Legislative Alert for January 23, 2022

The Washington State Legislature began its 2022 Legislative Session on Monday, January 10, 2022, and ends on Thursday, March 10, 2022

Thursday, February 3, 2022 is the last day for bills to pass out of committee (except for those bills in the House fiscal committees and the Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees) in their house of origin. February 3 is only a week and a half away. Bills must be out of their original house policy committees, or they are dead for this year. Please speak out for to your legislator on those issues that are your passions.

Monday, February 7, 2022, is the last day for bills to pass out of the House fiscal committees and Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees in their house of origin.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 is the last day for bills to pass out of their house of origin.

Thursday, February 24, 2022 is the last day for bills to pass out of the opposite house committee (except for those bills in the House fiscal committees and the Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees).

Monday, February 28, 2022 is the last day for opposite house bills to pass out of the House fiscal committees and the Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees.

Friday, March 4, 2022 at 5:00 PM is the last day that the legislature may consider and pass opposite house bills except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session.

Thursday, March 10, 2022 is the last day allowed for the regular session under the WA State Constitution.

Top Action of the Week:

HOUSING FIRST

HB 1866 -Assisting persons receiving community support services through medical assistance programs to receive supportive housing.

SUPPORT

HB 1866 establishes a program that combines existing housing and healthcare services to first provide housing to homeless persons who suffer from chronic mental and physical health problems, and then to provide treatment solutions to these problems. An effective system of services currently exists through Apple Health and excellent public and nonprofit affordable housing providers, but they have yet to be combined in an effective way across the state.

STATUS HB 1866 is in the House Healthcare and Wellness Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the House Committee on Healthcare and Wellness, tell them you support HB 1866 and ask them to schedule an executive session to pass it out of committee before the February 3 cutoff date.

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

House of Representatives Committee Hearing – https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/house

Senate Committee Hearings – https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Senate

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) which will be sent to your legislators.

Civil and Equal Rights

Women’s Suffrage Day

HB 1485 Recognizing Women’s Suffrage Day as a legal holiday.

SUPPORT

HB 1485 designates March 22 to be a state legal holiday recognized as Women’s Suffrage Day. On March 22, 1920, Washington became he 34^th state to ratify the 19^th Amendment to the US Constitution. Then on August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 35^th state to ratify the amendment. The proclamation certifying the passage of the 19^th Amendment giving women the right to vote was signed on August 26, 1920.

STATUS: HB 1485 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representative on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, tell them you support HB 1485 and ask them to schedule it for executive session to pass it out of committee.

Chinese American History Month

SB 5264 – Declaring January as Chinese American history month and encouraging public schools to commemorate the month. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Recognizing contributions of Americans of Chinese descent.)

SUPPORT

SB 5264 declares that January of each year is Americans of Chinese descent history month. Public schools are encouraged to designate time for appropriate activities in commemoration of Americans of Chinese descent history month and the lives, history, achievements, and contributions of Americans of Chinese descent.

In 2000, Washington declared May of each year to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. According to the 2010 census, the Asian population grew faster than any other race group in the United States between 2000 and 2010. As of the 2010 census, there are about 4 million people of Chinese descent alone or in combination in the United States, a growth of 40 percent since the 2000 census. Washington is home to the seventh-largest Chinese American population in the United States. The 2010 census documented 94,198 people of Chinese descent alone living in Washington.

In 2019, Washington declared October of each year Filipino American History Month.

STATUS: SB 5264 passed out of the House unanimously on January 19 and is headed to the House

ACTION: Let your representatives in the House know that you support SB 5264.

Tribal-State Relations Committee

HB 1640 – Creating the joint legislative tribal-state relations committee as an agency within the legislative branch.

SUPPORT

HB 1640 creates a joint legislative tribal-state relations committee as an agency within the legislative branch. to serve as a forum for:

Effective government-to-government communications on issues of mutual concern to the state and federally recognized Indian tribes in Washington (Indian tribes); considering the needs and concerns of Indian tribes;
Considering the needs and concerns of Indian tribes, and in so doing, promote communication with the appropriate tribe; and
facilitating the resolution of issues between the Indian tribes and the state.

STATUS: HB 1640 was heard in Public Hearing in the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations on January 12 and is eligible for an executive session to pass out of committee.

ACTION: Contact your representatives in the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations, tell them you support HB 1640, and as them to schedule an executive session and vote it out of committee.

Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert

HB 1725 -Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous persons.

SUPPORT

HB 1725 requires the Washington State Patrol to establish a Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan. This system is similar the Amber Alert system.

Indigenous people experience disproportionate rates of violence in Washington state. Tribes, state leaders, and grassroots activists have done substantial work to identify factors directly affecting the rates of violence and to ensure that addressing the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people is a priority at every level. The legislature intends to provide law enforcement with additional tools to disseminate timely, accurate information to engage the public more effectively in assisting with locating missing indigenous people, and to compensate for the unique challenges that indigenous communities face accessing media coverage and the ability to share information.

STATUS: HB 1725 was heard in executive session in the House Committee on Public Safety and passed out of committee. And it will most likely be sent to the Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives to tell them you support HB 1725 and ask them to vote YES when it comes to the floor.

African American Studies

HB 1829 – Creating the African American studies specialty endorsement.

SUPPORT

HB 1829 creates a specialty teaching endorsement for African American studies. African American studies is a multidisciplinary academic field primarily devoted to the study, politics, culture, achievements, history, characteristics, and issues of people of African descent in North America. This field of study challenges the sociohistorical and cultural content and definition of western ideology and argues for a multicultural, rather than a Eurocentric, interpretation of the western hemisphere. Efforts to integrate African American studies into social studies curriculum and mainstream education in the United States date back to 1915.

In 2020, the legislature directed the office of the superintendent of public instruction to convene a work group to develop recommendations for integrating, on a regular and ongoing basis, African American history, examinations of racism, and the history of the civil rights movement into existing social studies curriculum provided to students in grades seven through 12. One of the work group’s recommendations is for the state to establish an endorsement program in African American studies for educators teaching grades 7 through 12.

STATUS: HB 1829 is in the House Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the House Education Committee, tell them you support HB 1829 and ask them to schedule it for a public hearing and executive session, and pass it out of committee.

Improving Diversity, Equity and Mental Health at Community and Technical Colleges

HB 1840 -Improving diversity, equity, and mental health at the community and technical colleges.

SUPPORT

HB 1840 furthers the effort to make community and technical colleges more welcoming and inclusive for all students by continuing to build on previous legislative efforts to improve diversity, equity, and mental health.

HB 1840 will establish a task force to examine the ways that diversity and equity can be improved at the state’s community and technical colleges while expanding the pilot program to increase student access to mental health counseling and services.

The task force shall examine and make recommendations on how equity and diversity can be improved at the community and technical colleges, especially regarding the following: (a) Faculty compensation and benefits;
(b) Faculty recruitment and retention;
(c) Student persistence and completion, especially for historically underrepresented students, students with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ population

(d) Financial aid programs and student supports; and

(e) How diversity and equity are addressed by higher education state agencies and institutions

STATUS: HB 1840 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Committee on College & Workforce Development on January 27 at 10:00 am.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the House Committee on College & Workforce Development, tell them you support HB 1840 and ask them to vote YES to pass it out of committee.

Ranked Choice Voting

HB 1156 – Increasing representation and voter participation in local elections

SUPPORT

HB 1156 permits the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections for offices in counties, cities, towns, school districts, fire districts, and port districts, and establishes certain requirements for RCV ballot design and vote tabulation. The Secretary of State is permitted to provide grants to local governments to implement RCV or make changes to their electoral system in response to a notice filed under the Act, subject to appropriation. It also adds a cost-recovery provision to the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) to allow a person who files a notice alleging violation of the WVRA to recoup, up to $30,000, if the political subdivision adopts a remedy in response to the notice.

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

ACTION: Contact your Representatives and members of the House Rules Committee, tell them you support HB 1156 and ask them to schedule it for a vote by the full House to pass it on to the Senate.

SB 5584 – Increasing representation and voter participation in local elections

SUPPORT

SB 5584 is similar to HB 1156 in that it permits the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections for offices in counties, cities, towns, school districts, fire districts, and port districts, and establishes certain requirements for RCV ballot design and vote tabulation. The Secretary of State is permitted to provide grants to local governments to implement RCV or make changes to their electoral system in response to a notice filed under the Act, subject to appropriation.

STATUS: SB 5584 is in the Senate Government and Elections Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives and members of the Senate Government and Elections Committee, tell them you support SB 5584 and ask them to schedule it for an executive session and pass it out of committee.

HB 1926 – Concerning use of ranked choice voting in the presidential primary

SB 5851 – Concerning use of ranked choice voting in the presidential primary

SUPPORT

HB 1926 and SB 5851 would require that the presidential primary be conducted using ranked choice voting (RCV) unless a party has fielded two or fewer candidates. The ballot would allow a voter to rank at least five candidates per office. The Secretary of State’s office would be responsible for doing an instant run-off count the election. “Instant runoff voting method” means a system of counting votes in which the ballots are counted in rounds simulating a series of runoffs until the only candidates remaining have received sufficient votes to pass the threshold to receive delegates set by the parties in advance of the election.

STATUS: HB 1926 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5851is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, January 25.

ACTION: Contact your Representative and members of House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, tell them you support SB 1926 and ask them to schedule it for a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

Contact your Senators and members of the Senate Government and Elections Committee, tell them you support SB 5851 and ask them to schedule it for executive session to pass out of committee.

