The 2018 Legislative Session began on Monday, January 12, 2021 and is scheduled to end on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1 800-562-6000. You can also contact them by e-mail using this format: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. If you need to look up your legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Top Action of the Week:
SB 5051 Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers.
SUPPORT
SB 5051 improves the certification, background check, and decertification of law enforcement officers. The bill accomplishes this by
- adjusting the membership of the Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) to a total of 17 persons including representatives who have not been employed in the last 10 years as a peace officer. improving the process to decertify peace and corrections officers who have engaged in serious misconduct,
- requiring the CJTC to issue public recommendations to the governing body of a law enforcement agency regarding the agency’s command decisions, inadequacy of policy or training, investigations or disciplinary decisions regarding misconduct, potential systemic violations of law or policy, unconstitutional policing, or other matters
- requiring law enforcement agencies to report misconduct to the CJTC, and
- requiring a public database containing information about all conduct investigated by the CJTC.
Status: SB 5051 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 18 at 9:30 AM and for an executive session on Thursday, Jan 21 at 10:30 AM.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5051 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
Whether or not you can attend this hearing – if you can only do one thing, contact your legislators and ask for their support and YES vote on SB 5051.
You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1 800-562-6000. You can also contact them by e-mail using this format: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. If you need to look up your legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Note: Committee members for House and Senate Committees are listed at the end of this alert.
We have also included hyperlinks on each of the bill actions below, which will take you to the WA State Legislature’s comment page for the bill where you can enter your support or opposition to the bill and include a comment (up to 1000 characters).
Civil and Equal Rights
Watermarks on ballots
HB 1003 Requiring watermarks on mail-in ballots.
OPPOSE
HB 1003 limits vote by mail ballots to only those mailed to a voter. Currently if you lose your ballot, you can reprint it, as well as the envelope and mail it and your vote will be counted. The bill also eliminates the ability for the Voter Student Engagement hubs from assisting college and university students from downloading their ballots in order to vote. This bill disenfranchises voters and would cost the elections departments additional monies to implement the procedures to inspect the ballots for the watermark.
Status: HB 1003 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and let them know that you oppose HB 1003.
Legal aid for undocumented immigrants
HB 1072 Removing only one of the restrictions on the use of civil legal aid funds.
SUPPORT
HB 1072 removes a restriction on the Office of Civil Legal Aid (“OCLA”) funding that prohibits distributing funds to legal aid providers who use those funds to serve undocumented immigrants.
Status: HB 1072 held a public meeting in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary on January 12thand passed it out of committee on Jan 15. It is likely to be sent directly to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
Action: Contact your representatives and let them know you support HB 1072 and request that they vote YES on HB 1072 when it comes to the floor.
Voter Eligibility
SUPPORT
HB 1078 Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.
SB 5086 Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.
SUPPORT
HB 1078 and SB 5086 change the voting rights law to automatically restore a felon’s voting rights as long as the defendant is not in total confinement with the department of corrections. It states that a person serving a term of community custody is not considered to be in total confinement of the department of corrections and does not include confinement imposed as a sanction for a community custody violation. A person who has had their voting rights restored must reregister to vote before voting
Status: HB 1078 is in the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 21 at 10 AM.
SB 5086 is in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee and is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and let them know that you support HB 1078 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
Contact your senators on the Senate State Government and Elections Committee and let them know that you support SB 5086.
Child Custody jurisdiction and enforcement related to countries who have the death penalty on the basis of religious beliefs, political beliefs, or sexual orientation
HB 1042 Revising the international application of the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act to protect families from facing the death penalty in certain foreign jurisdictions on the basis of religious beliefs, political beliefs, or sexual orientation.
SUPPORT
HB 1042 modifies the requirement of upholding a foreign country’s child custody laws when the foreign country holds that a person’s abandonment or renunciation of a religious belief, political belief or homosexuality are punishable by death. A WA State Court may not enforce such a court order from a foreign country if either the child or the parent may be at risk of being subject to such laws.
Status: HB 1042 has passed out of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and is headed to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full house.
Action: Contact your and let them know you support HB 1042 and ask that it be scheduled for a floor vote and that they pass it on to the senate for their consideration.
Accountability for peace and corrections officers
HB 1082 Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers.
SB 5051 Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers.
SUPPORT
HB 1082 and SB 5051 improve the certification, background check, and decertification of law enforcement officers. The bill accomplishes this by
- adjusting the membership of the Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) to a total of 17 persons including representatives who have not been employed in the last 10 years as a peace officer. improving the process to decertify peace and corrections officers who have engaged in serious misconduct,
- requiring the CJTC to issue public recommendations to the governing body of a law enforcement agency regarding the agency’s command decisions, inadequacy of policy or training, investigations or disciplinary decisions regarding misconduct, potential systemic violations of law or policy, unconstitutional policing, or other matters
- requiring law enforcement agencies to report misconduct to the CJTC, and
- requiring a public database containing information about all conduct investigated by the CJTC.
Status: HB 1082 has had its public hearing in the House Public Safety Committee and is eligible for an executive session.
SB 5051 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 18 at 9:30 AM and for an executive session on Thursday, Jan 21 at 10:30 AM.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you support HB HB 1082 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5051 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
Death Penalty
SB 5047 Reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty and instead requiring life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole as the sentence for aggravated first degree murder.
