The 2018 Legislative Session began on Monday, January 14, 2019. The critical dates for the passage of bills is listed below:

Friday – February 22:  Cutoff Date for Bills to Pass Out of Policy Committees.

Friday – March 1:  Cutoff Date for Bills to Pass Out of Fiscal Committees

Wednesday – March 13:  Last day to consider (pass) bills in house of origin (5 p.m.)

Wednesday – April 3:  Cutoff Date for Opposite House Bills to Pass Out of Policy Committees

Tuesday – April 9:  Cutoff Date for Opposite House Bills to Pass Out of Fiscal Committees

Wednesday – April 17:  Last Day to 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 28:  Last Day for the Regular Session

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.  A complete list of email addresses for all legislators can be found at https://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/ If you need to look up your legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/.

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/

Highlights, Updates and Successes!

HB 1883: Eliminating child marriage in cases when one party is under the age of 18, was introduced by Representative Derek Stanford.

HB 2000: Making the practice of FGM a class B felony, was introduced by Representative Shelley Kloba. This bill goes beyond the Senate version of this bill SB 5257 by making the practice of FGM illegal in addition to classifying the practice as unprofessional conduct for practitioners. 

For details of the above bills see details below.

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

I 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).

Civil and Equal Rights

Initiative 1000

            Initiative 1000 – Washington State diversity, equity and exclusion act

            SUPPORT

Initiative 1000 redefines Affirmative Action to provide equal opportunity in Education, Employment and Contracting (Entrepreneurship) for the following groups:

  • Women
  • Veterans
  • Persons with Disabilities
  • People of Color;

Eliminates quotas and preferential treatment from Affirmative Action;

Expands Affirmative Action to include all Honorably discharged Veterans;

Protects Washington’s colleges & universities from federal penalties should they utilize race as a factor in their student admissions programs;

Expands the term, “sexual orientation” to all state anti-discrimination laws; and

Creates Washington State’s 1st Governors Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Status: I-1000 has been assigned to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.  It has yet to be assigned to a committee in the senate.

Action:  Let your representatives and senators know that you support Initiative 1000 and ask that it be passed out of the legislature as written.

Prepaid Postage for All Election Ballots

HB 1209 Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots.

SB 5063 Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots.

SUPPORT

HB 1209 and SB 5063 required prepaid postage on return envelopes for all elections, with county costs for the postage to be reimbursed by the state.

Status:  HB 1209 has passed out of the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee and will most likely be sent to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration

SB 5063 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, February 5 at 3:30 PM

Action:  Contact Senators the  Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their support to pass SB 5063 out of committee.

Native American Voting Rights

HB 1339  Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington

SB 5079 Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington

SUPPORT

HB 1339 and SB 5079 allow for non-traditional addresses when a traditional address has not been assigned or affixed to a voter’s residence or when a voter resides on an Indian reservation or Indian lands.

Status:  HB 1339 is scheduled for an executive hearing in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Wednesday, February 13 a 1:30 PM. 

SB 5079 has passed out of the Senate and has been sent to the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House State Government & Tribal Committee and ask for their support for HB 1339 and SB 5079.

Health Care Employees

            HB 1155 Concerning meal and rest breaks and mandatory overtime for certain health care employees.

            SB 5190 Concerning meal and rest breaks and mandatory overtime for certain health care employees.

SUPPORT

HB 1155 and SB 5190 addresses meals and rest periods for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, surgical technologists, diagnostic radiologic technologists, cardiovascular invasive specialists, respiratory care practitioners, and certified nursing assistants. The bills prohibit an employer from: (1) Using prescheduled on call time to fill chronic or foreseeable staff shortages; and (2) Scheduling nonemergency procedures that would require overtime.

Status:  HB 1155 is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 3:30 PM in the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 5190 is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 3:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your representatives and senators on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees and let them know you support HB 1155 and SB 5190 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of their respective committees.

LGBT Coordinator

HB 1650 Promoting access to earned benefits and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender veterans.

SUPPORT

HB 1650 establishes the position of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender coordinator within the Department of Veterans Affairs.  This position would be responsible for promotion of and providing assistance to LGBTQ veterans to benefits and services including in applying for, and in appealing any denial of, federal and state veterans’ benefits and aid that such veterans, and the spouses and dependents of such veterans may be entitled.

Status:  HB 1650 is scheduled for an executive session on Tuesday, February 12 at 10:00 AM and if not handled on the 12th on Wednesday, February 13 at 9:00 AM in the House Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee.

Action:  Contact your Representative on the House Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1650.

State Office of Equity

HB 1783 Creating the Washington state office of equity.

SB 5776 Creating the Washington state office of equity.

SUPPORT

HB 1783 and SB 5776 establish the Washington state office of equity to promote access to equitable opportunities and resources that reduce disparities, including racial and ethnic disparities, and improve outcomes statewide across all sectors of government.

Status:  HB 1783 is scheduled for an executive session on Wednesday, February 13 in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee at 1:30 PM.

SB 5776 is in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your representative and senators on the House State Government and Tribal Relations and the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committees and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1783 and SB 5776 in their respective committees.

Immigrants

HB 1815 Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.

SB 5497 Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.

SUPPORT

HB 1815 and SB 5497 establish a state wide workgroup to develop strategies with private sector businesses, labor and immigrant advocacy groups to support current and future industries across the state. 

The  attorney general’s office is to develop model policies for limiting immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law at public schools, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, courthouses, and shelters to assure that they remain safe and accessible to all WA residents regardless of immigration status. These entities must then adopt necessary changes to their policies to be consistent with the model policy.  If they do not adopt these changes the agency must state why and provide a copy of their policy to the attorney general.  All other organizations that provide services related to physical or mental health and wellness, education, or access to justice, are encouraged to adopt the model policy.

State agencies must review their confidentiality policies and identify any changes necessary to ensure that personal information collected on individuals is limited to that necessary to perform agency duties and is not used or disclosed for other purposes.  Policies must clearly state that public employees may not condition services or request information or proof regarding a person’s immigration or citizenship status, or place of birth, except as required by law. The policies must also ensure that  public services are available to, and public employees shall serve, all Washington residents without regard to immigration or citizenship status.

Status:  HB 1815 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where is it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 8:00 AM.

SB 5497 has been referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, February 12 at 10:00 AM and for an executive session on Thursday, February 14 at 10:00 AM.

Action:  Contact your representatives and senators on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary and Senate Law and Justice Committees and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1815 and SB 5497 in their respective committees.

LGBTQ Commission

SB 5356 Establishing the Washington state LGBTQ commission.

SUPPORT

SB 5356 establishes the Washington State LGBTQ Commission.  The commission would have 15 members appointed by the governor and would be responsible for monitoring and advocating for legislation affecting LGBTQ people, assess programs and policies affecting LGBTQ people, coordinate with minority commissions, women’s commission and human rights commission to address issues of mutual concern and work as a liaison between the public and private sectors to eliminate barriers to economic and health equity for LGBTQ people

Status:  SB 5356 has been referred to the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee where is it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 15 at 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your Senators on the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on SB 5356.

Voters’ Pamphlets

HB 1482 Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.

SB 5499 Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.

SUPPORT

HB 1482 and SB 5499 modify the current state law to require that the secretary of state print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in every even-numbered year and for the general election every year.

Status:  HB 1482 has been referred to the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

SB 5499 is in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee where is it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 8:00 AM.

Action:  Contact your Representatives on the House State Government & Tribal Relations and Senators on the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committees and let them know that you support  HB 1482 and SB 5499 and ask that they vote YES on these bills and pass them out of their respective committees.

Disclosure of Ballot Images

HB 1823 Concerning disclosure of electronic ballot images.

SUPPORT

HB 1823 allows for an identical digital image to be taken of a paper ballot or ballot card.  Once the time for recounts are completed and when there are no pending recounts these cast vote records and ballot images are made available for public inspection with exceptions including 1) less than 10 instances of a specific ballot design, 2) when there is personally identifiable information unless this information is redacted or by court order finding that a voter’s identity would not be violated.  These records are not to be made available for copying.

Status:  HB 1823 has been referred to the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your Representatives on the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee and ask that HB 1823 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.

Child Marriage

HB 1883 Eliminating child marriage.

SUPPORT

HB 1883 establishes the legal age of marriage in WA State as age 18. 

Status:  HB 1823 has been referred to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your Representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and ask that HB 1883 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.