Conservation District Elections

HB 1652 – Concerning conservation district elections.

SUPPORT

Under current state law conservation districts are considered to be special purpose districts and elections for these offices are not handled through the normal primary and general election process. Conservation districts hold election every year for one of the 3 elected members of its 5-member board of supervisors (the other two members are appointed by the State Conservation Commission). To vote in these elections a voter must request a ballot from the local district.

HB 1652 would lengthen supervisor terms from three to four years with elections to be held every other year in odd numbered years. A district board of supervisors may choose to hold its election under Title 29A (which sets the rules for primary and general elections). The districts would not be required to hold a primary and candidates would remain not subject to the Public Disclosure Commission reporting requirements

STATUS: HB 1926 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for an executive session

ACTION: Contact your Representatives and members of the House Rules Committee, tell them you support HB 1926 and ask them to schedule it for a vote by the full House to pass it on to the Senate.

Enhanced Washington Voting Rights Act

SB 5597 – Concerning the Washington voting rights act.

SUPPORT

In 2018 the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) was signed into law and deals with localities in the state where elections exhibit polarized voting and where there is a significant risk that members of a protected class do not have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of choice as a result of dilution or abridgement of their rights.

SB 5597 makes improvements in the WVRA. A violation of the WVRA is presumptively established if:

The political subdivision used race, ethnicity, language-minority group status, or a proxy of any of those characteristics, for apportionment; or
Electoral district boundaries “crack” or “pack” minority communities of interest.

In addition, SB 5597 does the following:

Establishes a mechanism for claimants who send successful notices of potential WVRA violations to recover costs of up to $50,000 from jurisdictions for research needed to send the notice.
Requires certain jurisdictions to obtain preclearance for changes to covered voting practices.
Establishes a data repository at the University of Washington to assist jurisdictions and researchers in election best practices.

STATUS: SB 5597 is eligible for an executive session in the State Government and Elections Committee.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the State Government and Elections Committee to let them know you support SB 5597 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Redistricting Rules Changes

SB 5560 – Concerning procedures for approval and submission of the redistricting plan.

SUPPORT

SB 5560 fixes the most egregious errors that happened at the end of the 2021 Redistricting Commission’s process. It amends the current law to require the commission to make a redistricting plan available to the public at least 72 hours before voting to approve the plan. Once the plan has been made publicly available, any amendments to the plan must be debated and voted on in open session, and at least 24 hours must pass after any amendments are adopted before the commission may vote on final approval of the plan. The plan must include at least maps showing the division of the state into congressional and legislative districts, and complete descriptions of each district using official census units, such as tracts and blocks, sufficient to codify the plan.

STATUS: SB 5560 was passed out of the Senate Committee on State Government & Elections January 21. It is most likely headed to the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

ACTION: Contact your senators to let them know you support SB 5597 and ask for a YES vote when it comes to the floor.

Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families

Customer Service Requirements for the Department of Social and Health Services

HB 2075 Establishing service requirements for the department of social and health services.

SUPPORT

HB 2075 establishes minimum service requirements for the DSHS due to the increase in call center wait times and reduced access to services that have resulted from DSHS offices closures during COVID 19 health emergency.

It prohibits the department from imposing punitive measures against individuals when they are unable to comply with the requirements if they are unable to interact with the due to operating decisions, such as the closure of community services offices.

The bill requires that the department ensure clients can apply for and receive services in a manner that is suited to the clients’ needs. This includes, but is not limited to, meeting client needs related to technology, language, and ability.

Community service offices must be open for walk-in and in- person services.
The department may not limit which clients are able to use walk-in services or limit which services may be accessed in community service offices.
The department shall restore a certain level of staffing for in-person services during a state of emergency.
The department shall maintain telephonic access to services.
The average wait time for a department call center may not exceed 30 minutes.
The department shall determine the average wait time for client telephone calls per week, and include a measurement of all incoming calls, including dropped calls.
The state auditor shall monitor average telephone wait times monthly.
If the department fails to meet the minimum service requirements of this section, benefit recipients may not be subject to punitive measures as it relates to their assistance.
The department may not terminate or sanction any client’s benefits unless the community service office is fully open and operational to the public in the client’s region.

STATUS: HB 2075 is in the Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee, tell them you support HB 2075 and ask them to schedule a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

HB 2048 Concerning temporary assistance for needy families time limit extensions.

SUPPORT

HB 2048 would allow more families to access help when they need it by broadening exemptions for families beyond the 60-month lifetime limit established in the current law. In addition to already existing exemptions, it would add the following exemptions if the recipient:

Is participating satisfactorily in the program,
Is temporarily prevented from working or looking for a job,
Is in need of mental health or substance abuse disorder treatment,
Is homeless or at substantial risk of losing stable housing or housing support services, or
Demonstrates another basis by which the time limit would cause undue hardship to the recipient or the recipient’s family.

STATUS: HB 2048 is in the Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee, tell them you support HB 2048 and ask them to schedule a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

Guaranteed Basic Income for Eligible Low Income Individuals

HB 2009 Creating the evergreen basic income trust.

SUPPORT

HB 2009 will provide, for 36 months, a monthly payment, to adults whose gross income does not exceed 50% of area median income as well as housing and essential needs assistance, to eligible low-income Washington residents.

STATUS: HB 2009 is in the Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee, tell them you support HB 2009 and ask them to schedule a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

Tax Relief for Working Families

HB 1888 – Allowing the department of revenue to adjust the rates of remittance reductions in the working families’ tax credit in order to align with federal maximum qualifying income levels.

SUPPORT

HB 1888 amends the Working Families Tax Exemption passed in 2021 to annually adjust the rate of the Working Families Tax Credit based on calculations that maintain the minimum credit being received at the maximum qualifying income level for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

STATUS: HB 1888 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 10:00 AM on Monday January 24 and an executive session on Thursday, January 27 8:00 AM.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the House Committee on Finance, tell them you support HB 1888 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Housing and Shelter for low-income households, households in need, and those experiencing homelessness

HB 1035 – Providing local governments with options to grant rent relief and preserve affordable housing in their communities.

SUPPORT

HB 1035 gives a city governing authority permission to establish an affordable housing incentive program to preserve affordable housing within the city that meets health and quality standards for low-income households and very low- income households at risk of displacement or that cannot afford market rate housing. The housing incentive program will take the form of a property tax exemption for six successive years.

STATUS: HB 1035 is in the House Finance Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the House Committee on Finance, tell them you support HB 1035 and ask them to schedule an executive session to pass it out of committee.

HB 1866 -Assisting persons receiving community support services through medical assistance programs to receive supportive housing.

SUPPORT

STATUS HB 1866 is in the House Healthcare and Wellness Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Representatives on the House Committee on Healthcare and Wellness, tell them you support HB 1866 and ask them to schedule an executive session to pass it out of committee.

HB 1904 Protecting tenants from excessive rent and related fees by providing at least six months’ notice for rent increases over a certain amount, allowing tenants the right to terminate a tenancy, and limiting late fees.

SUPPORT

HB 1904 would protect renters from excessive rent and related fees by providing them with at least six months and no more than 220 days’ notice for rent increases over 3 percent. The tenant is allowed to terminate the lease for any rent increase over 3 percent. HB 1904 also limits late fees to 1.5 percent of the tenant’s monthly rent.

STATUS: HB 1904 is in the House Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Friday, January 28 at 10:00 AM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee, tell them you support HB 1904 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

SB 5566 – Expanding eligibility for the independent youth housing program.

SUPPORT

SB 5566 broadens the base of young people eligible or the independent youth housing program. Youth are now eligible for if they were wards of the state at any time before their 18^th birthday (instead of during the 4-month period before their 18^th birthday only); and increases the age limit to 25 from 23. The income requirements from all sources, except for temporary sources that include, but are not limited to, overtime wages, bonuses, or short-term temporary assignments, that does not exceed fifty percent of the area median income, remains the same.

STATUS: SB 5566 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Thursday, January 27 at 4:00 pm.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee, tell them you support SB 5566 and ask them to schedule an executive session and pass it out of committee.

SB 5428 – Concerning the application of the state environmental policy act to temporary shelters and transitional encampments.

SUPPORT
SB 5428 exempts certain temporary shelters and transitions encampments for people experiencing homelessness, from application of the state environmental policy act (SEPA). Temporary shelter is defined as any use sited in a new or existing structure or modular structure that provides temporary quarters for sleeping and shelter. Transitional encampment is defined as any use having tents, modular structures, or similar shelters, including vehicles used for shelter, providing temporary quarters for sleeping and shelter. Both types of facilities may have common food preparation, shower, or other commonly used facilities that support the facility.
STATUS: SB 5428 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote you the full Senate
ACTION: Contact your senators and tell them you support SB 5428 and ask for a YES vote when it comes to the floor

SB 5642 – Exempting a sale or transfer of real property for affordable housing to a nonprofit entity, housing authority, public corporation, county, or municipal corporation from the real estate excise tax.

SUPPORT

SB 5642 exempts a sale or transfer of real property for affordable housing to a nonprofit entity housing authority, public corporation, or municipal corporation from the real estate excise tax. It is the intent of this bill to incentivize real property transfers to nonprofit housing providers, public housing authorities, or local governments

STATUS: SB 5642 is scheduled for a public hearing the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee on Wednesday, January 26 at 10:30 a.m.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Housing and Local Government committee, tell them you support SB 5642 and ask them to schedule an executive session to pass it out of committee.