SUPPORT
SB 5047 changes WA criminal code to eliminate the death penalty. In February 2014, Governor Inslee signed an executive order imposing a moratorium on the death penalty in WA State due to its inconsistent and unequal application and the enormous costs associated with seeking this punishment.
Status: SB 5047 has been referred to 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 you support SB 5047.
Unlawfully Summoning Police
SB 5135 Concerning unlawfully summoning a police officer
SUPPORT
SB 5135 creates a private cause of action which allows a person to sue in a civil action for damages against any person who knowingly causes a law enforcement officer to arrive at a location with the intent to:
- Infringe on the other person’s constitutional rights
- Discriminate against the other person
- Cause the person to feel harassed, humiliated or embarrassed,
- Cause the person to be expelled from a place in which the person is lawfully located, or
- Damage the person’s
- reputation or standing in the community, or
- financial, economic, consumer, or business prospects or interests.
Status: SB 5135 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 19 at 10:30 AM and for an executive session on Thursday, Jan 21 at 10:30 AM.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5135 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families
Housing and public assistance for low-income households and households in need
HB 1035 Providing local governments with options to grant rent relief and preserve affordable housing in their communities.
SUPPORT
HB 1035 provides communities a local option to preserve and increase healthy, high quality, and affordable rental housing opportunities for low-income households and very low-income households when the governing authority has found that there are insufficient affordable housing opportunities available. It is also encourages housing opportunities that are affordable to renters at below market rent levels, as determined by the governing authority upon considering community needs, market rental costs, and income levels of renters.
Status: HB 1035 has been referred to the Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee and let them know you support HB 1035 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
HB 1070 Modifying allowed uses of local tax revenue for affordable housing and related services to include the acquisition and construction of affordable housing and facilities.
Allows county and city governments to submit an authorizing proposition to the voters at a special or general election that modifies allowed uses of local tax revenue for affordable housing and related services,
to include the acquisition and construction of affordable housing and facilities.
Status: HB 1070 has been referred to the Finance Committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on that Finance Committee and let them know you support HB 1070 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
HB 1151 – Bolstering economic recovery
SUPPORT.
HB 1151 establishes a consolidated emergency assistance program for families with children. Within any 12-month period, benefits will be provided to alleviate emergent conditions resulting from insufficient income. These benefits may be used to provide for: food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or other necessary items. They may also be used for family reconciliation services, family preservation services, home-based services, short-term substitute care in a licensed agency, crisis nurseries, therapeutic child care, or other necessary services.
Federal emergency assistance funds will be used to supplement the state funds appropriated for the operation of this program as long as other departmental programs are not adversely affected by the receipt of federal funds. If state funds appropriated for the consolidated emergence assistance program are exhausted, the department may discontinue the program.
During a governor ordered a state of emergency and pursuant to an order from the governor benefits under this program may be extended to individuals and families without children and the 12-month period may be extended.
Status: HB 1151 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans at 8:00 AM
Action: Call your representatives in the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans and let them know you support HB 1151.
SB 5214 – Concerning economic assistance programs.
SUPPORT
SB 5214 amends the current law that limits the amount of time an adult can receive economic assistance from the state. It states that the current 60-month limit may be extended if, in addition to the current exceptions, the recipient is participating satisfactorily in the program, is temporarily prevented from working or looking for a job, and/or is in need of mental health or substance use disorder treatment.
STATUS: SB 5214 has been referred to the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation committee
ACTION: Call you representation on the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation committee and tell them to support SB5214 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5241 – Promoting economic inclusion.
SUPPORT
SB 5241 directs the department of commerce to establish and oversee the implementation of local economic inclusion grants for local communities to promote equity, economic inclusion, and a stable financial foundation for people experiencing poverty, with a particular focus on people of color and people in rural counties, primarily through better coordination of existing programs and resources. The purpose of these grants is to empower and incentivize local communities to coordinate existing poverty reduction resources and benefits to make them easier to access, get them to the people who need them, and work as a coordinated system, to help more people move out of poverty and be included in Washington’s economic success.
STATUS: SB 5241 has been referred to the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation committee
ACTION: Call you representation on the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation committee and tell them to support SB5241 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
Relief to low-income customers through reduction in government mandated costs to BPA and electric utilities
SB 5007. Addressing the economic challenges facing Washington citizens from the COVID-19 pandemic through a temporary reduction in compliance and tax burden on electric utilities
SUPPORT
SB 5007 Provides temporary cost relief of compliance costs to electric utilities, enabling them to pass this reduction on to low-income utility customers.
Status: Status: SB 5007 had been referred to the Environment, Energy & Technology committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on the Environment, Energy & Technology committee and let them know you support 5007 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5008. Extending the business and occupation tax exemption for amounts received as credits against contracts with or funds provided by the Bonneville power administration and used for low-income ratepayer assistance and weatherization.
SUPPORT
SB 5008 makes permanent the exemption from business and occupation tax amounts received by utilities in the form of credits against power contracts or received from the Bonneville power administration for energy conservation purposes, if the tax savings are used by utilities for low-income ratepayer assistance or weatherization programs. This exemption will induce utilities to invest funds in energy conservation and efficiency programs, thereby reducing the amount of electric energy that such utilities must either generate or purchase, thereby reducing energy costs to utilities and customers. Further, state laws mandating utilities to acquire energy through both energy conservation and noncarbon-emitting resources can increase the cost of energy to ratepayers.