Equity And Cultural Competency In Public Schools

HB 1914 Providing training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system.

SUPPORT

HB 1914 establishes the Center for Equity and Cultural Competency within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The center is responsible for developing and implementing programs and training to promote equity, diversity and inclusion, increase cultural sensitivity and competence of school administrators, personnel, students and their families and develop and maintain positive school climates. 

Status:  HB 1914 has been referred to the House Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your Representatives on the House Education  Committee and ask that HB 1914 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.

Felons Voting Rights

HB 1924 Concerning the voting rights of persons convicted of a felony offense.

SUPPORT

HB 1924 changes the voting rights law to automatically restore a felon’s voting rights as long as the defendant is not in custody of the department of corrections.  It states that a person serving a term of community custody is not considered to be in custody of the department of corrections unless the person is returned confinement for a violation of community custody.

Status:  HB 1924 has been referred to the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your Representatives on the House State Government & Tribal Relations  Committee and ask that HB 1924 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.

Social Work Student Loan Repayment Program

HB 2002 Creating the social work professional loan repayment program.

SUPPORT

HB 2002 establishes a student loan repayment program for licensed social workers and individuals who have at least a Bachelor of Social Work and work for the WA state department of children youth and families.  Social workers employed by the department of children, youth, and families are eligible to participate in the program two years after commencing their employment as a social worker for the agency.  A maximum lifetime award of $50,000 is allowed for up to a maximum of 10 consecutive years until the loan is repaid.  If the individual terminates employment with DCYF, then eligibility is discontinued.

Status:  HB 2002 has not yet been referred to a committee.

Transportation Funding and Tribes

SB 5778 Restricting the availability of state funds to regional transportation planning organizations that do not provide a reasonable opportunity for voting membership to certain federally recognized tribes.

SUPPORT

SB 5778 sets a requirement for regional transportation planning organizations to be eligible for state funds that they make reasonable opportunity for voting membership for federally recognized tribes that hold a reservation or trust lands within their planning area of the organization.

Status:  SB 5778 has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your Representatives on the Senate Transportation Committee and ask that SB 5778 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.

Ballot Drop Boxes

SB 5779 Concerning ballot drop box placement requirements

WATCH

SB 5779 changes the requirements for ballot drop box locations from a minimum of one ballot drop box per fifteen thousand registered voters to one drop box per twenty thousand registered voters in the county.

Status:  SB 5779 is in the Senate State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 8 AM.

Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families

Initiative 976 – Vehicle Fees and Taxes

Initiative 976  Limiting state and local taxes, fees, and other charges relating to vehicles.

OPPOSE

I 976 is Tim Eyman’s initiative.  The “$30 Tabs Initiative” would establish a regressive license tab fee system because cars and light trucks of all values would be taxed the same. Additionally, it would harm Sound Transit by preventing it from obtaining the amount of revenue estimated, relied upon and approved by the voters in 2016 in the measure called Sound Transit 3, and leave Sound Transit without the anticipated revenues to cover their bond costs.

Status:  Initiative 976 has been referred to the House and Senate Transportation Committees where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact Representative Jake Fey  and Steve Hobbs the chairs of the of the House and Senate Transportation Committees and let them know that you do not support Initiative 976 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.

Feminine Hygiene Sales Tax Exemption

HB 1053 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.

SB 5206 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.

SUPPORT

HB 1053 and SB 5206 provide a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.

Status:  HB 1053 had a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on Thursday, January 17.  It is eligible for an executive hearing to vote it out of committee.

SB 5206 has been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee ask for their support and a YES vote for HB 1053.
Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their support and a YES vote on
SB 5206.

Diaper Sales and Use Tax Exemption

HB 1054 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for diapers.

SB 5301 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for diapers.

SUPPORT

HB 1054 and SB 5301 provide a sales and use tax exemption for diapers for both adults and infants.

Status:  HB 1054 is in the House Finance Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.

SB 5301 has been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee and ask that HB 1054 be scheduled for a public hearing and for their support and a YES vote for HB 1054.
Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask that
SB 5301 be scheduled for a public hearing and for their support and a YES vote for this bill.

Child Support Pass-through Payments

HB 1136 Implementing child support pass-through payments.

SB 5144 Implementing child support pass-through payments.

SUPPORT

HB 1136 and SB 5144 require the Department of Social and Health Services to pass through a portion of child support collections for families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allows states to pass through up to $100 per month of collected child support to TANF families with one child and up to $200 per month of collected child support to TANF families with two or more children without having to reimburse the federal government for its share of the child support collected. This is known as the child support pass through. States that opt to implement the child support pass through must disregard the child support collection paid to the family in determining the family’s cash TANF benefit. Washington implemented child support pass-through payments in October 2008 but suspended the child support pass-through payments effective May 1, 2011.

Status:  HB 1136 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5144 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees ask for their support and a YES vote in their respective committees on HB 1136 and SB 5144.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness Projects

HB 1219 Providing cities and counties authority to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects.

SB 5195 Providing cities and counties authority to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects.

SUPPORT

HB 1219 and SB 5195 authorize cities and counties who are required to plan or who are planning under the Growth Management Act to use of real estate excise tax revenue to support affordable housing and homelessness projects for the planning, acquisition, reconstruction, repair, replacement, rehabilitation or improvement of facilities.

Status:  HB 1219 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

SB 5195 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House and Senate Rules Committees ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1219 and SB 5195.

SB 5358 Concerning affordable housing development on religious organization property

SUPPORT

SB 5358 requires cities and counties to allow for increased density housing to help meet local affordable housing development of single-family and multi-family residences located on property owned or controlled by a religious organization.

Status:  SB 5358 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

Action:  Contact your Senators and ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5358.

TANF and WorkFirst programs

HB 1268 Updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, reducing sanctions, and expanding reasons for time limit extensions in the temporary assistance for needy families and WorkFirst programs.

SUPPORT

HB 1268 is a comprehensive bill that updates the standard of need for families receiving TANF and WorkFirst benefits.  It revises outcome measures and the data collect and requires periodic cost of living updates to the need standard.  It also expand the list of time limit exemptions for hardship reasons for recipients of TANF and WorkFirst programs.  improves housing stability for people with disabilities and seniors by amending eligibility for the essential needs and housing support and the aged, blind, or disabled assistance programs.

Status:  HB 1268 has been referred to the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1268.

HB 1603 Revising economic assistance programs by updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, and reducing barriers to participation.

SB 5684 Revising economic assistance programs by updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, and reducing barriers to participation.

SUPPORT

HB 1603 and SB 5684 do the following:

  • Require, rather than allow, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to exempt Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients from the five-year time limit due to hardship or family

violence.

  • Remove a provision allowing DSHS to limit benefits for new state residents to the benefit level the recipient received in their former state of residence if that rate was lower.
  • Remove the authority for DSHS to permanently disqualify households for noncompliance with WorkFirst requirements.
  • Allow, rather than require, DSHS to reduce a family’s TANF grant due to non-compliance and removes the option to terminate the grant.
  • Add outcome measures for use in evaluating the WorkFirst program, including data for participants who exit due to increased income, employment, at the participant’s request, or for other reasons.
  • Prohibit DSHS from requiring TANF applicants to attend an orientation as a condition of eligibility.
  • Allow DSHS to incorporate orientation information into the recipient assessment.
  • Require DSHS to revise the comprehensive study of living costs that the standard of need for TANF is based upon.
  • Require DSHS to base the standards for the Pregnant Women Assistance and the State Family Assistance programs on the revised comprehensive study.
  • Specifies the act applies prospectively only and not retroactively.

Status:  HB 1603 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5684 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives and senators on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees and ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1603 and SB 5684

Housing Trust Fund

HB 1581 Funding local housing trust fund programs in certain cities.

SUPPORT

HB 1581 establishes funding for local housing trust fund programs.  This bill authorizes cities to create local housing trust funds for affordable housing. It distributes the state portion of the sales and use tax imposed on construction activities to a qualifying city’s local housing trust fund, up to an annual maximum of $5 million per city.

Status:  HB 1581 has passed out of the House Housing, Community Development, and Veterans Committee and is now in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1581.

Wage and Salary Information

HB 1696 Concerning wage and salary information.