HB 1782 – Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.

SB 5670 – Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.

SUPPORT

HB 1782 and SB 5670 create additional middle housing units near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family housing. “Middle housing” is defined as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, stacked flats, townhouses, and courtyard apartments. The Growth Management Act is amended to require cities over a certain size to include middle housing, such as courtyard apartments and townhouses, in single family neighborhoods. Technical assistance is to be provided by the Department of Commerce.

STATUS: HB 1782 is in the House Local Government Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

SB 5670 is in the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representative on the House Local Government Committee, tell them you support HB 1782 and ask them to schedule it for an executive session to pass it out of committee.

Contact your senators on the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee, tell them you support SB 5670 and ask them to schedule an executive session to pass it out of committee.

SB 5867 – Concerning compassionate and effective strategies to address the homelessness crisis

SUPPORT

SB 5867 provides funding from the state housing trust fund to establish emergency overnight shelters for the homeless population in every county and each city with a population over 50,000. The funding is to ensure that the counties and cities working together within the county have enough cumulative beds to accommodate the sheltered and unsheltered portions of the county’s most recent point-in-time homeless count. These shelters will also provide services for mental health and substance abuse treatment, and employment counseling services.

STATUS: SB 5867 is in the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee and is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee, tell them you support SB 5867 and ask them to schedule an executive session and pass it out of committee.

Diaper subsidy

SB 5838 – Providing a monthly diaper subsidy for parents or other caregivers receiving temporary assistance for needy families.

SUPPORT

SB 5838 provides a monthly diaper subsidy for parents or other caregivers receiving temporary assistance for needy families. The legislature finds that diapers are a necessity for every infant. Additionally, most early childcare programs require an adequate supply of diapers for child attendance, but, apart from early head start, do not provide diapers to families in need. The legislature further finds that families unable to afford an adequate supply of diapers may provide less frequent diaper changes to their child to maximize their supply of diapers. The failure to provide adequate diaper changes is associated with an increased rate of diaper dermatitis and urinary tract infection. Further, there are links between diaper need and increased parenting stress. Children whose parents manifest high levels of stress or depression are at greater risk of social, emotional, and behavioral problems. The department of social and health services is directed to provide a monthly diaper subsidy to families with children under the age of three who are otherwise eligible for temporary assistance for needy families, subject to funds appropriated

STATUS: SB 5838 is scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation on Thursday, January 27 at 1:30 pm.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation, tell them you support SB 5838 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Surprise medical billing

HB 1688 Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services, by aligning state law and the federal no surprises act and addressing coverage of treatment for emergency conditions.

SUPPORT

SB 5618 – Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services, by aligning state law and the federal no surprises act and addressing coverage of treatment for emergency conditions.

SUPPORT

In 2019, the WA State Legislature enacted the Balance Billing Protection Act prohibiting balance billing for emergency services and certain non-emergency services. A “balance bill” is a bill sent to patient by an out-of-network provider or facility for health care services provided to a patient after the provider or facility’s billed amount is not fully reimbursed by the insurance carrier, excluding permitted cost-sharing. In 2020 Congress passed the federal No Surprises Act (NSA), which establishes federal protections against balance billing for emergency services and certain other services provided at in-network facilities beginning January 1, 2022.

HB 1688 and SB 5618 expand the list of services covered by the balance billing prohibitions to include post-stabilization services and air ambulance services in alignment with federal law. It also expands the definition of emergency services to include post-stabilization services and emergency services provided by behavioral health emergency services providers. The dispute resolution process for insurance carriers, health care providers, and for facilities covered by the balance billing prohibitions is modified

STATUS: HB 1688 is scheduled for an executive session on Wednesday, January 26 at 8:00 am in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee.

SB 5618 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care & Wellness Committee to let them know you support HB 1688 and ask that it be scheduled for an executive session to pass out of committee.

Contact your senators on the Senate Health and Care Committee, tell them you support SB 5618 and ask them to schedule an executive session.

Mitigating eligibility barriers for poverty reduction programs

SB 5433 – Creating the basic food categorical income eligibility program.

SUPPORT

SB 5433 will promote economic recovery and administrative efficiency by creating a program within the office of financial management to authorize agencies and departments to utilize basic food eligibility as a form of categorical eligibility within other income or means-tested programs

STATUS: SB 5433 is in the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee, tell them you support SB 5433 and ask them to schedule it for a public hearing and executive session.

Unemployment benefits for undocumented immigrants

SB 5438 – Providing unemployment benefits to workers who are unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and not eligible for unemployment benefits due to immigration status.
SUPPORT
SB 5438 establishes the Washington income replacement for immigrant workers program, which provides certain unemployment benefits to workers excluded from state unemployment insurance benefits due to immigration status and as a result of COVID-19. It also creates the unemployment benefits for undocumented workers account, and directs the Department of Labor and Industries to develop proposals for certain permanent and interim programs.

STATUS: SB 5438 is in the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs, tell them you support SB 5438 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

COVID-19 Economic Relief

SB 5472 – Providing support for utility customers impacted by COVID-19 through payment plans, including partial forgiveness of arrearages and a credit against the public utility tax.

SUPPORT

SB 5472 provides support for utility customers impacted by COVID-19 through payment plans, including partial forgiveness of arrearages and a credit against the public utility tax.

STATUS: SB 5472 is in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, tell them you support SB 5472 and ask them to schedule a public hearing and executive session.

Establishing a trust fund for children born into low-income families

HB 1861 Creating the Washington future fund trust fund program.

SB 5752 Creating the Washington future fund trust fund program.

SUPPORT

With HB 1861 and SB 5752 the legislature recognizes that persistent and disproportionate wealth inequalities exist in WA State. As wealth is the key indicator of long-term economic stability and well-being, those born into families of limited means face additional and substantial barriers to accessing reliable pathways out of poverty such as owning a home, completing postsecondary education, or starting a small business. The legislature declares that it is the public policy of the state and a recognized governmental function to assist individuals who are born into families of limited means to overcome economic and other disadvantages that would otherwise limit their opportunities as adults, making them better able to contribute to the general welfare.

HB 1861 and SB 5752 create the WA Future Fund to provide a sum of money in a savings and investment account for individuals born on or after January 1, 2024 into families with limited means (defined as the infant’s birth was subject to medical coverage provided by Apple Care for Kids) for the purpose of a postsecondary education, purchasing a home, or starting a business, provided that the individual meets certain eligibility requirements and makes a claim for funds at the age of 18 through 30.

STATUS: HB 1861 is in the House Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee where it is set for an executive session on Thursday, January 27 at 1:30 PM

SB 5752 is in the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee where it is scheduled for an executive hearing on Friday, January 28 at 10:30 AM.

ACTION: Contact your house members on House Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee and tell them you support HB 1861 and ask them to pass it out of committee.

Contact your senators on Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee and tell them you support SB 5752 and ask them to pass it out of committee.

Tow Trucks and Charges for Use of Credit and Debit Card Transaction Fees

HB 1954 Addressing credit and debit card transaction fees.

OPPOSE

HB 1954 authorizes registered tow truck operators to collect a convenience fee when a credit or debit card is chosen as the payment method for the costs of towing, storage, tolls, or ferry fares. It will exacerbate the disproportionate impact of Tow Truck practices on communities of color, low-income individuals, and the homeless. Towing companies already charge exorbitant fees, and due to racial bias in traffic stops, the inability of low-income people to pay parking and traffic fines, combined with the high cost of boot fees that affect those experiencing homelessness, charging fees for the use of credit cards when you pick up your car from being impounded only worsens the inequality. See Towing disproportionately impacts people of color, low-income and homeless people

STATUS: HB 1954 is in the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee where it is set for a public hearing on January 24, 2022 at 1:30 pm and an executive session on January 26, 2022 at 8:00 am.

ACTION: Contact your house members on Consumer Protection & Business Committee and tell them you oppose HB 1954 and ask them to vote against it.

Fairness in Auto and other Personal Insurance

SB 5623 Protecting consumers by limiting the ability of insurers to use credit histories to increase personal insurance premiums at renewal, but not prohibiting the use of credit history by insurers.

OPPOSE

SB 5623 prohibits the use of credit history to increase rates or premiums at renewal for any personal insurance policy holder beginning July 1, 2023, and thereafter credit history can only be used for new applicants or for improving the insured’s score that results in a lowered premium upon the insured’s request which can only be requested once a year. The insurer is not required to update insurance scores more frequently than upon the insured’s request. This bill allows insurers to resume the use of credit history immediately (should the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s (OIC) rule eliminating the use of credit scores is finalized).

The OIC issued an emergency rule in March 2021 prohibiting the use of credit scores in determining premiums and eligibility for auto, homeowners, and renter’s insurance. Subsequently the emergency nature of the rule was declared invalid and the OIC is currently in the process of making this rule permanent. WA State We believe that the normal rule process should continue to effectuate a ban on the use of credit scores in insurance.