Status: SB 5008 has been scheduled executive session in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Wednesday, January 21, 2021, at 10:30 am.
Action: Contact your representatives on the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology and let them know you support SB 5008 and ask that it be passed out of committee.
Authorizing new taxes to local governments for funding affording housing
SB 5012. Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing program.
SUPPORT
SB 5012 Authorizes the legislative bodies of counties, cities or towns to levy and collect a special excise tax on the furnishing of lodging of short-term rentals facilitated through an internet-based short-term rental platform. Moneys collected from the special excise tax must be used exclusively for the operating and capital costs of affordable housing programs including, but not limited to, homeless housing assistance, temporary shelters, and other related services. A city or town may use revenues collected under this section for contracts, loans, or grants to nonprofit organizations or public housing authorities for services related to affordable housing programs. They may also retain up to five percent of the moneys collected in each calendar year for direct and indirect costs incurred in the administration of these services and programs.
Status: SB 5012 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government.
Action: Contact your senators in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government and let them know you support SB 5012 and ask that it be scheduled for an executive session to pass out of committee.
Redefining eligibility requirements for working connections childcare program
SB 5023 Concerning working connections childcare eligibility and unemployment benefits.
SUPPORT
SB 5023 ensures that temporary federal unemployment benefits do not disrupt continuity of childcare for families seeking work by re-defining income eligibility so that it does not include increases in state of federal unemployment benefits.
Status: SB 5023 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
Action: Contact your representatives in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Educationand let them know you support SB 5023 and ask that they schedule it for an executive session to pass it out of committee.
Providing tax deferral in high unemployment counties to stimulate employment
SB 5029 Concerning tax deferrals for investment projects in high unemployment counties.
SUPPORT
SB 5029 reestablishes a tax deferral program to be effective solely in counties experiencing chronically high levels of unemployment. The legislature declares that this limited program serves the vital public purpose of creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty in the distressed counties experiencing levels of unemployment that are higher than those of the state.
Status: SB 5029 has been referred to the Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the and Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee and let them know you support SB 5029.
Assistance for homeowners navigating the foreclosure process
HB 1108 Maintaining funding and assistance for homeowners navigating the foreclosure process.
SUPPORT
Homeownership is a key determinant to building wealth and there is a serious racial wealth gap here as in the nation. Washington’s Foreclosure Fairness program has been underfunded and needs a permanent fund source to stabilize to ensure housing counseling, legal aid and mediation to Washington’s families. The Covid-19 pandemic will very likely lead to a rush of foreclosures once foreclosure moratoriums are lifted. Rep. Orwall is introducing a series of bills to address foreclosure prevention. She is promoting revamping the estate tax, as proposed by the Economic Opportunity Institute, to make it more progressive. The proposal would generate over $100m in the current biennium of which a portion would be dedicated to homelessness prevention including foreclosure prevention.
HB 1108 puts in place a temporary stopgap remedy requiring banks and credit unions that own or service a mortgage for a residential property to offer foreclosure mediation services even though they may have done less than 250 foreclosures in 2020. Also, the fees increased from $300 to $325 per nonjudicial foreclosure trustee sale.
Status: HB 1108 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, January 19 at 10 AM and then for an executive session on Friday, January 22 at 8:00 AM.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know you support HB 1108 and ask that they pass HB 1108 out of committee.
Banning Credit Scoring in Insurance
SB 5010 Banning Credit Scoring in Insurance.
SUPPORT
SB 5010 bans the use of credit scoring in insurance. This bill is brought forth as OIC/Governor request because credit scoring is discriminatory and should not be used as a tool to decide insurance rates. This quote from a recent Crosscut article sums it up: A 2015 analysis by Consumer Reports found that, in Washington state, a driver with poor credit and a clean driving record would pay $690 a year more for auto insurance than someone with excellent credit and a conviction for driving under the influence. In 2007, the legislature passed SB 5827 by Sen. Hobbs that banned the use of credit scoring for the purpose of employment. Same concept. We hope this will be the year that credit scoring will also be banned in insurance.
Check out OIC’s Credit score website:
https://www.insurance.wa.gov/credit-scoring-ban – the short video on this site – it is excellent! And media links… also, attached is the OIC fact sheet.
Status: SB 5010 held a public hearing in the Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee on January 14th and it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee and let them know you support SB 5010.
Consumer Protection Act
SB 5025 Concerning the Consumer Protection Improvement Act.
SUPPORT
SB 5025 is legislation requested by the Washington State Attorney General that provides an update to the civil penalties allowed in the Consumer Protection Act. Maximum civil penalties for violation of the CPA are increased as follows:
- violation of any injunction issued under the CPA—$215,000
- any contract, trust, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce or monopolization or attempt to monopolize any part of trade or commerce—$260,000 for an individual or $1,300,000 for a corporation; and
• unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce—$13,350 for each violation.
Also, An enhanced penalty of $10,000 shall apply to unlawful acts or practices targeting specific individuals or communities based on demographic characteristics, including age; race; national origin; citizenship or immigration status; sex; sexual orientation; presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; religion; veteran status; or status as a member of the armed forces.