SUPPORT

HB 1696 prohibits and employer from: (1) Seeking the wage or salary history of an applicant from the applicant or a current or former employer; or (2) Requiring that an applicant’s wage or salary history meet certain criteria.  The employer may confirm an applicant’s wage or salary history if the applicant voluntarily discloses it OR after the employer has negotiated and made an offer of employment with compensation to the applicant.  This bill also institutes a complaint process for violations of this legislation and allows the dept of labor and industries to order an employer to pay actual damages or $5000 whichever is greater if violations are found.

Status: HB 1696 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Commerce and Labor Committee on Monday, February 11 at 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and let them know that you support HB 1696 and request a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

SB 5090 Addressing wage and salary information.

SUPPORT

SB 5090 prohibits an employer from: (1) Seeking the wage or salary history of an applicant from the applicant or a current or former employer; or (2) Requiring that an applicant’s prior wage or salary history meet certain criteria.

Status:  SB 5090 is in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, February 11 at 10:00 AM.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5090.

Homeless Persons Pilot Program

SB 5261 Creating a pilot program for certain cities to hire homeless persons for local beautification projects.

SUPPORT

SB 5261 requires the department of commerce to establish a pilot program for cities to provide job opportunities to, and hire persons experiencing homelessness for, the purposes of local beautification projects. Requires the hired homeless people to be paid at least the local minimum wage and be connected with organizations that provide wraparound housing services. The pilot expires on July 1, 2022 with the final report due July 1, 2023.

Status:  SB 5261 is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your Senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5261.

Universal Worker Protection Act

SB 5690 Creating the universal worker protection act.

SUPPORT

SB 5690  creates the Employee Fair Classification Act (EFCA). Under the EFCA, the following actions by employers or other persons are prohibited:

  • Willfully misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor;
  • Charging a misclassified employee a fee or making unlawful deductions from compensation;
  • Requiring or requesting an employee make an agreement or sign a document that results in misclassification;
  • Forming, assisting in, or inducing the formation of a business entity, or paying or collecting a fee for the use of a business entity, for the purposes of facilitating or evading detection of a violation of the EFCA; and
  • For pay, conspire with, aid and abet, assist, or advise an employer with the intent of
  • Violating the EFCA.

Status:  SB 5690 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

Action:  Contact your Senators on the Senate Labor and Commerce  Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5690.

Consumer Rights

Senior Citizen and Veterans Property Taxes

HB 1044 Concerning senior citizen property taxes.

SUPPORT

HB 1044 is a bill that deals with the rising costs of property taxes in Washington State for seniors with moderate to low incomes. The current law assists seniors who as a couple earn $40,000 or less in combined disposable income, but the new law will also allow seniors a tax break if their income threshold is 35% to 55% of the county median family income. This new bill proposes the following:

Income thresholds for the senior citizen, individuals with disabilities, and veterans property tax exemptions are modified. Income ceilings based on a percentage of county median family income are added to each threshold category as follows:

  •  Income Threshold one is added to the $40,000 income threshold. Income Threshold one is defined as 55% of county median family income. A person qualifies if their combined disposable income is less than $40,000 or Income Threshold one, whichever is greater;
  • Income Threshold two is added to the $35,000 income threshold. Income Threshold two is defined as 44% of county median family income. A person qualifies if their combined disposable income is between $30,001 and $35,000 or is less than Income Threshold two, whichever is greater; and
  • Income Threshold three is added to the $30,000 income threshold. Income Threshold three is defined as 33% of county median family income. A person qualifies if their combined disposable income is less than $30,000 or Income Threshold three, whichever is greater.

The bill applies to taxes levied in 2020 and thereafter.

Status:  HB 1044 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Finance Committee and ask them to support with HB 1044 with a YES vote and vote it out of committee.

HB 1181 Providing property tax relief for senior citizens and qualifying veterans.

SB 5160 Concerning property tax exemptions for service-connected disabled veterans and senior citizens..

SUPPORT

HB 1181 and SB 5160 seeks to adjust the income qualification thresholds for the exemption program and are modified beginning with taxes levied for collection in calendar year 2020, and thereafter, as follows:

  • Income Threshold 1 replaces the $30,000 income threshold—Income Threshold 1 is defined as equal to the greater of Income Threshold 1 for the previous year or 45 percent of the county median household income (CMI);
  • Income Threshold 2 replaces the $35,000 income threshold—Income Threshold 2 is defined as equal to the greater of Income Threshold 2 for the previous year or 55 percent of CMI; and
  • Income Threshold 3 replaces the $40,000 income threshold—Income Threshold 3 is defined as equal to the greater of Income Threshold 3 for the previous year or 65 percent of CMI. The income threshold for the deferral program is defined as equal to the greater of the income threshold for the previous year or 75 percent of CMI, replacing the $45,000 income threshold.

The income threshold for the deferral program is defined as equal to the greater of the income threshold for the previous year or 75 percent of CMI, replacing the $45,000 income threshold. Senate Bill Report – 3 – SB 5160 CMI is defined as median household income estimates for Washington by county of the legal address of the principal place of residence, as published by the Office of Financial Management (OFM).

A claimant may, among other stated exceptions, be confined to the home of a relative for the purpose of long-term care without disqualification to the property tax exemption program.

 The term “principal place of residence” is defined to mean a residence occupied for more than nine months each calendar year.

 The bill includes language that states the tax preference is exempt from the tax preference performance statement and ten-year expiration date requirements for new tax preferences because the Legislature intends for the preference in this act to be permanent.

Status:  HB 1181 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

SB 5160 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Finance Committee and ask them to support HB 1181 with a YES vote and vote it out of committee.

Contact your senator and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask them to support SB 5160 and vote it out of committee.

Out of Network Health Care Services

HB 1065 Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services.

SB 5031 Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services.

SUPPORT

HB 1065 and SB 5031 establishes the balance billing protection act. They find that consumers receive surprise bills or balance bills for services provided at out-of-network facilities or by out-of-network health care providers at in-network facilities. HB 1065 and SB 5031 declare an intent to: (1) Ban balance billing of consumers enrolled in fully insured, regulated insurance plans and plans offered to public employees under state health care authority provisions for certain services; (2) Provide self-funded group health plans with an option to elect to be subject to the provisions of this act; and (3) Remove consumers from balance billing disputes and require that out-of-network providers and carriers negotiate out-of-network payments in good faith under the terms of this act.

Status:  HB 1065 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

SB 5031 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask them to support this bill with a YES vote on HB 1065.

Contact you senators and members of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committed and ask them to support SB 5031 with a YES vote.

Debt Collection

HB 1066 Requiring debt collection complaints to be filed prior to service of summons and complaint.

SB 5034 Requiring debt collection complaints to be filed prior to service of summons and complaint.

SUPPORT

Requires that debt collection complaints be filed before service of the summons and complaint on defendants to ensure that defendants: (1) Understand that it is an existing court case; (2) Are informed of the case number; and (3) Receive adequate notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond and be heard to avoid default judgment. Prohibits a licensee or employee of a licensee from serving a debtor with a summons and complaint unless the summons and complaint have been filed with the court and bear the case number assigned by the court. 

Status:  HB 1066 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a hearing and vote by the full House.

SB 5034 is in the Senate in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a hearing and vote by the full Senate.

Action:  Contact the House Rules Committee and your representatives and ask that HB 1066 be scheduled for a vote by the full House and for a YES vote on HB 1066.
Contact the
Senate Rules Committee and your senator and ask that SB 5034 be scheduled for a vote by the full House and for a YES vote on  SB 5034

Protecting Taxpayers from Home Foreclosure

HB 1105 Protecting taxpayers from home foreclosure.

SUPPORT

HB 1105 is a bill that seeks to help consumers avoid foreclosure due to a lapse in the payment of state property taxes. The bill creates a counselor referral hotline account and a housing counseling activities account. The objective of the bill is to provide greater notice to taxpayers who are delinquent and help provide a mechanism to cure the delinquency through housing counselor assistance and/or through a payment plan agreement with taxing authorities.  With the problem of homelessness and the rising property taxes in our state we must do everything we can to ensure that those that can afford to stay in their house are given the opportunity to do so with better notice and assistance.

Status:  HB 1105 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask them to support this bill with a YES vote on HB 1105.

Working Families Tax Credit

HB 1527 Providing a working families’ tax credit.

SB 5810 Providing a working families’ tax credit.

SUPPORT

HB 1527 and SB 5810 provide a sales tax credit for low-income working individuals and families similar to the federal earned income tax credit. The objective as cited in the bill is allow low-income and middle-income workers to recover some or all of the sales tax, they pay to support state and local government as a way to increase their economic security and to decrease the regressivity of our state tax code. It is the legislature’s intent to provide a sales and use tax exemption, in the form of a remittance, to low income and middle-income working families. If a review finds that the working families’ tax credit provides meaningful financial relief to low-income and middle-income households, then the legislature intends to extend the expiration date of the tax preference.