Consumer groups are opposed to this legislation as it codifies the use of discriminatory tactics in the insurance industry that is wrong. If SB 5623 was to become law, individuals with spotless driving records but credit scores in need of improvement would pay higher insurance rates than more affluent drivers who have poor driving records. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/car-insurance/credit-scores-affect-auto-insurance-rates/index.htm

STATUS: SB 5623 is in the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee where it is eligible for an executive session

ACTION: Let your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee know that you OPPOSE SB 5623 and ask that it not pass out of committee

SB 5879 Requiring insurers who use credit information to provide reasonable exceptions to insurance rates for consumers experiencing extraordinary life circumstances.

OPPOSE

SB 5879 requires insurers who use credit information to provide “reasonable exceptions” to insurance rates for consumers experiencing extraordinary life circumstances (ELC), if contacted in writing. These ELCs include:

a catastrophic event, as declared by the federal or state government;
serious illness or injury of themselves or an immediate family member;
death of a spouse, child, or parent;
divorce or involuntary interruption of legally owed alimony or support payments;
identity theft;
temporary loss of employment for three months or more, if involuntary terminated;
military deployment overseas; or
other events determined by the insurer.

Insurance companies could circumvent anti-discrimination statutes by allowing companies to charge consumers with adverse life circumstances higher premiums. This bill would require concrete action on an individual’s part to provide very personal information at a time of crisis to contest an insurance premium rate due to financial circumstances and not to the actual risk factors such as a poor driving record. Both SB 5623 and SB 5879 amount to poverty taxes on some of the most vulnerable populations in Washington State.

STATUS: SB 5879 is in the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee where it is eligible for an executive session

ACTION: Let your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee know that you OPPOSE SB 5879 and ask that it not pass out of committee.

Forgiveness of Student Loans

SB 5847 Providing information to public service employees about the public service loan forgiveness program.

SUPPORT

SB 5847 would empower the Washington State student loan Advocate and the Washington State Achievement Counsel to develop materials and awareness about the federal student loan forgiveness program for program public service employees (PSLF). The Biden administration has recently announced new rule making to make it easier to receive credit for payments made under PSLF that did not previously qualify for forgiveness to boost the number of individuals eligible for student loan forgiveness under that program. https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service. This effort boosts our state’s efforts to support that goal to help alleviate the weight of crushing student debt on Washington residents who work in public service.

STATUS: SB 5847 is in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development where it is scheduled an executive session on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 1:30pm.

ACTION: Contact your senator on the Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development, tell them you support SB 5847 and ask them to vote YES to pass it out of committee.

Residential Landlord Tenant Act and the Consumer Protection Act

SB 2023 Addressing enforcement of tenant protections.

SUPPORT

HB 2023 which would make the Washington State Consumer Protection Act (CPA) applicable to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act. In 1985, the Washington State Supreme Court rendered a decision in State v. Schwab, 103 Wn.2d 542, 693 P.2d 108 (1985) that found the CPA does not cover violations of the Residential Landlord Tenant Act and this bill aims are overturning that decision. This is an important bill that will support tenants who have been stymied by an inability to address wrongs without the protection of the CPA.

STATUS: HB 2023 is in the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans where it is set for a public hearing on Friday, January 28, 2022 at 10:00 am.

ACTION: Contact your house member on the Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans and tell them you support HB 2023 and ask them to schedule it for an executive session and to pass it out of committee.

Hospital Charity Care

HB 1616 Concerning the charity care act.

SUPPORT

HB 1616 is a Washington State Attorney General’s Request Bill that standardizes the level of hospital charity care to 400% of the federal poverty level. Charity care laws in the state of Washington require hospitals to forgive some or all of the out-of-pocket costs for essential health care for low-income patients. Today, Washington charity care laws help only those who make up 200 percent of the federal poverty level – an individual who makes $26,000 per year, or $34,380 for a two-person household. Full forgiveness is only available to those at or below the federal poverty level – about $12,900 per year for an individual and $26,500 for a family of four. This legislation would expand charity care to mor than 2.2 million Washingtonians who are not currently eligible.

STATUS: HB 1616 has passed out of the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness and is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Contact House members in the Rules committee and tell them you support HB 1616 and ask them to vote it out of Rules and onto the floor.

Preventing Discrimination in Prescription Drugs

HB 1713 Requiring cost sharing for prescription drugs to be counted against an enrollee’s obligation, regardless of source.

SB 5610 Requiring cost sharing for prescription drugs to be counted against an enrollee’s obligation, regardless of source.

SUPPORT

HB 1713 and SB 5610 require all cost sharing amounts for prescription drugs to be counted against an enrollee’s cost-sharing requirement. Beginning January 1, 2023, when calculating an enrollee’s contribution to any applicable cost-sharing requirement, a health carrier or health care benefit manager must include any cost-sharing amounts paid by the enrollee directly or on behalf of the enrollee by another person for a covered prescription drug and apply that amount in full toward the enrollee’s deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, or similar obligation.

STATUS: SB 5610 is moving first, and is in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care on where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 1:30 PM.

HB 1713 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senator or on the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care and tell them you support SB 5610 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

and contact your house member about HB 1713 in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee to ask for a public hearing on the bill.

Manufactured Home Sales

HB 1100 Concerning the sale or lease of manufactured/mobile home communities and the property on which they sit.

SUPPORT

HB 1100 would require under the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (MHLTA), that a landlord of a mobile home park to provide written notice to the tenants and give them the opportunity to purchase the park. The legislation requires a landlord to negotiate in good faith with a qualified tenant organization when selling or leasing a mobile home park. The Attorney General would also be able to bring a civil action against the landlords under this bill.

STATUS: HB 1100 is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 1:30 PM in the House Appropriations Committee.

ACTION: Contact your house member on the House Appropriations Committee and ask for a YES vote to pass HB 1100 out of committee.

Senior Citizen & Disabled Person Property Tax Relief

HB 5802 Providing additional financial relief for property owners using the senior citizen and disabled persons property tax exemption and deferral programs by increasing the income thresholds and lowering the interest rate for deferred property taxes.

SUPPORT

HB 5802 provides additional financial relief for property owners using the senior citizen and disabled persons property tax exemption and deferral programs by increasing the income thresholds and lowering the interest rate for deferred property taxes. The income threshold for eligibility is increased to increase tax relief to more Washington seniors.

STATUS HB 5802 is set for a public session was held in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 8:00 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senator on the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade and tell them you support HB 5802 and ask that it be passed out of committee.

Education

School District Bonds

HJR 4200 Amending the Constitution to allow a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.

SUPPORT

More and more schools are falling into disrepair and being overfilled, increasing reliance on temporary portable units to house our burgeoning population. The state does not provide for schools or school maintenance. School districts are reliant on the local community to be able to pay for housing our students, which perpetuates extreme inequities across our state and even in neighboring communities. Our children’s education is impacted by the extremely high threshold it takes to pass school bonds instead of a simple majority of the district’s voters. HJR would amend the WA State Constitution and to authorize school districts to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes, levy taxes to make payments on those bonds, and exceed a constitutional debt limit with approval by a simple majority of the voters, voting on the proposition, rather than approval by 60 percent of the voters at a general election where the total number of voters is at least 40 percent of the total at the last preceding general election

STATUS: HJR 4200 is in the House Education Committee where it is eligible for an executive session to pass out of committee.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Education Committee and ask that an executive session be scheduled before the February 3 cutoff date so that HJR 4200 can pass out of committee.

HB 1226 Concerning school district elections.

SUPPORT

HB 1226 is related to HJR 4200. This bill would authorize school districts to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes, levy taxes to make payments on those bonds, and exceed the statutory debt limit with approval by a simple majority of the voters voting at the election, rather than approval by 60 percent of the voters voting where the total number of voters is at least 40 percent of the total at the last preceding general election. In order for this bill to become effective the constitutional amendment listed in HJR 4200 must be passed by the voters.

STATUS: HB 1226 is in the House Education Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your Legislators re HB 1226 & HJR 4200 to support this effort to increase access to the quality educational facilities for our children by allowing a simple majority of a school district’s voters approve general obligation bonds.

School District Director Compensation

HB 1803 Updating school district director compensation through the revision and preservation of a uniform compensation structure and an examination of future needs.

SUPPORT

HB 1803 is in alignment to WA State School Directors Association’s-recently adopted legislative position titled, “Attract, Recruit, and Retain Diverse School Board Members.” This bill:

increases the maximum daily compensation that school directors may receive from $50 to $128, and the annual compensation limit from $4,800 to $12,288;
allows school directors to receive reimbursement for childcare costs associated with attending meetings; and
directs the Office of Financial Management to complete an examination of actual and potential school director compensation with a report due by November 18, 2022.

Unfortunately, it puts the financial burden squarely on the local community to finance this through local levies and very pointedly prohibits funding by the state. But it provides for a study to review potential resources and it’s a start.

STATUS: HB 1803 is eligible for an executive session in the House Education Committee.

ACTION: Contact your Legislators re HB 1803 / SB 5833 to support this effort to increase access to the position of school board director and encourage state funding as a necessary component of our children’s education.

SB 5833 Increasing compensation options for directors of a school district board.

SUPPORT

SB 5833 is similar to HB 1803 in that it seeks to increase the school director’s compensation. It establishes that, if authorized by a school district’s board of directors, a member of the board of directors may receive compensation of up to either $50 per day and $5,000 per year for a small district of 2499 students or less with a tiered compensation level based on district enrollment up to $30,000 per year for districts over 30,000 students.

The bill also requires that school director compensation limits be increased for inflation every five years

STATUS: SB 5833 is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 23 at 1:30 PM in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

ACTION: Contact your Legislators re HB 1803 and SB 5833 to support this effort to increase access to the position of school board director and encourage state funding as a necessary component of our children’s education.