Status: This bill is scheduled for an executive session on January 21st at 10:30am in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5025.
Reproductive Rights and Health Care
Prohibit abortion based on down syndrome
HB 1008 Prohibiting abortion on the basis of Down Syndrome.
OPPOSE
HB 1008 prohibits abortion in circumstances when the fetus has been diagnosed with down syndrome. Any physician who performs an abortion in such circumstances will have their license revoked and is liable for civil action.
Status: HB 1008 HB 1008 has been assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee.
Action: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose HB 1008.
Requiring student health plans to cover maternity care and related services, including abortion
HB 1009 Relating to student health plans.
SUPPORT
HB 1009 requires student health plans to cover maternity care and related services. This includes abortion coverage. It ensures that student health plans are not exempt from state laws and rules requiring abortion coverage and are held to the same standard as other market health plans.
Status: HB 1009 was voted out of committee on Thursday, January 14th and is likely to be referred to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Action: Contact your legislators on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know you support HB 1009.
Issuing certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth
HB 1031 Concerning the government issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth.
SB 5072 Concerning the government issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth.
SUPPORT
HB 1031 and SB 5072 create a process allowing any person who gives birth to a stillborn fetus to request and receive a certification of birth resulting in stillbirth from the applicable state or local registrar.
Status: HB 1031 was voted out of the Health Care and Wellness Committee on Thursday, January 14th and is likely to be sent to the Rules Committee for consideration by the full House.
SB 5072 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee.
Action: Contact your Representatives and let them know you support HB 1031
Contact your senators o the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you support SB 5072.
Expanding Paid Family Leave
HB 1073 Expanding coverage of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
SUPPORT
HB 1073 expands access to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. It changes the eligibility criterion from working at least 820 hours for an employer to making at least $1,000 with that employer, and it expands the legal definition of family member to include any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association is the equivalent of a family member and includes child, grandchild, grandparent, sibling or spouse of an employee.
Status: HB 1073 is in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee where it had a public hearing on Friday, January 15 and is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and tell them you support HB 1073 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
SB 5097 Expanding coverage of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
SUPPORT
SB 5097 expands access to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. It changes the eligibility criterion from requiring an employee to work for an employer with 50 or more employees to having been employed by their current employer for 90 days or more.
Status: SB 5097 has been assigned to the Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on January 18 at 9 am.
Action: Contact your Senators on the Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee and let them know that you support SB 5097 and ask that they pass it out of committee.
Health coverage regardless of immigration status
HB 1191 Ensuring equity in health coverage.
SUPPORT
HB 1191 extends health coverage to all Washington residents, regardless of immigration status by creating state lookalike programs for: Medicaid, accessible for free to people who otherwise meet eligibility for federal Medicaid but for immigration status; and, qualified health plans and qualified dental plans, subsidized in cost to the same extent qualified health and dental plans on the exchange are subsidized.
Status: HB 1191 has been assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your legislators on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1191.
School based health centers
HB 1225 Supporting school based health centers.
SUPPORT
HB 1225 creates a school-based health center program office within the department of health to award grants and coordinate with other agencies and entities to provide support, training, and technical assistance to school-based health centers. School-based health centers advance equity by providing health care access and support at schools.
Status: HB 1225 has been assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your legislators on the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1225.
Penalties for prescription drug price increase
SB 5020 Assessing a penalty on unsupported prescription drug price increases to protect the safety, health, and economic well-being of Washington residents.
SUPPORT
SB 5020 assesses an annual penalty on prescription unsupported drug price increases. An unsupported price increase is one in which there was no, or inadequate, new clinical evidence to support the price increase. The penalty in any calendar year must equal 80 percent of the difference between the revenue generated by sales within the state of the identified drugs and the revenue that would have been generated if the manufacturer had maintained the wholesale acquisition cost from the previous calendar year, adjusted for inflation using the consumer price index. The manufacturer or distributor of the identified drug must not withdraw the drug from sale or distribution within the state to avoid the penalty. If they plan to do so they must give notice and a $500,000 penalty per identified drug is to be assessed. The revenue collected funds the state’s Foundational Public Health Services account.
Status: SB 5020 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on January 22 at 8 am.
Action: Contact your legislators on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5020.
Health Equity Zones
SB 5052 Creating health equity zones.
SUPPORT
SB 5052 requires the Department of Health to use health outcome data to identify potential health equity zones and coordinate with community organizations in those zones to identify projects to address the zone’s most urgent needs related to health disparities. The Department is then required to report annually on the projects implemented in each zone.
Status: SB 5020 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on January 18 at 1:30 pm.
Action: Contact your legislators on the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5052.
Notifications for abortion
SB 5053 Requiring parental notifications for abortions.
OPPOSE
SB 5053 Requires physicians performing abortions on minors to notify a parent or legal guardian at least 48 hours prior to their intention of performing the abortion. Physicians who perform abortions on minors without notification will be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. Physicians are required to submit monthly reports to the Department of Health with the number of notifications made. The Department is then required to compile the data and make it available publicly.
Status: SB 5053 has been assigned to the Senate Law & Justice Committee.
Action: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose SB 5053.
Expanding medicaid coverage during the postpartum period
SB 5068 Improving maternal health outcomes by extending coverage during the postpartum period.