Status:  HB 1527 is eligible for an executive session in the House Finance Committee.

SB 5810 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means Committees ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1527 and SB 5810.

HB 1681 Funding the working families tax exemption by imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation.

SUPPORT

HB 1681 institutes a surcharge on publicly traded companies where their chief executive officer pay ratio is at least fifty to one to provide funding for the working families tax exemption.

Status:  HB 1681 is in the  House Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1681.

Medical Bill Debt Collection Reform

HB 1531 Reforming the Rules for Medical Debt Collection.

SB 5530 Reforming the Rules for Medical Debt Collection

SUPPORT

HB 1531 and SB 5530 are bills to ensure that people are not penalized for seeking medical care when they need it. Medical billing is not transparent, and people often don’t know how much they owe until after they have already received medical care.  This is a problem for those with insurance and those without it. This bill will address the following problems with our current system:

  • Prohibits Pre-Judgment interest
  • Reduces Post Judgment interest
  • Mandates that debt collectors provide people with information about Charity Care
  • Requires Debt collectors to cease collections if a Charity Care Application is Pending
  • Eliminates bench warrants for medical debt
  • Prohibits the assignment and sale of debt for 120 days after the first billing; and
  • Prohibits debt collectors from making adverse credit reports for 180 days post assignment.

Status:  HB 1531 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary on Friday, February 15 at 10:00 AM.

SB 5530 is in the Senate Law & Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact members of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee to vote HB 1531 out of committee with a YES vote.
Contact your member of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and let them know that you support SB 5530 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.

Zombie Debt Collection

HB 1730 Stopping the Practice of Time-Barred Debt Collection.

SUPPORT

HB 1730 is a bill to stop the practice of debt collection once the statute of limitations has passed.  Under the current law, debt collectors can still contact you by phone and by mail asking you to pay on a debt that has already passed the statute of limitations. This practice is often known as zombie debt collection because a consumer can unknowingly restart the clock on the statute of limitations by making a payment and restart their legal liability on the debt. The objective of this bill is to stop this practice. Under this bill, any payment of principal or interest made after the limitations period has expired shall not revive or extend the limitations period. This bill will hopefully stop a very misleading practice of debt collectors.

Status:  HB 1730 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 15 at 10:00 AM.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and ask them to support this bill with a YES vote on HB 1730

Increasing Jurisdictional Amounts in Small Claims Court

SB 5621 – Increasing the jurisdictional amount for small claims courts.

OPPOSE unless amended

SB 5621 is a bill that is sponsored by Republicans and debt collectors and disguised as a consumer friendly bill. The objective of the bill is to increase the amount of claims filed in small claims court from $5,000 to $10,000. There is an amendment on the table by Senator Kuderer to allow an increase in the jurisdictional amounts of small claims courts for individuals, not businesses so as not to use the courts for easier debt collection actions with no change for consumers to have legal representation.

Status:  SB 5621 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, February 14 at 10:00 AM.

Action:  Tell the chair,Senator Pedersen and members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee that you are opposed to SB 5621 unless Senator Kuderer’s amendment to allow an increase in jurisdictional amounts for individuals but not businesses is adopted.

Reproductive Rights and Health Care

Medicaid Services Access

HB 1186 Continuing access to Medicaid services.

SUPPORT

HB 1186 requires medical assistance to be provided for pregnant women who are state residents and whose family income at the time of application is no greater than one hundred-ninety-three percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services. Requires the state health care authority to take such actions as may be necessary to assure the receipt of federal financial participation under the medical assistance program and any other federal funding sources that are currently available or may become available in the future.

Status:  HB 1186 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask that HB 1186 be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.

Healthcare Provider Misconduct Notice

HB 1198 Requiring health care providers sanctioned for sexual misconduct to notify patients.

SUPPORT
HB 1198 requires a health care provider who is subject to the uniform disciplinary act and has been sanctioned by a disciplining authority for sexual misconduct to provide a disclosure to all patients before a patient’s first visit with the licensee following the sanction.

Status:  HB 1198 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Wednesday, February 13 at 1:30 PM and if not handled on that date it is scheduled again for Friday, February 15 at 8:00 AM

Action:  Contact your Representatives and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1198 and ask that they vote YES on this bill.

Dental Coverage for Pacific Islander

HB 1218 Concerning dental coverage for Pacific Islanders residing in Washington.

SB 5274 Concerning dental coverage for Pacific Islanders residing in Washington.
SUPPORT
HB 1218  and SB 5274 Establish a dental services program that provides dental coverage to income-eligible members of Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations and the United States with no premium or cost-sharing payment requirements. Defines “COFA citizen” as a person who is a citizen of: (1) The Republic of the Marshall Islands; (2) The Federated States of Micronesia; or (3) The Republic of Palau.  This would expand dental coverage to the COFA citizens who qualify for medical assistance.  Currently other income eligible Washington residents who qualify for medical assistance also qualify for dental assistance.

Status:  HB 1218 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.

SB 5274 has passed out of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and tell them you support HB 1218 and ask that they schedule it for a public hearing and pass it out of committee.

Contact your senator and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5274 and request that it be voted out of committee.

Indian Health Improvement Act

HB 1365 Creating the Washington Indian health improvement act.

SB 5415 Creating the Washington Indian health improvement act.

SUPPORT

HB 1365 and SB 5415 establishes the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act to establish the Indian health improvement account to provide incentives to tribes to assume the administrative burdens created by the federal requirements for the state shift health care costs to the federal government.  It establishes an advisory committee made up of primarily tribal representatives and local urban Indian health organizations whose responsibilities include a.  adopting the Indian health advisory plan, b. facilitating better understanding of health disparities and historical trauma and tribal sovereignty and self-governance, c. providing oversight of contracting and service performance contracts to address impacts on services to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and d. providing oversight of the Indian Health reinvestment account. The goal of the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act is to raise the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives and improve delivery of services by increasing access to care, strengthening continuity of care, and improving population health through investment in capacity and infrastructure.

Status:  HB 1365 has been assigned to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
SB 5415 has passed out of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and is now in the Senate Ways and Means 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 ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1365
Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5415 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Maternal Mortality

HB 1369 Concerning maternal mortality reviews

SB 5425 Concerning maternal mortality reviews

SUPPORT

HB 1369 and SB 5425 update the state’s maternal mortality review which conducts comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of maternal of women while pregnant or within one year of the end of the pregnancy.  It requires that at least one member of the panel be a tribal representative and expands the list of categories of persons who can serve on the panel.  It also expands the list of agencies to include the new Department of Children, Youth and Families and its licensees and providers who may be requested to provide records for the morality review panel.  The bill will also allow the Department of Health with a signed written data sharing agreement to share information with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The requirements for data sharing agreement prohibit identifying information for the deceased individuals and their families from being released and any attempts of the recipient from attempting to identify these individuals.

Status:  HB 1369 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

SB 5425 is in the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representative son the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you support HB 1369 and SB 5425 and request a YES vote in their respective committees.

Comprehensive Sex Education

HB 1407 Concerning comprehensive sexual health education.

SB 5395 Concerning comprehensive sexual health education.
SUPPORT
HB 1407 and SB 5395 expand the requirements for every public school to provide comprehensive sexual health education that is an integral part of the curriculum.  The curriculum in addition to being medically and scientifically accurate, must also be evidence based and encourages healthy relationships that are based on mutual respect and affection and are free from violence, coercion and intimidation.  The curriculum also must teach how to identify and respond to behaviors that contribute to sexual violence and emphasize the importance of affirmative consent before sexual activity.

Status:  HB 1407 has been referred to the House Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

SB 5395 is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your representative and members of the House Education Committee and let them know you support HB 1407 and request that they schedule a public hearing.

Contact your Senators and members of Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee and let them know you support SB 5395 and request a YES vote to pass SB 5395 out of committee.

Nonresident Pharmacies

HB 1412 Concerning nonresident pharmacies.

SB 5459 Concerning nonresident pharmacies.
SUPPORT
HB 1412 and SB 5459 amend the state’s statute regarding pharmacies located in other states and Canada and clarifies what types of documentation is necessary for licensure by the department of health.