Reproductive Rights and Health Care

Anti-abortion

HB 1008 Prohibiting abortion on the basis of Down syndrome.

SB 5416 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 is still in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5416 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose HB 1008 and SB 5416

HB 1679 Prohibiting abortions performed by means of medication.

OPPOSE

HB 1679 prohibits a health care provider from performing an abortion by means of medication or prescribe or dispense medication for inducing abortion except for preserving the life of the mother.

STATUS: HB 1679 is in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose HB 1679

SB 5053 Requiring notification to parents or guardians in cases of abortion.

OPPOSE

SB 5053 Requires the person performing an abortion on a minor or the referring physician to give a 48-hour notification to the parent or legal guardian of the minor. A judicial bypass procedure is outlined in the bill where either the minor must prove she is mature and well-informed to consent to an abortion or is a victim of physical and/or sexual abuse by one or both of her parents, or that notification is not in her best interest. Failure by the physician to notify parents/guardians is a gross misdemeanor.

STATUS: SB 5053 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

ACTION: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose SB 5053

SB 5516 Requiring informed consent before performing an abortion.

OPPOSE

SB 5516 Makes consent of a person seeking termination of a pregnancy “informed” only if it is given in writing before the procedure and 24 hours previously the physician has described in writing a range of risks, services, and legalities. The 24-hour waiting period is waived only in cases where an abortion is necessary to avert death or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. A doctor violating this is subject to unprofessional conduct and penalties.

STATUS: SB 5516 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose SB 5516

SB 5625 Concerning data collection on abortion procedures.

OPPOSE

SB 5625 Requires the licensed abortion services provider to supply data on failed abortions resulting in a live birth, number of patients who became unintentionally sterile following an abortion, and average stay in a hospital due to complications to the Dept. of Health.

STATUS: SB 5625 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose SB 5625

Affirming WA State’s Abortion Act

HB 1851 Relating to preserving a pregnant individual’s ability to access abortion care

SUPPORT

HB 1851 declares that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy to personal reproductive decisions. This bill also updates the language related to abortion care in Washington’s legal code to be gender neutral and to reflect the range of providers who are licensed to provide abortion care. These updates would ensure that the gender identities of all people who have abortions are reflected in the statute and would confirm the already established legal ability of qualified licensed providers, such as physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) to provide abortion care.

STATUS: HB 1851 is in House Health and Wellness Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session 8 am Wednesday, January 26.

ACTION: Contact your representative and let them know you support HB 1851 and ask that they pass it out of committee.

SB 5766 Preserving a pregnant individual’s ability to access abortion care.

SUPPORT

SB 5766 is similar to HB 1851 although not identical. It changes a “woman’s right” to a “pregnant individual’s right” to have an abortion and it also adds PAs, ARNPs, or other health care providers acting within the provider’s scope of practice as persons allowed to provide abortions. It also adds a clause that prohibits the state from penalizing, prosecuting, or taking any other adverse action against an individual based on actual, potential, perceived, or alleged pregnancy outcomes. It also prohibits adverse actions against an individual for aiding or assisting a pregnant individual in exercising their right to reproductive freedom.

STATUS: SB 5766 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5766 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Necessities/sales and use taxes

HB 1535 Exempting family and household necessities from the sales and use tax.

SUPPORT

HB 1535 would have the state tax levied not apply to sales of a diapers, diaper services, breast pumps, repair and replacement parts, breast pump collection and storage supplies, to charges for installing repair and replacement parts in, maintaining, servicing, or repairing of, a breast pump, and prepared foods sold by grocery stores.

STATUS: HB 1535 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Let your legislators know you support HB 1535 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5309 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for adult and baby diapers.

SUPPORT

SB 5309 would exempt sales and use tax for adult and baby diapers.

STATUS: SB 5309 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Let your legislators know you support SB 5309 and ask that it is scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Postpartum contraception

HB 1651 Allowing providers to bill separately for immediate postpartum contraception.

SUPPORT

HB 1651 allows providers to bill separately for devices or professional services associated with immediate postpartum contraception and they may not consider such services or devices to be part of any payments for general obstetric procedures. “Immediate postpartum contraception” is defined as the postpartum insertion of intrauterine devices or contraceptive implants performed before the patient is discharged from the hospital or birthing center and includes the devices or implants themselves.

STATUS: HB 1651 is in the House Rule Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Let your legislators know you support HB 1651 and ask for a YES vote when it comes to the floor.

Water fluoridation

HB 1684 Concerning public Health and fluoridation of drinking water

SUPPORT

HB 1684 would require analysis of the cost to install, implement, and maintain community fluoridation when the water system engages in system planning, including planning for the future of the water system and for expansion of the water supply or upgrading and modernizing system facilities. Providing effective levels of fluoride in public water is a meaningful way to bridge societal inequities that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color.

STATUS: HB 1684 is in the House Local Government Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing at 10 AM on Tuesday, January 25, and an executive session at 8 AM on Friday, January 28^th.

ACTION: Let your legislators know you support HB 1684 and want their support to pass it out of committee.

Fertility services

HB 1730 Concerning fertility services.

SB 5647 Concerning fertility services

SUPPORT

HB 1730 and SB 5647 require Health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, to include coverage for the diagnosis of infertility, treatment for infertility, and standard fertility preservation services.

STATUS: HB 1730 has been assigned to House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5647 has been assigned to Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

ACTION: Let your legislators know you support HB 1730 and SB 5647 and ask that they be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session in committee.

Health care entity mergers

HB 1809 Concerning material changes to the operations and governance structure of participants in the health care marketplace.

SB 5688 Concerning material changes to the operations and governance structure of participants in the health care marketplace.

SUPPORT

HB 1809 and SB 5688 commit the legislature to ensuring that Washingtonians have access to the full range of reproductive, end-of-life, and gender affirming health care services. Mergers between health care entities — like hospitals and clinics — are prolific in Washington state. Under current regulations, these mergers have negatively impacted cost, quality, and access to necessary health care services, in turn exacerbating systemic inequities for rural and low-income communities, people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and terminally ill patients. This bill requires that health entity mergers, acquisitions, and contracting affiliations improve rather than harm access to affordable quality health care. The attorney general’s office has oversight and approval authority for these mergers. SB 5688 would create a system of public oversights to ensure that future health entity mergers in Washington benefit patients, not just the bottom line.

STATUS: HB 1809 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5688 is assigned to the Senate Law & Justice Committee is scheduled for an executive session is scheduled for 10:30 AM on Thursday, January 27^th.

ACTION: Contact your legislators on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and ask that a public hearing and executive session be scheduled for HB 1809.

Contact your legislators on the Senate Law & Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5688 and ask that they pass it out of committee.

Breast Implant Surgery

SB 5441 Concerning informed consent for breast implant surgery.

SUPPORT

Requires physicians or osteopathic physicians to provide patients with the required breast implant information and obtain informed consent before performing breast implant surgery.

STATUS: SB 5441 passed the Senate unanimously on Wednesday, January 12 and was sent to the House where it is assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Let your legislators on the House Health Care & Wellness know you support 2ESSB 5441 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetic Products

SB 5480 Use and Disclosure of Toxic chemicals in cosmetic Products

SUPPORT

SB 5480 would prohibit use of toxic chemicals found in certain cosmetic and personal care products, especially those which disproportionately affect women of color, and require manufacturers to disclose information on their websites to provide consumers and workers with ingredient information about the cosmetic products.

STATUS: SB 5480 was reintroduced from 2021 and retained in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Let your legislators in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee know you support SB 5480 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

Violence

Emergency Care

HB 1703 Modernizing the statewide 911 emergency communications system.

SUPPORT

HB 1703 addresses the ongoing effort to modernize the 911 system, which is essential to public safety and is often the first call a victim or bystander makes when experiencing trauma. This bill largely clarifies and updates the existing regulations.

STATUS: HB 1703 is in the House Committee on Appropriations where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 24^th at 3:30 PM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know you support HB 1703 and ask them to vote yes on HB 1703.

Weapons, Guns, and Public Safety

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 Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 1164 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session before the February 3 cutoff date.

Contact your senators and let them know you support SB 5078 and ask that they vote YES when it comes to the floor. If you have a legislator on the Senate Rules committee, make sure you contact them about your support for SB 5708 and ask that it be scheduled for a floor vote.

HB 1229 Concerning assault weapons

SB 5217 Concerning assault weapons

SUPPORT
HB 1229 & SB 5217 create definitions for assault-style weapons and restrict521 assault-style weapon ownership requiring that no person in this state may manufacture, possess, distribute, import, transfer, sell, offer for sale, purchase, or otherwise transfer any assault weapon except in limited circumstances as defined in the bill.

STATUS: HB 1229 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5217 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 27^th, at 10:30 AM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 1229.

Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5217 and ask that they pass it out of committee.

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

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

STATUS: HB 1283 is in the House Rules Committee where it is eligible for a full house vote on the floor

ACTION: Contact your representatives in the and let them know that you support HB 1283 and ask that vote for this bill. If you have a legislator on the House Rules committee, make sure you contact them about your support for HB 1283 and ask that it be scheduled for a floor vote.

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 and who can petition the court for reinstatement of their right to possess a firearm. The 1026criteria 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 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 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing ad executive session before the Feb 3 cutoff date.