SUPPORT
SB 5068 extends Medicaid coverage to new birth parents from 60 days post-birth to 365 days post-birth.
Status: SB 5068 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on January 20 at 8am.
Action: Contact your legislators on the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5068.
Menstrual products in schools
SB 5070 Menstrual hygiene products in school bathrooms.
SUPPORT
SB 5060 Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, this bill would require schools and post-secondary institutions to make available, at no cost, menstrual hygiene products in all gender neutral and bathrooms designated for females. This applies to schools and institutions serving students in grades 6 through 12 and institutions of higher education.
Status: SB 5070 has been assigned to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on January 20 at 10:30am.
Action: Contact your legislators on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and let them know you support SB 5070.
Miscarriage-related patient care
SB 5140 Protecting pregnancy and miscarriage-related patient care.
SUPPORT
SB 5140 Prohibits health care entities from stopping health care providers from providing health care services related to miscarriage management and treatment for ectopic pregnancies. The bill also prohibits the health care entity from discharging, demoting, suspending, disciplining or otherwise discriminating against the health care provider for providing services in compliance with this bill.
Status: SB 5140 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on January 20 at 8 am.
Action: Contact your legislators on the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5140.
Whole Washington Health Trust
SB 5204 Crating the whole Washington Health Trust
SUPPORT
SB 5204 Creates the Whole Washington Health Trust to provide coverage for a set of essential health benefits to all Washington residents. These essential health benefits include:
- Hospital services, including hospital-based outpatient care and 24 hour emergency services;
- Ambulatory primary and preventive care services, including chronic disease management;
- Prescription drugs, medical devices, and biological products;
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment services;
- Laboratory and other diagnostic services, including diagnostic imaging services;
- Reproductive, maternity, and newborn care;
- Pediatric primary and specialty care;
- Palliative care and end-of-life care services;
- Oral health, audiology, and vision services;
- Short-term rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices.
Status: SB 5204 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee.
Action: Contact your legislators and let them know you support SB 5204 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
Health Equity in Medical School Training
SB 5228 Requiring health equity training in medical school courses.
SUPPORT
SB 5140 Requires the state’s two medical schools, University of Washington and Washington State University, to add health equity training in the required courses. The bill also requires the medical schools to set a goal to be more representative of the demographics of the state of Washington.
Status: SB 5228 has been assigned to the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee.
Action: Contact your legislators and let them know you support SB 5228.
Health Equity Continuing Education
SB 5229 Requiring health care professionals to complete health equity continuing education.
SUPPORT
SB 5229 Requires a licensed health care professional to complete health equity continuing education training at least once every four years.
Status: SB 5229 has been assigned to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee.
Action: Contact your legislators and let them know you support SB 5229.
Violence
Unlawful possession of a firearm
HB 1026 Concerning the restoration of the right to possess a firearm.
MONITOR
HB 1026 modifies the criteria for individuals who have been convicted of a felony or found not guilty by reason of insanity and are prohibited from possessing firearms can petition the court for reinstatement of their right to possess a firearm. The criteria include minimum time frames that must have passed before a person can petition the court based on the level of the offense (B or C) with no further convictions, completion of all sentencing conditions, no pending charges, and no extreme risk, domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault order issued withing the 5 years immediately preceding the petition. Persons convicted of or found not guilty by reason of insanity for a class A felony, a felony offense in which a firearm was used, displayed, or threatened or a felony offense with a maximum sentence of at least 20 years would not be eligible. The bill also changes the language in the section regarding the prohibition on possessing firearms from having previously been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment to having been involuntarily committed for treatment of a mental health disorder.
Status: HB 1026 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
HB 1038 Prohibiting the possession of firearms by persons convicted of certain criminal offenses.
SUPPORT
HB 1038 modifies the list of misdemeanor crimes wherein a person can be prohibited from possessing a firearm. The following crimes are added to the list:
- Unlawful aiming or discharge of a firearm or dangerous weapon
- Animal cruelty in the second degree.
The bill also adds persons who have been involuntarily committed for behavioral health treatment (in addition to those already prohibited due to having been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment) to the list of persons prohibited from possessing firearms.
Status: HB 1038 1026 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know you support HB 1038.
Criminal mistreatment of children and vulnerable adults
HB 1048 Concerning the removal of specific religious references regarding the criminal mistreatment of children and vulnerable adults from a statute.
SUPPORT
HB 1048 removes a statutory reference that gives rise to constitutional issues by singling out one particular religion in statute. The statute is change to state that health care decisions made in reliance on faith-based services do not constitute negligent treatment or maltreatment unless such a decision poses clear and present danger to the health, welfare, or safety of a child. It also removes the reference to a person who is furnished with Christian Science treatment by an accredited Christian Science practitioner in lieu of medical care as not being considered deprived of medically necessary health care or abandoned.
Status: HB 1048 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your legislators on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know you support HB 1048.