Status:  HB 1412 has passed out of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and is most likely to be sent directly to the Rules Committee to schedule it for a vote by the full House.

SB 5459 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your representatives to let them know you support HB 1412 and request a YES vote on HB 1412.

Contact your Senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5459 and request that they schedule a public hearing.

SB 5184 Concerning prescription coverage and the use of nonresident pharmacies.
SUPPORT
SB 5184 Requires health carriers to include in any contract with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) a requirement that the PBM receive enrollee authorization prior to filling prescriptions through a nonresident pharmacy. Requires health plans and nonresident pharmacies to provide notices to health plan enrollees about the use of nonresident pharmacies.

Status:  SB 5184 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee where it is elibible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your Senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5184 and request that it be voted out of committee.

Mental Health Parity

HB 1447 Concerning mental health parity.

SUPPORT
HB 1447  amends the requirements for health care coverage to require that health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020 cover medically necessary outpatient and inpatient treatment services for mental disorders covered by the diagnostic categories describe in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Status:  HB 1447 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public.

Action:  Contact your representative and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1447 and request that they schedule a public hearing.

Standardized Health Care Plans

HB 1523 Increasing the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market.

SB 5526 Increasing the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market.

SUPPORT
HB 1523 and SB 5526 establish regulations for insurance plans in the exchange such as reducing deductibles, making more services available before the deductible, provide predictable cost sharing, reducing barriers to maintaining and improving health, and encouraging choice based on value while limiting increases in health plan premium rates.  

Status:  HB 1523 is eligible for an executive session in the  House Health Care and Wellness Committee.

SB 5526 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, February 11 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your Representatives and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1523.

Contact your Senator and members of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5526.

Health Care Coverage for Young Adults

HB 1697 Concerning health coverage for young adults.

SUPPORT
HB 1697 requires the WA State Health Care Authority to individuals who are at least 19 and no older than 26 years of age who have income at or below 133 % of the federal poverty level, who are not incarcerated, and not eligible for Medicaid.  This bill would allow undocumented immigrants under the age of 26 to receive health care through WA State’s Apple Health Program.

Status:  HB 1697 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your Representatives and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1697.

Abortion Prohibition Bills

HB 1526 Enacting the Washington pain capable unborn child protection act.
OPPOSE
HB 1526 prohibits abortion except in the case of a life threatening medical emergency (not including psychological or emotional conditions) or fetal anomaly unless a physician has determined the post fertilization age of a fetus.

Status:  HB 1526 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact Representatives Eileen Cody (chair) and Nicole Macri (vice chair) of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know that you do not support HB 1526 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.

HB 1560 Prohibiting certain types of abortions.
OPPOSE
HB 1560 prohibits and criminalizes abortion after 11 weeks post fertilization, and removal of a fetus by the of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or clamps or suction to cause the “death” of and extract the fetus.

Status:  HB 1560 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact Representatives Eileen Cody (chair) and Nicole Macri (vice chair) of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know that you do not support HB 1560 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.

SB 5721 Concerning the regulation of abortion facilities.
OPPOSE
SB 5721 adds restrictive regulations to facilities that provide abortions.

Status:  SB 5721 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact Senators Annette Cleveland (chair) and Emily Randall (vice chair) of the Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you do not support SB 5721 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.

Reproductive Healthcare Access for All

HB 1612 Eliminating barriers to reproductive health care for all.

SB 5602 Eliminating barriers to reproductive health care for all.
SUPPORT
Expands reproductive health access to all people in Washington. These bills include specific provisions that address the reproductive health care needs of Washington’s immigrant and transgender communities.  HB 1612 and SB 5602 do the following:

  1. Create a state funded program to cover family planning services for immigrants who would be eligible for the Take Charge federal waiver program but cannot access it because of federal restrictions. It also requires outreach and education about this program.
  2. Prohibit gender identity discrimination, including automatic denials based on gender identity, in all reproductive health services covered by Medicaid and private insurance plans.
  3. Require private insurance plans to cover additional reproductive health services, beyond those required in the Reproductive Parity Act (RPA) and the preventive services statute.
  4. Correct the RPA to explicitly include student health plans.

Status: HB 1612 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing 

SB 5602 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 15 at 8:00 AM

Action:  Contact your representative and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1612 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.

Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5602 and ask that it be voted out of committee.

Universal Health Care

HB 1877 Providing a pathway to establish a universal health care system for the residents of Washington state.

SB 5822 Providing a pathway to establish a universal health care system for the residents of Washington state.
SUPPORT
HB 1877 and SB 5822 declare that health care is a human right. These bills direct the health care authority to convene a workgroup on establishing a universal health care system in Washington state.  The work group must consist of stakeholders, including: 1) consumers, 2) large and small businesses with experience with large and small group insurance and self-insured models, 3) labor, 4) health care providers and facilities, 5)health carriers, 6)state agencies, and 6) legislators. The work group must study and make recommendations to the Legislature on a universal health care system, that is publicly funded and privately delivered, including: 1) options for increasing coverage and access for uninsured and underinsured 2) transparency measures, 3) innovations promoting quality, 4) options for ensuring a just transition for all stakeholders, 5) options to expand health care purchasing in collaboration with neighboring states, and 6) options for revenue and financing mechanisms to fund the system. The report is due back to the legislature by November 15, 2020.

Status:  HB 1877 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

SB 5822 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on Monday, February 11 at 1:30 pm.

Action:  Contact your representative and members of House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1877 and ask for a YES vote out of committee.
Contact your senators and members of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and ask for their support and YES
SB 5822.

Female Genital Mutilation

HB 2000 Prohibiting female genital mutilation.
SUPPORT
HB 2000 prohibits female genital mutilation and makes it a class B felony when conducted on minors (under age 18).   It also revises the list of acts or conduct of licensed providers that are considered unprofessional and thus prohibited to include performing female genital mutilation that is conducted on minors and non-consenting adults.  Female genital mutilation is defined as circumcision, excision, or infibulation of the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris that is performed for nonmedical reasons.

Status:  HB 2000 is being referred to the House Public Safety Committee where it will be eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your representative and members of House Public Safety Committee and let them know you support HB 2000 with an amendment that would also make it a crime to conduct female genital mutilation on non-consenting adults.

SB 5257 Restricting the practice of female genital mutilation
SUPPORT
SB 5257 revises the list of acts or conduct of licensed providers that are considered unprofessional and thus prohibited to include performing female genital mutilation which is defined as circumcision, excision, or infibulation of the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris that is performed for nonmedical reasons on any: (a) Patient under the age of eighteen; or (b) Nonconsenting patient age eighteen or older.

Status:  SB 5257 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support HB 5257 and ask that it be voted out of committee.

Pelvic Exam Consent

SB 5282 Requiring informed consent for pelvic exams.
SUPPORT
SB 5282 Prohibits a licensed health care provider from knowingly performing or authorizing a student practicing under their authority to perform a pelvic examination on a patient who is anesthetized or unconscious.

Status:  SB 5282 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5282 and ask that it be voted out of committee.

Minimum Health Care Coverage

SB 5840 Requiring maintenance of minimum essential health care coverage.
SUPPORT
When the federal government passed the tax cuts and jobs act of 2017 it repealed the individual mandate starting 2019 that requires all Americans under 65 to have health insurance or pay a penalty.  Maintaining essential health care coverage is an essential part of stabilizing the health insurance market and ensuring residents of the state have access to affordable health care.  We know that in the 1990’s Washington’s individual health care insurance market collapsed partially as a result of revoking the state’s requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage.  

SB 5840 implements a requirement for residents of Washington state to maintain a minimum essential coverage or pay a penalty.  Included are exemptions for persons under 18, persons over 64, residents of other states, individuals who were exempt under the federal  law as it existed on December 15, 2017 or eligible for a hardship exemption as designated by the health exchange.

Status:  SB 5840 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5840 and ask that it be voted out of committee.

Violence Against Women

Sexual Assault Kit Notice

HB 1016 Concerning hospital notification of availability of sexual assault evidence kit collection.
SUPPORT
HB 1016 requires a hospital that does not provide sexual assault evidence kit collection or have appropriate providers available to provide the collection at all times, to develop a plan by July 1, 2020, to assist individuals with obtaining the collection. Requires a hospital that does not perform the collection or have appropriate providers available to, beginning July 1, 2020: (1) Provide notice, within two hours of a request, to an individual who presents in the emergency department and requests a collection that the hospital does not perform the collection or does not have appropriate providers available; and (2) Coordinate care with the local community sexual assault agency and assist the patient in finding a facility with an appropriate provider available.