HB 1618 & SB 5846: Prohibiting weapons at election-related offices and facilities subject to limited exemptions for law enforcement officers and security personnel.

SUPPORT

HB1618 & SB 5846 create a new statute to prohibit weapons at election-related offices. Those found guilty will result in a gross misdemeanor and have any concealed gun permits revoked for three years.

STATUS:

HB 1618 is in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary where it is eligible for an executive session.

SB 5846 is in the Senate Law & 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 you support HB 1618 and ask that they pass it out of committee.

Contact your senators on the Senate Law & Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5846.

HB 1630: Establishing restrictions on the possession of weapons in certain locations.

SUPPORT

HB 1630 Prohibits the open carry of firearms and other weapons while knowingly being in: a local government building used in connection with meetings of the governing body of the local government; or any location of a public meeting or hearing of the governing body of a local government during the meeting or hearing. It also prohibits the possession of firearms and other weapons in areas of facilities while being used for official meetings of a school district board of directors.

STATUS: HB 1630 was passed out of House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary, and it will most likely go directly to the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be placed floor calendar for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know you support HB 1630 and ask for a YES vote to place it on the floor calendar.

HB 1705: Concerning ghost guns

SUPPORT

HB 1705 Restricts the manufacture, assembly, sale, transfer, purchase, possession, transport, and receipt of untraceable firearms. Restricts the sale, transfer, purchase, possession, transport, and receipt of unfinished frames and receivers.

STATUS: HB 1705 was passed out of House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary, and it will most likely go directly to the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be placed floor calendar for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know you support HB 1705 and ask for a YES vote to place it on the floor calendar.

SB 5690: Concerning firearms on the capitol campus for the sole purpose of organized memorial events.

SUPPORT

The open carry of firearms is generally prohibited in certain buildings on the west state capitol campus, any buildings on the state capitol grounds, any state legislative offices, or any location of a public legislative hearing or meeting during the hearing or meeting. Exceptions to the prohibition are provided for law enforcement personnel, for persons with valid concealed pistol licenses, and for members of the armed forces who carry a firearm or other weapon in the discharge of their official duty or traveling to or from official duty. SB 5690 exempts color guard and honor guard from liability when carrying a firearm or other weapon on the capitol campus while actively participating in, walking to, and leaving organized memorial events.

STATUS: SB 5690 is in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is scheduled for executive session on Thursday 1/27/2022 at 10:30 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senator on the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and let them know you support SB 5690.

HB 1634: Clarifying the authority of law enforcement officers to acquire, possess, and use certain firearms and ammunition.

OPPOSE

HB 1634 would allow law enforcement to acquire and possess additional types of firearms, and states that the existing statute does not prohibit the acquisition or use of less lethal alternatives by law enforcement agencies. The bill also creates a state of emergency for law enforcement to preserve public peace.

STATUS: HB 1634 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is eligible for public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you oppose HB 1634.

HB 1692: Promoting racial equity in the criminal legal system by eliminating drive-by shooting as a basis for elevating murder in the first degree to aggravated murder in the first degree.

SUPPORT

HB 1692 removes “drive-by shooting” as a way to elevate a murder charge from the first degree to aggravated first degree murder. This change would result in the change in sentencing by eliminating parole eligibility in a life sentence. It would also retroactively apply.

STATUS: HB 1692 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is eligible for public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you support HB 1692.

HB 1941: Prohibiting active shooter scenarios for school safety-related drills.

SUPPORT

HB 1941 prohibits the use of active shooter safety drills in schools as it unnecessarily physically and emotionally painful for the educators and the students. Allowable safety-related drills continue to be 1) shelter-in-place; 2) lockdown; and 3) evacuate. This bill would require schools to maintain documentation of the time, date, and type of drill.

STATUS: HB 1941 is in the House Education Committee where it is scheduled for public hearing on Thursday, January 27^th at 1:30PM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Education Committee and let them know you support HB 1941.

Use of Force by Law Enforcement

HB 1588 Restoring the authority of a peace officer to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law and the officer follows appropriate safety standards.

OPPOSE
HB 1588 gives law enforcement more flexibility in allowing vehicular pursuits, and removes the requirement that law enforcement have probable cause that the person in question has committed or is committing a violent offense or a sex offense, or is driving under the influence. We believe that law enforcement should maintain a burden of proof prior to risking the safety of others in a vehicular pursuit.

STATUS: HB 1588 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is eligible for public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you oppose HB 1588.

SB 5919 Concerning the standard for law enforcement authority to detain or pursue persons.

OPPOSE
SB 5919 gives law enforcement more flexibility in allowing vehicular pursuits, and removes the requirement that law enforcement have probable cause that the person in question has committed or is committing a violent offense or a sex offense, or is driving under the influence. We believe that law enforcement should maintain a burden of proof prior to risking the safety of others in a vehicular pursuit.

STATUS: SB 5919 is in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is eligible for public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and let them know you oppose SB 5919.

SB 5569 Improving public safety.

OPPOSE
SB 5569 gives law enforcement more flexibility in using chokeholds or neck restraints, using tear gas, using military weapons, and vehicular pursuits. It also creates looser definitions for peace officer physical force, and necessary use of physical force.

We believe that law enforcement should maintain the least use of physical force possible to protect individual safety to prevent deaths or injuries at the hands of law enforcement.

STATUS: SB 5569 is in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is eligible for public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and let them know you oppose SB 5569.

SB 5675 Concerning permissible use of force by law enforcement and correctional officers.

OPPOSE
SB 5675 repeals the 2021 enacted laws that restricted law enforcement use of force. We believe that law enforcement should maintain the least use of physical force possible to protect individual safety to prevent deaths or injuries at the hands of law enforcement.

STATUS: SB 5675 is in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is eligible for public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and let them know you oppose SB 5675.

SB 5677 Enhancing public trust and confidence in law enforcement and strengthening law enforcement accountability, by specifying required practices for complaints, investigations, discipline, and disciplinary appeals for serious misconduct.

SUPPORT

SB 5677 creates greater accountability for fatalities at the hands of officers. It also requires more structure for handling police complaints, and additional accountability in cases of serious misconduct.

STATUS: SB 5677 is in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is eligible to be scheduled for a public hearing executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and let them know you support SB 5677 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

HB 1726 Modifying the standard for use of physical force by peace officers.

SUPPORT

HB 1726 Modifies the standard for use of force by peace officers by allowing an officer to use physical force against another person, subject to the requirement to exercise reasonable care, when necessary to protect against criminal conduct or conduct an investigatory detention if the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person has committed or is committing a violent offense, a sex offense, an assault, or domestic violence.

A peace officer must use reasonable care when determining whether to use physical force and when using any physical force against another person. To that end, a peace officer must:

when possible, exhaust available and appropriate de-escalation tactics prior to using any physical force;
when using physical force, use the least amount of physical force necessary to overcome resistance under the circumstances, which includes a consideration of the characteristics and conditions of the person for the purposes of determining whether to use force against that person and, if force is necessary, determining the appropriate and least amount of force possible to effect a lawful purpose;
terminate the use of physical force as soon as the necessity for such force ends;
when possible, use available and appropriate less lethal alternatives before using deadly force; and
make less lethal alternatives issued to the officer reasonably available for his or her use.

STATUS: HB 1726 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Public Safety and let them know you support HB 1726 and ask that it be scheduled for an executive session to pass out of committee.

HB 1735 Modifying the standard for use of force by peace officers.

SUPPORT

HB 1735 Modifies the standard for use of force by peace officers by allowing an officer to use physical force against another person. A peace officer may use physical force against a person to the extent necessary to carry out specified acts. The authority of a peace officer to use physical force against a person, subject to the requirement to exercise reasonable care, is expanded to include the following circumstances:

Taking a person into custody or providing assistance in circumstances involving involuntary treatment or evaluation under civil or forensic commitment laws.
Taking a minor into protective custody in certain circumstances; and
Executing or enforcing a court order.

The provision regarding use of deadly force is modified by replacing the term “imminent threat” with “immediate threat,” distinguishing it from the restrictions on the use of physical force. A peace officer may use deadly force against another person only when necessary to protect against an immediate threat of serious physical injury or death to the officer or another person.

STATUS: HB 1735 was passed out of House Committee on Public Safety where it is now eligible to be placed floor calendar.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1735. Ask that they bring HB 1735 to a vote on the floor.

HB 2037 Modifying the standard for use of force by peace officers.

SUPPORT

HB 2037 Modifies the standard for use of force by peace officers, but only with respect to providing that physical force may be used to the extent necessary. It also clarifies that deadly force may be used in the face of an immediate threat, clarifies that physical force may be used to protect against a criminal offense when there is probable cause that a person has committed or is committing the offense, authorizes the use of physical force to prevent a person from fleeing a temporary investigative detention, authorizes the use of physical force to take a person into custody when authorized or directed by statute, provided that the standard does not permit violations to the United States Constitution or state Constitution, and defining deadly force, physical force, necessary, and totality of the circumstances.

STATUS: HB 2037 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 25^th at 8AM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Public Safety and let them know that you support HB 2037. Ask them to schedule an executive session and pass it out of committee.

State patrol diversity

HB 2057 Strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion in the state patrol workforce.