Sexual assault victims
HB 1109 Concerning sexual assault victims
SUPPORT
HB 1109 requires that if a sexual assault kit results in in hit in the combined DNA index system shall upon request of the attorney general report changes in case status as to any related criminal investigation and prosecution to the office of the attorney general. The attorney general’s office is directed to establish reporting requirements and to submit semiannual reports on the status of investigations and prosecution of sexual assault cases. HB 1109 also requires that the criminal justice training commission conduct an annual review 1109
program of case files from law enforcement agencies in order to identify changes to training and investigatory practices necessary to optimize outcomes in sexual assault investigations and prosecutions. The analysis must include the impact that race and ethnicity have on sexual assault case outcomes. The bill also expands the rights of sexual assault victims to:
- Receive written notice of crime victims benefits from the medical facility providing the medical treatment related to the sexual assault
- Receive a referral to a community sexual assault program and if the victim is a minor to a children’s advocacy center
- Consult with a sexual assault survivor advocate throughout the investigatory process and prosecution
- Receive timely notification from the law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney as to the status of the case
- Be informed of expected time frames for receiving responses to the survivor’s inquiries regarding the case status
- Access interpreter services where necessary to facilitate communication
- For minors
- The prosecutor to consider and discuss the survivor’s request for remote video testimony
- The court to consider requests from the prosecutor for safeguarding the survivor’s feelings of security and safety in the courtroom in order to facilitate the survivor’s testimony and participation in the court proceedings
Status: HB 1109 is in the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, January 21st at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB HB 1109.
Assault weapons and large capacity magazines
HB 1164 Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety
SB 5078 Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety
SUPPORT
HB 1164 and SB 5078 establish firearm safety measures to increase public safety by prohibiting the manufacture, possession, distribution, importation, selling, offering for sale, purchasing or transfer of large capacity magazines. A large capacity magazine is defined to mean an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition, or any conversion kit, part, or combination of parts, from which such a device can be assembled if those parts are in possession of or under the control of the same person
Status: HB 1164 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5078 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB HB 1164.
Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5078.
Prohibiting open carry of weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol
SB 5038 Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol.
SUPPORT
SB 5038 prohibits a person from knowingly carrying a firearm or other weapon while attending a demonstration – a march, rally, vigil, sit-in or picket which has the effect or intent of attracting a crowd – at a public place or within 1000 feet of a demonstration. The bill also prohibits any person to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon on the state capitol grounds, in any building on the state capitol grounds, in any state legislative office, or at any location of a public legislative hearing or meeting during the hearing or meeting.
Status: SB 5038 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5038.
Budget/Revenue
Tax deduction repeal to provide funds for basic needs.
HB 1111. Concerning investment income tax deductions
SUPPORT
HB 1111 repeals current existing investment tax deductions currently granted to companies and nonprofits that have sufficient revenues to be able to make financial investments
Status: HB 1111 has been prefiled and has not yet been assigned to a committee.
Action: Contact your representatives and let them know you supportHB 1111.
Capital gains tax
SB 5096 Concerning an excise tax on gains from the sale or exchange of certain capital assets
SUPPORT
WA State has the most regressive tax system in the US with those who make the least amount of money paying the highest percentage of their income in taxes. Whereas the very wealthy paying a very small share of their income in taxes. SB 5096 would do the following:
- add a 9% tax on high-end capital gains – such as sales of stocks and bonds – only on profits greater than $25,000 (or $50,000 for couples filing jointly)
- raise more than $1 billion for community investment in the coming budget cycle and more than $2 billion in following budget cycles
The capital gains tax would NOT apply to gains from the sales of assets from:
- retirement accounts,
- college savings,
- small businesses,
- residential real estate, or
- farmland, timber, or livestock.
For a more in-depth explanation of what a capital gains tax in WA would do, see the Budget and Policy Center’s report on Closing the Tax Break on Capital Gains.
Status: SB 5096 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it had a public hearing on Thursday, January 14, 2021 and is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you supportSB 5096 and ask that they vote YES on SB 5096 and pass it out of committee.
State bank
SB 5188 Concerning the creation of the Washington state public bank.
SUPPORT
SB 5188 establishes a state cooperative bank that provides opportunities of state, local, and tribal government entities to competitively finance a broad array of public infrastructure and economic development projects including housing, at competitive rates with low administrative costs and would gaps that the current banking system cannot or will not fill.
Status: SB 5188 is in the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee and let them know you supportSB 5188.