Status:  HB 1016 has passed the House and is being sent to the Senate.  It has not yet been assigned to a committee in the Senate.

Sexual Assault Protection Orders

HB 1149 Clarifying requirements to obtain a sexual assault protection order.

SUPPORT
HB 1149 finds that the state supreme court’s decision in Roake v. Delman, 189 Wn.2d 775 (2018), does not reflect the legislature’s intent regarding requirements for obtaining a civil sexual assault protection order. The bill clarifies that a petitioner who seeks a sexual assault protection order is not required to separately allege or prove that the petitioner has a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts by the respondent, in addition to alleging and proving that the petitioner was sexually assaulted by the respondent.

Status:  HB 1149 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

Action: Contact your representatives and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1149.

Sexual Assault Survivors

HB 1166 Supporting sexual assault survivors

SUPPORT
HB 1166 changes the composition of the joint legislative task force on sexual assault forensic examination best practices.

Requires the task force to: (1) Develop policies and submit recommendations on the storage, retention, and destruction of unreported sexual assault kits; (2) Monitor implementation of state and federal legislative changes; (3) Collaborate with the office of the attorney general to implement reforms pursuant to federal grant requirements; and (4) Make recommendations for institutional reforms.

Provides a December 31, 2021, expiration date for the task force.

Requires the state auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the statewide sexual assault tracking system and operations of the Washington state patrol crime laboratory with respect to processing sexual assault kits.

Requires the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to designate sexual assault kits as unreported or reported.

Expands the requirements of the specialized, intensive, and integrative training for people responsible for investigating sexual assault cases involving adult victims.

Requires the Washington state patrol, when it receives a request for examination of a sexual assault kit from a law enforcement agency, to conduct the laboratory examination of the kit and enter relevant information into the combined DNA index system, within forty-five days of receipt of the request.

Requires law enforcement agencies to submit to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory requests for forensic analysis of sexual assault kits collected before July 24, 2015, and in the possession of the law enforcement agencies.

Prohibits the disposal or destruction of untested sexual assault kits.

 Status:  HB 1166 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1166  

Statute of Limitations for Felony Sex Offences

HB 1231 Modifying the statute of limitations for certain felony sex offenses.
SUPPORT
Substitute HB 1231 lifts the statute of limitations on the crimes of Rape in the first and second degrees if the victim is under the age of 16; Rape of a Child in the second and third degrees; Child Molestation in the second and third degrees; Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the first degree; Custodial Sexual Misconduct in the first degree; and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The statute of limitations is extended to 20 years for Rape in the first and second degrees if the victim is 16 years or older, and for Indecent Liberties. The statute of limitations is extended to 10 years for the crime of Rape in the third degree. The statute of limitations for Incest is extended to 10 years, or the victim’s thirtieth birthday if committed against a victim under the age of 18, whichever is later.

Status:  HB 1231 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing and executive session on Wednesday, February 13 at 3:30 PM.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1231 as passed out of committee.

Assault Weapons

HB 1286 Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.

SB 5340 Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
SUPPORT
HB 2648 and SB 5340 define what constitutes an assault weapon and large capacity magazines. It prohibits the manufacture, possession, distribution, import, transfer, sale, purchase or transfer of any assault weapon or large capacity magazine.  A person who owns such as of the effective date of the bill may not sell or transfer the weapon or large capacity magazine to anyone other than a licensed gun dealer, a gun smith for repair, or to law enforcement.  This bill exempts government agents/employees, and members of the US armed services who are authorized as part of their jobs from the ban. Other exceptions are also listed.

Status:  HB 1286 is currently in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

SB 5340 is currently in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary and Senate Law and Justice Committees and ask that HB 1286 and SB 5340 be scheduled for public hearing and passed out of committee.

Temporary Protection Orders

HB 1350 – Issuing temporary protection orders

SUPPORT

HB 1350 modifies which courts handle temporary protection order and transferring to the superior courts

Status:  HB 1350 has passed the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and will most likely be sent directly to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

Action:  Contact your representatives e and let them know that you support HB 1350 and request that they vote YES on HB 1350 when it comes to the floor.

Immunity from Prosecution  for Prostitution in Some Circumstances

HB 1382 Increasing access to emergency assistance for victims by providing immunity from prosecution for prostitution offenses in some circumstances.
SUPPORT
HB 1382 allows for persons seeking emergency assistance or seeks emergency assistance for a victim of a violent offense, assault in the third degree, assault in the fourth degree or rape in the third degree to not be charged with prostitution if the evidence of the charge was obtained as a result of the need for emergency assistance.

Status:  HB 1382 has been assigned to the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, February 14 at 8:00 AM.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB 1382 and request that they vote it out of committee.

Domestic Violence Programs

HB 1517 Concerning domestic violence.

SB 5681 Concerning domestic violence.
SUPPORT
HB 1517 and SB 5681 do the following

  • Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study on domestic violence (DV) treatment programs operating under the new administrative regulatory model.
  • Requires the Washington State University Department of Criminal Justice to develop a DV risk assessment tool.
  • Establishes requirements for DV offenders participating in the Special Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative.
  • Modifies community custody conditions for DV offenders.
  • Establishes requirements for deferred prosecutions involving DV behavioral problems.
  • Specifies timeframes for which DV no-contact orders entered as a condition of sentence remain in effect.
  • Requires the enforcement of civil DV protection orders issued by Canadian Courts.

Substitute HB 1517 modifies he current statutory definitions pertaining to DV are modified to distinguish between DV committed by intimate partners and family or household members. Intent language was added

specifying that the legislative intent for reorganizing the definition is to facilitate data analysis rather than to substantively change DV cases.

Status:  SHB 1517 has passed out of the House Public Safety Committee and is most likely going to be sent to the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 5681 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriation Committee and let them know that you support SHB 1517 and request that they vote it out of committee.

Contact your senator and members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and request that SB 5681 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Domestic Violence Resources

HB 1533 Making information about domestic violence resources available in the workplace.
SUPPORT
HB 1533 requires that the employment security department create a domestic violence poster with a space for an employer to provide the name or names of community resources regarding domestic violence.  The poster is required to be posted with the other required employment posters.

Status:  HB 1533 has passed the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and will most likely be sent to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.

Missing and Murdered Native American Women

HB 1713 Improving law enforcement response to missing and murdered Native American women.
SUPPORT
HB 1713 establishes a legislative task force on missing and murdered Native American women to monitor and improve law enforcement response to missing persons reports for Native American women. This task force is responsible for developing a best practices protocol, developing a tool kit for tribal and urban Indian communities  to educate families about steps and actions they can take if a loved one is missing, raising public awareness of the issue.  Representatives on this task force include representatives from the legislature, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, the bureau of Indian affairs, FBI, and the governor’s office of Indian affairs.  The first report of this committee is due Dec 1, 2019.  The task force must also develop a database of nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that provide aid and support in locating missing Native American women.

Status:  HB 1713 has been assigned to the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, February 11 at 3:30 PM.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB 1713 and request that they vote it out of committee.

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Prevention

HB 1728 Preventing the sexual harassment and sexual assault of certain isolated workers.

SB 5258 Preventing the sexual harassment and sexual assault of certain isolated workers.
SUPPORT
HB 1728 and SB 5258 require every hospitality, retail, behavioral health care, or custodial employer, or labor contractor who employs a custodian, security guard, hotel or motel housekeeper, or worker who spends a majority of his or her working hours alongside two or fewer coworkers at a location that is not his or her home to: (1) Adopt a sexual harassment policy; (2) Provide mandatory training to the managers, supervisors, and employees; (3) Provide a list of resources for the employees to use; and (4) Provide a panic button to each worker that spends most of his or her working hours alongside two or fewer coworkers at a location that is not his or her home.

Requires the department of labor and industries to publish advice and guidance for employers with fifty or fewer employees relating to the requirements mentioned above. Requires the director of the department of labor and industries to establish procedures for licensing property service contractors. Requires hotels and motels with sixty or more rooms to meet the requirements in this act by January 1, 2020.

Status:  HB 1728 is currently in the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 11 at 1:30 PM.

SB 5258 is currently in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full senate.

Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and let them know you support HB 1728 to protect isolated workers from sexual harassment. 

Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5258 and ask that they vote YES.

HB 1756 Concerning the safety and security of adult entertainers.