SUPPORT

HB 2057 Requires the Washington State Patrol (WSP), working with the Department of Enterprise Services, to contract for an independent, expert consultant to establish benchmark goals for the demographic composition of the WSP workforce, to evaluate progress in the implementation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Recruitment and Retention Plan developed for the WSP in 2021, annually update the strategic plan, provide technical assistance regarding best practices to effectively foster a diverse workforce, and report quarterly and annually to the Legislature and Governor. These requirements expire June 30, 2032.

Appropriates $1.3 million from the State Patrol Highway Account to the WSP for the purposes of the independent consultant contract and to support the costs of WSP’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office.

STATUS: HB 2057 is in the House Committee on Transportation where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 24^th at 3:30 PM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Transportation and let them know that you support HB 2057.

Treatment of offenders of domestic violence

HB 1678 Creating a domestic violence offender registry.

OPPOSE

HB 1678 creates a searchable public registry of serious domestic violence offenders to work toward preventing future victimization. Offenders convicted of certain domestic violence offenses would remain on the registry for a period of 10 years and up to indefinitely. Washington State Patrol would be authority to remove a person’s registration period.

We believe that domestic violence takes many shapes, some of them not violent and often the survivor is still under control of the abuser. An offender very often flies below the radar. Because a small number of abusers would ever be listed, the database would significantly underrepresent the number of abusive individuals who pose a threat to others, creating a false sense of security.

A common occurrence among survivors is that they, too, are charged with and convicted of a domestic violence crime and would be placed on the registry. Victims of domestic violence also have privacy concerns, and very likely would be unintentionally exposed if the offender was placed on the registry.

A registry would be a tool for victim-blaming: why didn’t you check the registry? Why didn’t you leave? The reality is that abusers rationalize behavior (i.e., I was drunk that night, and the cops got called), and an offender on the list would create a myth that it is easy to get on the registry and the true accountability is lost.

NOW supports preventative measures to address domestic violence while also supporting victims.

STATUS: HB 1678 is in the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday January 28^th, at 10 AM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know you oppose HB 1678.

Sexual assault nurse examiners

HB 1621 Creating programs to encourage sexual assault nurse examiner training.

SUPPORT
HB 1621 requires that the Department of Health to establish a $2,500 stipend to cover the expenses for licensed nurses to complete the training to become certified sexual assault nurse examiners.

STATUS: HB 1621 is currently in the House Appropriations Committee.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know that you support HB 1621.

HB 1622 Creating programs to encourage sexual assault nurse examiner training.

SUPPORT
HB 1622 requires the Washington State University College of Nursing to establish two programs: (1) a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) online and clinical training program; and (2) a regional SANE leader pilot program.

STATUS: HB 1622 passed out of the House Committee on College & Workforce Development and is now in the House Rules Committee awaiting review.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1622.

Sex Trafficking and Prevention

HB 1989 Concerning commercially sexually exploited children and adults.

SUPPORT
HB 1989 would require the Department of Commerce to fund at least two healing and transition centers for commercially sexually exploited adults. The centers would be designed to intervene and prevent further exploitation, provide culturally competent services and skills training, coordinate community meetings and trainings. The centers would include leadership from communities with unique risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation. In addition, HB 1989 would require the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to administer funding for at least 2 receiving center programs (on either side of the Cascade Mountains) for commercially exploited children. The receiving centers would be required to provide shelter & services for up to 30 days and the DCYF would be required to provide ongoing case management for all children who were being served by the programs.

STATUS: HB 1989 is in the House Committee on Children, Youth, & Families where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 24^th at 1:30 PM and is scheduled for executive session on Thursday, January 27^th at 10:00 AM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Children, Youth, & Families and let them know that you support HB 1989.

HB 2016 Teaching students how to prevent, and avoid being recruited into, sex trafficking.

SUPPORT
HB 2016 adds the phrase “Comprehensive sexual health education must teach students how to prevent, and avoid being recruited into, sex trafficking.” to the 2020 enacted law that requires public schools to provide comprehensive sexual education.

STATUS: HB 2016 has been referred to the House Education Committee where it is currently eligible for a public hearing and for executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Education Committee and let them know that you support HB 2016.

HB 2077 Concerning the placement of human trafficking informational posters in rest areas.

SUPPORT
HB 2077 requires that the department of transportation develop and place human trafficking awareness posters in rest areas.

STATUS: HB 2077 has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation where it is currently eligible for a public hearing and for executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Education Committee and let them know that you support HB 2077.

HB 1748 Concerning aged, blind, or disabled program eligibility for victims of human trafficking.

SUPPORT

Makes victims of human trafficking eligible for the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program and the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) program.

Victims of human trafficking and other certain crimes, and their qualifying family members, are eligible for the following state assistance programs:

The Food Assistance Program for legal immigrants, if they are not eligible for the federal food stamp program;
- State Family Assistance Programs if they otherwise meet program eligibility requirements; and
- Medical Care Services, if they are not eligible for Apple Health for Kids or other federal health insurance.
- Replaces references to “drug or alcohol” with “substance use” for purposes of the HEN and the ABD program.

STATUS: HB 1748 was passed out of House Committee on Housing & Human Services where it is now eligible to be placed on the floor calendar.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1748. Ask that they pass HB 1748 to a vote on the floor.

Missing and Endangered Persons

HB 1571 Concerning protections and services for indigenous persons who are missing, murdered, or survivors of human trafficking.

SUPPORT
HB 1571 Requires a county coroner or medical examiner with jurisdiction over the remains of a deceased indigenous person to make certain efforts to contact family members and affected tribes of the deceased and provide an opportunity for family and affected tribes to conduct spiritual practices or ceremonies, subject to certain limitations.

Requires a county coroner or medical examiner with jurisdiction over the remains of a deceased indigenous person to make certain efforts to contact the deceased person’s family and facilitate return of the remains prior to entrusting the remains to a funeral home.
Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to provide training to law enforcement officers and county coroners in tribal sovereignty, customs, culture, traditions, and spirituality.
Requires the Washington State Patrol to establish a Red Thunder Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan.
Requires the Department of Commerce’s Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to establish two grant programs related to services and resources for indigenous survivors of human trafficking.
Requires a sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority investigating a missing indigenous person under certain circumstance to search the Jail Booking and Reporting System for the missing person and register to be notified if the missing person is later booked into jail.

STATUS: HB 1571 was passed out of House Committee on Public Safety where it is now eligible to be placed floor calendar.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1571. Ask that they pass HB 1571 and bring the bill to a vote on the floor.

HB 1639 Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous women and persons.

SUPPORT
HB 1639 modifies the definitions for the missing children and endangered person clearing house. HB 1639 creates a designation for “missing indigenous women and persons alert.” The designated alert would also be placed on variable message signs and texts of highway advisory radio messages when activated.

STATUS: HB 1639 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Public Safety and let them know that you support HB 1639.

HB 1725 Concerning the creation of an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing indigenous persons

SUPPORT
HB 1725 Requires the Washington State Patrol to establish a Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert designation as a part of its Endangered Missing Person Advisory plan.

STATUS: HB 1725 was passed out of House Committee on Public Safety where it is now eligible to be placed floor calendar.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1725. Ask that they pass HB 1725 and bring the bill to a vote on the floor.

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 makes changes to current state law 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 was passed out of House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary where it is now eligible to be placed on the floor calendar.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1048. Ask that they pass HB 1048 and bring the bill to a vote on the floor.

SB 5572 Implementing the recommendations of the Washington state internet crimes against children task force.

SUPPORT

SB 5572 adds an element to the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor, adds an element to the crime of minors selling depictions of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and adds an element to the exemption from liability of minors possessing depictions of themselves engaged in an act of sexually explicit conduct.

STATUS: SB 5572 was passed out of Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is now eligible to be placed floor calendar.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the Senate Rules Committee and let them know that you support SB 5572. Ask that they pass SB 5572 and bring the bill to a vote on the floor.

Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Harassment

HB 1293 Reducing unduly harsh sentences for offenses committed by domestic violence survivors.

SUPPORT
HB 1293, known as the Survivors Justice Act, allows the Court to reduce any term of incarceration or other penalties or impose alternatives when the defendant is: 1) a survivor of domestic violence committed by an intimate partner; 2) the domestic violence suffered by the defendant was a significant contributing factor to the defendant’s criminal conduct; and, 3) the generally applicable sentencing requirements under this chapter would be unduly harsh given the nature and circumstances of the crime and the history, character, and condition of the defendant. HB 1293 also allows any person who is currently serving a sentence imposed prior to the effective date of this section to petition the sentencing court for resentencing on the basis previously described.

STATUS: HB 1293 is in the House Public Safety Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB 1293 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

HB 1449 Creating the crime of coercive control.

SUPPORT

HB1449 acknowledges that the pandemic of domestic violence is occurring alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crime of coercive control is established, barring any person from engaging in a course of conduct against a family or household member or intimate partner without his or her consent, in order to limit or restrict, in full or in part, his or her behavior, movement, associations, or access to or use of his or her own finances or financial information.

A person is guilty of coercive control if he or she engages in a course of conduct against a family or household member or intimate partner, as those terms are defined in RCW 10.99.020, without his or her consent, in order to limit or restrict, in full or in part, his or her behavior, movement, associations, or access to or use of his or her own finances or financial information.

Lack of consent results from forcible compulsion or from fear that refusal to consent will result in further actions limiting or restricting the family or household member or intimate partner’s behavior, movement, associations, or access to or use of his or her own finances or financial information.

Coercive control is a gross misdemeanor.