HOUSE COMMITTEES
Appropriations Committee:
Timm Ormsby (Chair), Steve Berquist (Vice Chair), Mia Gregerson (Vice Chair), Nicole Macri (Vice Chair), Matt Boehnke, Kelly Chambers, Chris Corry, Michele Caldier, Bruce Chandler, Frank Chopp, Eileen Cody, Laurie Dolan, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Noel Frame, Drew Hansen, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, Cyndy Jacobsen, Jesse Johnson, Debra Lekanoff, Drew MacEwen, Gerry Pollet, Skyler Rude, Cindy Ryu, Joe Schmick, Tana Senn, Larry Springer, Mike Steele, Drew Stokesbary, Monica Stonier, Pat Sullivan, and Steve Tharinger
Capital Budget Committee:
Steve Tharinger (Chair), Lisa Callan (Vice Chair), David Hackney (Vice Chair), Peter Abbarno, Jessica Bateman, Mary Dye, Carolyn Eslick, Greg Gilday, Shelley Kloba, Vicki Kraft, Mari Leavitt, Drew MacEwen, Jacquelin Maycumber, Joel McEntire, Gina Mosbrucker, Strom Peterson, Marcus Riccelli, Alicia Rule, Mike Steele, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Mike Sells, Sharon Shewmake, and Mike Volz
Children Youth and Families:
Tana Senn (Chair), Tarra Simmons (Vice Chair), Alicia Rule (Vice Chair), Lisa Callan, Rob Chase, Tom Dent, Carolyn Eslick, Roger Goodman, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Brad Klippert, Bob McCaslin, Emily Wicks, and Jesse Young
Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
Drew Hansen (Chair), Tarra Simmons (Vice Chair), Peter Abbarno, Lauren Davis, Debra Entenman, Greg Gilday, Roger Goodman, Jenny Graham, Steve Kirby, Brad Klippert, Tina Orwall, Strom Peterson, My-Linh Thai, Javier Valdez, Amy Walen, Jim Walsh, and Alex Ybarra
College and Workforce Development Committee:
Vandana Slatter (Chair), Debra Entenman (Vice Chair), Mari Leavitt (Vice Chair), Kelly Chambers, Bruce Chandler, Drew Hansen, Larry Hoff, Cyndy Jacobsen, Vicki Kraft, Dave Paul, Gerry Pollet, Mike Sells, and Robert Sutherland
Commerce and Gaming Committee:
Shelley Kloba (Chair), Emily Wicks (Vice Chair), Drew MacEwen, Kelly Chambers, Steve Kirby, Melanie Morgan, Eric Robertson, Brandon Vick, and Sharon Wylie
Community & Economic Development
Cindy Ryu (Chair), Dave Paul (Vice Chair), Matt Boehnke, Rob Chase, Chris Corry, Noel Frame, Cyndy Jacobsen, Jesse Johnson, Vicki Kraft, John Lovick, Alicia Rule, Robert Sutherland, and Jamila Taylor
Consumer Protection and Business Committee:
Steve Kirby (Chair), Amy Walen (Vice Chair), Chris Corry, Jeremie Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos, and Brandon Vick
Education Committee:
Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair), Laurie Dolan (Vice Chair), April Berg, Steve Berquist, Lisa Callan, Bob McCaslin, Joel McEntire, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Skyler Rude, Mike Steele, Monica Stonier, Jim Walsh and Alex Ybarra
Environment & Energy Committee:
Joe Fitzgibbon (Chair), Davina Duerr (Vice Chair), Peter Abbarno, Liz Berry, Mary Dye, Matt Boehnke, Jake Fey, Keith Goehner, Kirsten Harris-Talley, Mark Klicker, Alex Ramel, Sharon Shewmake, and Vandana Slatter
Finance Committee:
Noel Frame (Chair), April Berg (Vice Chair), Amy Walen (Vice Chair), Ed Orcutt, Rob Chase, Frank Chopp, Jeremie Dufault, Kirsten Harris-Talley, Melanie Morgan, Tina Orwall, Alex Ramel, Larry Springer, Drew Stokesbary, My-Linh Thai, Brandon Vick, Sharon Wylie, and Jesse Young
Health Care and Wellness Committee:
Eileen Cody (Chair), Jessica Bateman (Vice Chair), Dan Bronoske, Michelle Caldier, Lauren Davis, Paul Harris, Nicole Macri, Jacquelin Maycumber, Marcus Riccelli, Skyler Rude, Joe Schmick, Tarra Simmons, Monica Stonier, Steve Tharinger, and Alex Ybarra
Housing, Human Services, and Veterans Committee:
Strom Peterson, (Chair), Jamila Taylor (Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Jessica Bateman, Michele Caldier, Frank Chopp, Greg Gilday, Mari Leavitt, and My-Linh Thai,
Labor and Workplace Standards Committee:
Mike Sells (Chair), Liz Berry (Vice-Chair), Dan Bronoske, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, and Gina Mosbrucker
Local Government Committee:
Gerry Pollet (Chair), Davina Duerr (Vice Chair), Tina Berg, Keith Goehner, Dan Griffey, Eric Robertson, and Tana Senn
Public Safety Committee:
Roger Goodman (Chair), Jesse Johnson (Vice Chair), Lauren Davis, Jenny Graham, Dan Griffey, David Hackney, Brad Klippert, John Lovick, Gina Mosbrucker, Tina Orwall, Bill Ramos, Tarra Simmons and Jesse Young
Rules Committee:
Laurie Jinkins (Chair), Steve Berquist, Micelle Caldier, Lauren Davis, Tom Dent, Jeremie Dufault, Greg Gilday, Jenny Graham, Mia Gregerson, Paul Harris, Cyndy Jacobsen, Mark Klicker, Joel Kretz, John Lovick, Melanie Morgan, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Tina Orwall, Alex Ramel, Marcus Riccelli, Eric Robertson, Tarra Simmons, Larry Springer, Monica Juarado Stonier, Pat Sullivan, My-Linh Thai, Amy Walen, and J.T. Wilcox
Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee:
Mike Chapman (Chair), Sharon Shewmake (Vice Chair), Bruce Chandler, Tom Dent, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Mark Klicker, Shelley Kloba, Joel Kretz, Debra Lekanoff, Joel McEntire, Melanie Morgan, Ed Orcutt, Erick Pettigre, Bill Ramos, Joe Schmick, Larry Springer, and Jim Walsh
State Government and Tribal Relations Committee:
Javier Valdez (Chair), Debra Lekanoff (Vice Chair), Laurie Dolan, Jenny Graham, Mia Gregerson, Mike Volz, and Jim Walsh
Transportation Committee:
Jake Fey (Chair), Sharon Wylie (1st Vice Chair), Dan Bronoske (2nd Vice Chair), Bill Ramos (2nd Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Liz Berry, Mike Chapman, Tom Dent, Davina Duerr, Debra Entenman, Carolyn Eslick, Keith Gohner, Dan Griffey, David Hackney, Mark Klicker, John Lovick, Bob McCaslin, Ed Orcutt, Dave Paul, Marcus Riccelli, Eric Robertson, Vandana Slatter, Robert Sutherland, Jamila Taylor, Javier Valdez, Mike Volz, Jim Walsh, and Emily Wicks
SENATE COMMITEES
Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee:
Kevin Van De Wege (Chair), Jesse Salomon (Vice Chair), Judy Warnick, Jim Honeyford, Christine Rolfes, Derek Stanford, and Shelly Short
Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long-Term Care Committee:
Manka Dhingra (Chair), Keith Wagoner, David Frockt, T’wina Nobles, and Judy Warnick
Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee:
Mark Mullet (Chair), Bob Hasegawa (Vice Chair), Perry Dozier, Sharon Brown, David Frockt, Steve Hobbs, and Lynda Wilson
Early Learning and K-12 Committee:
Lisa Wellman (Chair), T’wina Nobles (Vice Chair – K12 Education), Claire Wilson (Vice Chair – Early Learning), Perry Dozier, Brad Hawkins, Sam Hunt, Jim McCune, Mark Mullet, and Jamie Pedersen,
Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee:
Reuven Carlyle (Chair), Liz Lovelett (Vice Chair), Doug Ericksen, Phil Fortunado, Sharon Brown, Mona Das, Steve Hobbs, Marko Liias, Joe Nguyen, Tim Sheldon, Shelly Short, Derek Stanford, and Lisa Wellman
Health and Long Term Care Committee:
Annette Cleveland (Chair), David Frockt (Vice Chair), Ron Muzzall, Steve Conway, Jeff Holy, Karen Keiser, Mike Padden, Emily Randall, Ann Rivers, June Robinson, Kevin Van De Wege, and Jeff Wilson
Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee:
Emily Randall (Chair), T’wina Nobles (Vice Chair), Jeff Holy, Sharon Brown, Doug Ericksen, and Marko Liias
Housing and Local Government Committee:
Patty Kuderer (Chair), Mona Das (Vice Chair), Phil Fortunato, Annette Cleveland, Chris Gildon, Liz Lovelett, Shelly Short, Jesse Solomon, and Judy Warnick
Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee:
Jeanne Darneille (Chair), Joe Nguyen (Vice Chair), Chris Gildon, Perry Dozier, Jim McCune, Rebecca Saldaña, and Claire Wilson
Labor, Commerce, & Tribal Affairs Committee:
Karen Keiser (Chair), Derek Stanford (Vice Chair – Commerce & Tribal Affairs), Steve Conway (Vice Chair-Labor), Curtis King, John Braun, Jim Honeyford, June Robinson, Rebecca Saldaña, and Mark Schoesler
Law & Justice Committee:
Jamie Pedersen (Chair), Manka Dhingra (Vice Chair), Jeanne Darneille, Mike Padden, Jeff Holy, Patty Kuderer, Jim McCune, Jesse Salomon, and Keith Wagoner
Rules Committee:
Denny Heck (Lt. Gov – Chair). Karen Keiser (Vice Chair), Andy Billig, John Braun, Reuven Carlyle, Annette Cleveland, Chris Gildon, Bob Hasegawa, Curtis King, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, Ron Muzzall, Joe Nguyen, Jamie Pedersen, Ann Rivers, Shelly Short, and Claire Wilson
State Government & Elections Committee:
Sam Hunt (Chair), Patty Kuderer (Vice Chair), Jeff Wilson, Bob Hasegawa, and Brad Hawkins
Transportation Committee:
Steve Hobbs (Chair), Rebecca Saldaña (Vice Chair), Curtis King, Annette Cleveland, Mona Das, Phil Fortunato, Brad Hawkins, Liz Lovelett, Joe Nguyen, T’wina Nobles, Mike Padden, Emily Randall, Tim Sheldon, Claire Wilson, and Jeff Wilson
Ways & Means Committee:
Christine Rolfes (Chair), David Frockt (Vice Chair – Capital), June Robinson (Vice Chair – Operating and Revenue), Lynda Wilson, John Braun, Sharon Brown, Reuven Carlyle, Steve Conway, Jeanne Darneille, Manka Dhingra, Bob Hasegawa, Jim Honeyford, Chris Gildon, Sam Hunt, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, Mark Mullet, Ron Muzzall, Jamie Pedersen, Ann Rivers, Mark Schoesler, Kevin Van De Wege, Keith Wagoner, Judy Warnick, and Lisa Wellman,
Hint: You can view bills by going to the following website and plug in the bill number for which you want to view the history and status:
http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/
Thank you to the following people who contributed to this edition of the WA State NOW 2021 Weekly Legislative Alert
- Cathy Baylor
- Hanna Febach
- Christina Henry
- Linda Tosti-Lane