SB 5724 Concerning the safety and security of adult entertainers.
SUPPORT
HB 1756 and SB 5724 require the Dept of Labor and Industries to develop training for entertainers that include 1) education about the rights and responsibilities of entertainers, including working as an independent contractor; 2) reporting workplace injuries, including sexual and physical abuse and sexual harassment; 3) risk of human trafficking; and 4) resources for assistance.  The bill also requires the entertainer to sign an affidavit that they have received this training in order to receive or renew an adult entertainer license.  The adult entertainment establishment must provide a panic button to each entertainer at no cost to the entertainer.  The bill also requires the adult entertainment establishment to record accusations regarding customer acts of violence including sexual assault/harassment and retain this information for 5 years after the most recent accusation.  If the accusation is made under penalty of perjury or other evidence, the customer must be prohibited for at least 3 years after the date of the incident.

Status:  HB 1756 is currently in the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, February 11 at 1:30 PM and an executive session on Tuesday, February 12 at 3:30 PM.

SB 5724 is currently in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action: Contact your representatives and Senators on the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and the  Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and ask for their support to pass HB 1756 and SB 5724 out of their respective committees. 

Protection Orders

HB 1786 Improving procedures and strengthening laws relating to protection orders, no-contact orders, and restraining orders.
SUPPORT
HB 1786 requires that a court when issuing a protection order, no-contact order, or restraining order to also issue an order prohibiting the individual from accessing, obtaining, or possessing any firearms or other dangerous weapons if evidence shows the individual used, displayed, or threatened to use a firearm or other dangerous weapon.  It also requires the surrender of any concealed pistol license by the individual.  It also changes the language in the law from “intimate partner” to “protected person”.

Status:  HB 1786 has been assigned to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Friday, February 15 at 10:00 AM.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights  & Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 1786 and request that they vote it out of committee.

Sexually violent predators’ placement and treatment

HB 1825 Concerning the placement and treatment of conditionally released sexually violent predators.

SUPPORT
HB 1825 requires that any person who is subject to restricted liberty as a sexually violent predator has the right to an individualize discharge plan in addition to adequate care and individualized treatment.  If a petition is presented to the court for a placement outside county where the individual is committed the individual must provide documentation that the residence is appropriate meeting the requirements of RCW 71.09.092.  If the department determines that the proposed residence is not an appropriate placement the department must investigate and report on whether or not an appropriate placement in a county other than the county proposed by the committed person is available.  If none can be identified the report must contain an explanation as to how it came to this conclusion and must detail all efforts to find alternative treatment providers and residential placement options. HB 1825 adds that in the case that the sexually violent predator was convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an offense with a victim under the age of 18, the proposed housing cannot be within ¼ mile of any public or private school K-12

Status:  HB 1825 has been assigned to the House Public Safety Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB 1825 and request that they vote it out of committee.

Sexual assault nurse examiners

HB 1942 Increasing the availability of sexual assault nurse examiner education in rural and underserved areas.
SUPPORT
HB 1942 requires the WA State University School of Nursing to establish an educational program to increase the availability of qualified sexual assault nurse examiners in eastern WA.  The School of Nursing is also directed to establish a regional sexual assault nurse examiner leader pilot program to determine educational needs in local communities, provide recommendations to increase the number of sexual assault nurse examiners, and develop community action plans.  The pilot program is also directed to train lead sexual assault nurse examiners, develop support mechanisms and role requirements for the lead sexual assault nurse examiners.

Status:  HB 1942 has been assigned to the House College & Workforce Development Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action: Contact your representatives on the House College & Workforce Development Committee and let them know that you support HB 1942 and request that they vote it out of committee.

Higher Education Sexual Violence Task Force

HB 1998 Creating a task force on sexual violence at institutions of higher education.

SUPPORT
HB 1998 establishes a joint legislative task force on Title IX protections and compliance.  The task force is directed to

  • Examine legislative, administrative, and other options to ensure that this state provides clear, consistent, and comprehensive protections for survivors that are consistent with federal law;
  • Develop model procedures, policies, and guidance for institutions of higher education to implement in this state; and
  • Evaluate and recommend oversight and accountability measures, including the feasibility of establishing a statewide office to implement, monitor, and ensure the consistency of campus sexual violence policies statewide.

Status:  HB 1998 has not yet been assigned to a committee.

High Capacity Magazines

SB 5062 Concerning high capacity magazines.
SUPPORT
SB 5062 prohibits a person from manufacturing, possessing, distributing, importing, transferring, selling, offering to sell, or purchasing a large capacity magazine. Defines “large capacity magazine” as an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition.

Status:  SB 5062 is currently 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 5062 and ask that they vote YES.

Trafficking Victims

SB 5164 Providing public assistance to certain victims of human trafficking.
SUPPORT
SB 5164 requires the department of social and health services, for determining eligibility for public assistance and participation levels in the cost of medical care, to exempt restitution payments made to people of Japanese and Aleut ancestry pursuant to the civil liberties act of 1988 and the Aleutian and Pribilof Island restitution act.

Authorizes the department of social and health services to establish a food assistance program for victims of human trafficking.

Provides eligibility to victims of human trafficking for state family assistance programs, as provided in rule, who otherwise meet program eligibility requirements.

Requires medical care services to be provided to victims of human trafficking, who are not eligible for Medicaid, who otherwise qualify for the state family assistance program.

Requires the state health care authority to: (1) Add the medical care services enrollees into the apple health for kids, with the same benefits and services provided to Medicaid apple health for kids enrollees; and (2) Coordinate with the department, food assistance programs for legal immigrants, state family assistance programs, and refugee cash assistance.

Status:  SB 5164 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Human Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 5164 and ask that they vote YES on this bill and pass it out of committee.

Possession of Firearms

SB 5205 Concerning provisions governing firearms possession by persons who have been found incompetent to stand trial and who have a history of one or more violent acts.
SUPPORT
SB 5205 Prohibits a person from possessing a firearm if his or her charges are dismissed based on incompetency to stand trial and the court makes a finding indicating that the person has a history of one or more violent acts.

Status:  SB 5205 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 5205 and ask that they vote YES on this bill.

Domestic Violence Registry

SB 5244 Creating a domestic violence offender registry.
SUPPORT
SB 5244 requires the court, when a person is convicted of a qualifying domestic violence offense, to enter an order designating the person a serious domestic violence offender and requiring the person to appear on the serious domestic violence offender registry.

Requires the Washington state patrol to: (1) Maintain a central registry of serious domestic violence offenders; (2) Upon request of a person who appears on the registry, investigate whether the person’s registration period has ended by operation of law; (3) Notify registered serious domestic violence offenders of any changes to the registration requirements; and (4) Notify an offender included on the registry for one or more offenses committed exclusively when the offender was a juvenile of his or her ability to petition for relief from registration.

Status:  SB 5244 is currently in the Senate  Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you support SB 5244 and ask that they vote YES and pass it out of committee.

Legislative Code of Conduct

SB 5861 Extending respectful workplace code of conduct provisions to all members of the legislative community.
SUPPORT
SB 5861 requires the public disclosure commission to establish a code of conduct for registered lobbyists. It must include a process for conducting investigations into any alleged violations of the code of conduct in order to make credible findings when allegations are sustained. The code of conduct must be modeled on the code of conduct developed for the legislature itself.  Lobbyists must sign a statement at the time of registration that they have completed a training course on the respectful workplace code developed by the commission.  If a lobbyist’s registration is revoked, they cannot conduct any lobbying activity during the period of revocation.

Status:  SB 5861 is currently in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.

Action:  Contact your senators on the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee and let them know that you support SB 5861 and ask that they vote YES and pass it out of committee.

