mona Das, Steve  Hobbs, Marko Liias, Joe Nguyen, Tim Sheldon, Shelly Short, Derek Stanford, and Lisa Wellman

WA State NOW Legislative Alert – March 8, 2021 21 

Health and Long Term Care Committee: 

Annette Cleveland (Chair), David Frockt (Vice Chair), Ron Muzzall, Steve Conway, Jeff Holy, Karen Keiser, Mike  Padden, Emily Randall, Ann Rivers, June Robinson, Kevin Van De Wege, and Jeff Wilson 

Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee: 

Emily Randall (Chair), T’wina Nobles (Vice Chair), Jeff Holy, Sharon Brown, Doug Ericksen, and Marko Liias 

Housing and Local Government Committee: 

Patty Kuderer (Chair), Mona Das (Vice Chair), Phil Fortunato, Annette Cleveland, Chris Gildon, Liz Lovelett,  Shelly Short, Jesse Solomon, and Judy Warnick 

Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee: 

Jeanne Darneille (Chair), Joe Nguyen (Vice Chair), Chris Gildon, Perry Dozier, Jim McCune, Rebecca Saldaña, and  Claire Wilson 

Labor, Commerce, & Tribal Affairs Committee: 

Karen Keiser (Chair), Derek Stanford (Vice Chair – Commerce & Tribal Affairs), Steve Conway (Vice Chair Labor), Curtis King, John Braun, Jim Honeyford, June Robinson, Rebecca Saldaña, and Mark Schoesler 

Law & Justice Committee: 

Jamie Pedersen (Chair), Manka Dhingra (Vice Chair), Jeanne Darneille, Mike Padden, Jeff Holy, Patty Kuderer, Jim  McCune, Jesse Salomon, and Keith Wagoner 

Rules Committee: 

Denny Heck (Lt. Gov – Chair). Karen Keiser (Vice Chair), Andy Billig, John Braun, Reuven Carlyle, Annette  Cleveland, Chris Gildon, Bob Hasegawa, Curtis King, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, Ron Muzzall, Joe Nguyen, Jamie  Pedersen, Ann Rivers, Shelly Short, and Claire Wilson 

State Government & Elections Committee: 

Sam Hunt (Chair), Patty Kuderer (Vice Chair), Jeff Wilson, Bob Hasegawa, and Brad Hawkins 

Transportation Committee: 

Steve Hobbs (Chair), Rebecca Saldaña (Vice Chair), Curtis King, Annette Cleveland, Mona Das, Phil Fortunato,  Brad Hawkins, Liz Lovelett, Joe Nguyen, T’wina Nobles, Mike Padden, Emily Randall, Tim Sheldon, Claire  Wilson, and Jeff Wilson 

Ways & Means Committee: 

Christine Rolfes (Chair), David Frockt (Vice Chair – Capital), June Robinson (Vice Chair – Operating and Revenue),  Lynda Wilson, John Braun, Sharon Brown, Reuven Carlyle, Steve Conway, Jeanne Darneille, Manka Dhingra, Bob  Hasegawa, Jim Honeyford, Chris Gildon, Sam Hunt, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, Mark Mullet, Ron Muzzall, Jamie  Pedersen, Ann Rivers, Mark Schoesler, Kevin Van De Wege, Keith Wagoner, Judy Warnick, and Lisa Wellman, 

Hint: You can view bills by going to the following website and plug in the bill number for which you want to view  the history and status: 

http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/

Thank you to the following people who contributed to this edition of the WA State NOW 2021 Weekly  Legislative Alert 

• Cathy Baylor 

• Hanna Febach 

• Christina Henry 

• Amber Koens 

• Linda Tosti-Lane 

• Lisa Weber