HOUSE COMMITTEES

Appropriations Committee:
Timm Ormsby (Chair), June Robinson (1st Vice Chair), Steve Berquist (2nd Vice Chair), Drew Stokesbary, Drew MacEwen, Skyler Rude, Michele Caldier, Bruce Chandler, Eileen Cody, Laurie Dolan, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Drew Hansen, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, Zach Hudgins, Laurie Jinkins, Vicki Kraft, Nicole Macri, Gina Mosbrucker, Eric Pettigrew, Gerry Pollet, Cindy Ryu, Joe Schmick, Tana Senn, Larry Springer, Derek Stanford, Mike Steele, Pat Sullivan, Robert Sutherland, Gael Tarleton, Steve Tharainger, and Mike Volz

Capital Budget Committee:
Steve Tharinger (Chair), Beth Doglio (Vice Chair), Strom Peterson (Vice Chair), Richard DeBolt, Norma Smith, Mike Steele, Lisa Callan, Chris Corry, Lauren Davis, Mary Dye, Carolyn Eslick, Chris Gildon, Morgan Irwin, Bill Jenkin, Mari Leavitt, Debra Lekanoff, Jacquelin Maycumber, Melanie Morgan, Marcus Riccelli, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Mike Sells, Monica Jurado Stonier, and Jim Walsh

Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
Laurie Jinkins (Chair), My-Linh Thai (Vice Chair), Morgan Irwin, Jeremie Dufault, Roger Goodman, Jenny Graham, Drew Hansen, Christine Kilduff, Steve Kirby, Brad Klippert, Tina Orwall, Matt Shea, Javier Valdez, and Amy Walen

College and Workforce Development Committee:
Drew Hansen (Chair), Debra Entenman (Vice Chair), Mari Leavitt (Vice Chair), Luanne Van Werven, Chris Gildon, Jenny Graham, Steve Berquist, Jared Mead, Dave Paul, Gerry Pollet, Bill Ramos, Skyler Rude, Mike Sells, Vandana Slatter, Robert Sutherland, and Jesse Young

Consumer Protection and Business Committee:
Steve Kirby (Chair), Kristine Reeves (Vice Chair), Brandon Vick, Larry Hoff, Andrew Barkis, Brian Blake, Jeremie Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Derek Stanford, Mike Volz, and Amy Walen

Education Committee:
Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair), Laurie Dolan (Vice Chair), Dave Paul (Vice Chair), Mike Steele, Bob McCaslin, Mike Volz, Steve Berquist, Michelle Caldier, Lisa Callan, Chris Corry, Paul Harris, Christine Kilduff, Vicki Kraft, Jacquelin Maycumber, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Skyler Rude, Monica Jurado Stonier, My-Linh Thai, and Javier Valdez

Finance Committee:
Gael Tarleton (Chair), Amy Walen (Vice Chair), Ed Orcutt, Jesse Young, Mike Chapman, Noel Frame, Nicole Macri, Jeff Morris, Tina Orwall, Larry Springer, Drew Stokesbary, Brandon Vick, and Sharon Wylie          

Health Care and Wellness Committee:
Eileen Cody (Chair), Nicole Macri (Vice Chair), Joe Schmick, Michelle Caldier, Kelly Chambers, Lauren Davis, Richard DeBolt, Paul Harris, Laurie Jinkins, Jacquelin Maycumber, Marcus Riccilli, June Robinson, Monica Jurado Stonier, My-Linh Thai, and Steve Tharinger

Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee:
Cindy Ryu (Chair), Melanie Morgan (Vice Chair), Bill Jenkin, Andrew Barkis, Debra Entenman, Noel Frame, Chris Gildon, Mari Leavitt, and Kristine Reeves

Human Services and Early Learning Committee:
Tana Senn (Chair), Lisa Callan (Vice Chair), Noel Frame (Vice Chair), Tom Dent, Carolyn Eslick, Bob McCaslin, Chris Corry, Roger Goodman, Dan Griffey, Christine Kilduff, Brad Klippert, John Lovick, & Lillian Ortiz-Self

Labor and Workplace Standards Committee:
Mike Sells (Chair), Mike Chapman (Vice-Chair), Gina Mosbrucker, Bruce Chandler, Mia Gregerson, Larry Hoff, and Timm Ormsby

Public Safety Committee:
Roger Goodman (Chair), Lauren Davis (Vice Chair), Brad Klippert, Robert Sutherland, Sherry Appleton, Jenny Graham, Dan Griffey, John Lovick, Tina Orwall, Mike Pellicciotti, and Eric Pettigrew

Rules Committee:
Frank Chopp (Chair), Steve Berquist, Kelly Chambers, Mike Chapman, Chris Corry, Lauren Davis, Noel Frame, Chris Gildon, Christine Kilduff, Joel Kretz, John Lovick, Jacqueline Maycumber, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Tina Orwall, Eric Pettigrew, Marcus Riccelli, Skyler Rude, Larry Springer, Monica Jurado Stonier, Pat Sullivan, Robert Sutherland, Mike Volz, J. T. Wilcox, and Sharon Wylie

State Government and Tribal Relations Committee:
Mia Gregerson (Chair), Mike Pelliciotti (Vice Chair), Jim Walsh, Keith Goehner, Sherry Appleton, Laurie Dolan, Zack Hudgins, Gina Mosbrucker, and Norma Smith

Transportation Committee:
Jake Fey (Chair), Vandana Slatter (2nd Vice Chair), Javier Valdez (2nd Vice Chair), Sharon Wylie (1st Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Jim Walsh, Jessy Young, Matt Bohnke, Kelly Chambers, Mike Chapman, Tom Dent, Beth Doglio, Jeremie Dufault, Debra Entenman, Carolyn Eslick, Keith Goehner, Mia Gregerson, Morgan Irwin, Shelley Kloba, John Lovick, Bob McCaslin, Jared Mead, Ed Orcutt, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Dave Paul, Mike Pellicciotti, Bill Ramos, Marcus Riccelli, Matt Shea, Sharon Whewmake, and Luanne Van Werven

SENATE COMMITEES

Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long-Term Care Committee:
Manka Dhingra (Chair), Keith Wagoner, Jeanne Darneille, David Frockt, and Steve O’Ban

Early Learning and K-12 Committee:
Lisa Wellman (Chair), Claire Wilson (Vice Chair), Brad Hawkins, Jeff Holy, Sam Hunt, John McCoy, Mark Mullet, Mike Padden, Jamie Pedersen, Jesse Salomon, and Keith Wagoner

Health and Long Term Care Committee:
Annette Cleveland (Chair), Emily Randall (Vice Chair), Steve O’Ban, Barbara Bailey, Randi Becker, Steve Conway, Manka Dhingra, David Frockt, Karen Keiser, Ann Rivers, and Kevin Van De Wege

Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee:
Guy Palumbo (Chair), Emily Randall (Vice Chair), Jeff Holy, Sharon Brown, Doug Ericksen, Marko Liias, and Lisa Wellman

Housing Stability and Affordability Committee:
Patty Kuderer (Chair), Mona Das (Vice Chair), Hans Zeiger, Jeanne Darneille, Phil Fortunato, Rebecca Saldaña, and Judy Warnick

Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee:
Jeanne Darneille (Chair), Joe Nguyen (Vice Chair), Maureen Walsh, Annette Cleveland, Steve O’Ban, Claire Wilson, and Hans Zeiger

Labor and Commerce Committee:
Karen Keiser (Chair), Steve Conway (Vice Chair), Curtis King, John Braun, Rebecca Saldaña, Maureen Walsh, and Lisa Wellman

Law & Justice Committee:
Jamie Pedersen (Chair), Manka Dhingra (Vice Chair), Mike Padden, Jeff Holy, Patty Kuderer, Jesse Salomon, and Lynda Wilson

Rules Committee:
Cyrus Habib (Chair), Karen Keiser (Vice Chair), Mark Schoesler, Randi Becker, Andy Billig, Reuven Carlyle, Annette Cleveland, Bob Hasegawa, Curtis King, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, John McCoy, Joe Nguyen, Ann Rivers, Tim Sheldon, and Shelly Short

State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee:
Sam Hunt (Chair), Patty Kuderer (Vice Chair), Hans Zeiger, Barbara Bailey, Bob Hasegawa, Brad Hawkins, and Dean Takko

Transportation Committee:
Steve Hobbs (Chair), Rebecca Saldaña (Vice Chair), Curtis King, Tim Sheldon, Annette Cleveland, Mona Das, Manka Dhingra, Phil Fortunato, Joe Nguyen, Steve O’Ban, Mike Padden, Emily Randall, Dean Takko, Claire Wilson and Hans Zeiger

Ways & Means Committee:
Christine Rolfes (Chair), David Frockt (Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead), Mark Mullet (Capital Budget Cabinet), John Braun, Sharon Brown, Jim Honeyford, Barbara Bailey, Randi Becker, Andy Billig, Reuven Carlyle, Steve Conway, Jeanne Darneille, Bob Hasegawa, Sam Hunt, Karen Keiser, Marko Liias, Guy Palumbo, Ann Rivers, Mark Schoesler, Kevin Van De Wege, Keith Wagoner, Judy Warnick, and Lynda Wilson

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/

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