STATUS: HB 1449 is in the House Public Safety Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on House Public Safety Committee and let them know you support HB 1449 and ask that they pass it out of committee.

HB 1901 and SB 5845 Updating laws concerning civil protection orders to further enhance and improve their efficacy and accessibility.

SUPPORT
HB 1901 and SB 5845 update the 2021 law and amend it by adding “coercive control” under the definition of domestic violence for purposes of protection orders. The bill also includes a number of technical corrections dealing with safety of victims and minor children.

STATUS: SB 1901 is in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary where it is scheduled for an executive session on Friday, January 28^th at 8 AM.

SB 5845 is in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary and let them know that you support HB 1901.

Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and let them know that you support SB 5845.

SB 5245 Concerning the safety of crime victims.

SUPPORT

SB 5245 was amended in committee and now provides that the department of correction and witness notification programs are expanded to add victims by domestic violence offenders, certain assault offenders, vehicular homicide offenders, and controlled substance homicide offenders to receive notification of the offender’s pending release. Note that violent offenders, sex offenders, and domestic violence protection order offenders are already included in this RCW.

STATUS: SB 5245 has passed out of the Senate on a unanimous vote. It is currently in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Public Safety and let them know you support SB 5245.

HB 1593 Expanding the landlord mitigation program to alleviate the financial burden on victims attempting to flee domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking.

SUPPORT
The Landlord Mitigation Program (Program) is expanded to allow landlords’ claims to the Department of Commerce up to $5,000 for damages to rental property when:

the tenant has terminated his or her tenancy pursuant to the provision in the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), which allows tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking to terminate;
the property has sustained damage beyond normal wear and tear;
the landlord has, within 21 days of termination:
- provided the tenant with a statement regarding the basis for retaining any of the damage deposit; and
- rather than retaining any of the damage deposit for those damages, returned the full damage deposit to the tenant; and
the landlord has agreed not to proceed against the tenant to recover sums exceeding the amount of the damage deposit.

STATUS: HB 1593 was passed out of House Committee on Housing & Human Services, and it is headed to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Rules Committee and let them know that you support HB 1593. Ask that they pass HB 1593 and bring the bill to a vote on the floor.

Trauma informed responses in the legal system

HB 1916 Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses in the legal system.

SUPPORT

HB 1916 establishes an advisory group within the attorney general’s office to manage best practices of all aspects of sexual assault investigations, which will include members of the state patrol, sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys’ association, association of cities and counties, coalition on sexual assault programs, the state hospital association, a sexual assault nurse, and two survivors. The duties will include researching, determining, and resolving the number of untested sexual assault kits, and make recommendations.

The bill requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to create trauma-informed responses to sexual assault and update the training as researched through various means including listening sessions.

The bill modifies and increases officer training requirements on sexual assault.

The bill also allows a sexual assault victim to be reimbursed for any costs with a sexual assault exam.

STATUS: HB 1916 is in the House Committee on Public Safety where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 25^th at 8 AM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Public Safety and let them know that you support HB 1916.

SB 5612 Ensuring domestic violence victims and survivors of victims have the opportunity to make a statement during sentencing for all domestic violence convictions.

SUPPORT
SB 5612 enables victims and survivors of victims to present a statement personally or by representation at the sentencing hearing for convictions involving domestic violence.

STATUS: SB 5612 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible for a vote on the Senate Floor.

ACTION: Contact your senator on the Senate Rules Committee and let them know that you support SB 5612.

Child abuse victims

SB 5730 Concerning confidentiality rights of child victims and witnesses.

MONITOR
SB 5730 allows for a school district (in addition to the already enacted law enforcement agency, prosecutor, defense counsel, and government agency) to receive personally identifiable information on a child victim or witness.

STATUS: SB 5730 is in the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 25^th at 1:30 PM.

SB 5814 Providing funding for medical evaluations of suspected victims of child abuse.

SUPPORT
SB 5814 would re-establish a similar statute as the 2015 legislation (which expired in 2019) which provided funding for medical evaluations for suspected victims of physical child abuse.

STATUS: SB 5814 is in the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 27^th at 1:30 PM.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation and let them know that you support SB 5814.

HB 1900 Improving school districts’ responses to complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

SUPPORT
HB 2899 directs the office of the superintendent of public instruction to develop, and periodically update, model student handbook language that includes information about policies and complaint procedures related to discrimination, including sexual harassment, harassment, intimidation, and bullying. This model student handbook language must be included in any student, parent, employee, and volunteer handbook and on the school district’s, and any school’s, websites. If there is not website, the model student handbook language to each student, parent, employee, and volunteer at least annually. One person in the school district will be designated as the primary contact regarding school district compliance with this legislation. This person must ensure that complaints of discrimination communicated to the school district are promptly investigated and resolved.

STATUS: HB 1900 is in the House Committee on Education where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 27^th at 1:30 PM.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Committee on Education and let them know that you support HB 1900.

Cyberstalking

SB 5628 Concerning cyber harassment, addressing concerns in the case of Rynearson v. Ferguson, and adding a crime of cyberstalking.

SUPPORT
The current crime of cyberstalking is renamed cyber harassment. The intent element of the crime is limited to the intent to harass or intimidate. In addition to the current factors that raise this crime from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony, the following likewise raise the crime to a class C felony:

the person cyber harasses a criminal justice participant who is performing their official duties at the time the threat is made;
the person cyber harasses a criminal justice participant because of an action taken or decision made by the criminal justice participant during the performance of their official duties; or
the person commits cyber harassment in violation of any protective order protecting the victim.

STATUS: SB 5628 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

ACTION: Contact your senators on and let them know that you support SB 5628. Ask for a Yes vote to pass.

Violence and Death Investigation Center

SB 5776 Creating the criminal justice integrated data system and a violence and death investigation resource center.

SUPPORT
SB 5776 creates the criminal justice integrated data system and a violence and death investigation resource center.

There is a need to dramatically improve data collection surrounding violence, domestic violence, and deaths in the state of Washington. Justice agencies in the state, including courts, law enforcement, corrections, and prosecutors, possess a wealth of data relating to the public health of Washington citizens. A centralized data repository will create data linkages between legal and public health data sets. These linkages will promote a public health response to violent crime and deaths and give the legislature valuable tools in formulating public policy surrounding these important issues.

STATUS: SB 5776 is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5776 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Budget/Revenue

Wealth Tax

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

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

SUPPORT

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

STATUS: HB 1406 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible of a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5426 is Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations committee and let them know that you support HB 1406 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee regarding SB 5092 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee. Let your legislators know that you support a new progressive revenue stream and not budget cuts. Our poorest communities can no longer afford the disproportionately high tax burden they currently face.

Estate Taxes

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

SUPPORT

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

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

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

STATUS: HB 1465 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee and let them know you support HB 1465 and ask that they pass it out of committee. Let your legislators know that you support a new progressive revenue stream and not budget cuts. Our poorest communities can no longer afford the disproportionately high tax burden they currently face.

State bank

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

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

the state treasurer completes a study that provides recommendations on staffing and operational needs for the financial cooperative;
an appropriation is provided from the state that is sufficient to allow the state to issue debt with a competitive rating;
articles of activation are completed in a format approved by the State Finance Committee and filed with the Secretary of State; and
a duplicate of the original articles of activation and additional information is filed with the Department of Financial Institutions.

STATUS: SB 5188 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Rules Committee and let them know you supportEngrossed Second Substitute SB 5188 and ask that it be scheduled for a vote to pass out of the Senate and onto the House.

National Infrastructure Bank

SJM 8006 Concerning a national infrastructure bank.

SUPPORT

SJM 8006 is a resolution that requests the US Congress pass and the President of the United States sign the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2021. H.R. 3339, or the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2021, is a bill that creates the National Infrastructure Bank to facilitate the long-term financing of infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bank must provide loans to public and private entities for financing, developing, or operating eligible infrastructure projects. An eligible project must have a public sponsor as well as local, regional, or national significance. The bill treats the bank as a government corporation exempt from tax, and treats contributions to the bank as charitable contributions.

Projects that receive a loan must pay all laborers and mechanics locally prevailing wages, and use only certain United States-produced construction materials unless a waiver is secured from the bank. The bank shall issue stock and may also issue bonds and maintain a discount line of credit with the Federal Reserve System.

Much of our country’s and state’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair. Many communities lack housing, workable transportation networks, clean, safe, and sustainable water, and food production networks. For example, in the area of transportation many low-income women and their families struggle to find reliable transportation which can affect their health – resulting in missed appointments and poor illness management, even if care is readily available, as well as access to resources for healthy food. This new infrastructure bank would also create tens of millions of high paying jobs, train our youth with skills they could use for a lifetime, and lift many of our disadvantaged persons out of poverty and despair. Additional jobs mean more tax revenue for our cities, counties and state and would improve the lives of those in our communities. A National Infrastructure Bank is a win-win for our state and local communities – providing reduced cost financial instruments for our local and state government infrastructure projects and a better quality of life for all of WA State’s residents including women and children.

STATUS: SJM 8006 is scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee on Tuesday, January 25 at 8 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee and let them know that you support SJM 8006 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee to Rules where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

HOUSE COMMITEES

Capital Budget Committee:
Steve Thüringen (Chair), Lisa Callan (Vice Chair), David Hackney (Vice Chair), Peter Albano, Jessica Bateman, Mary Dye, Carolyn Slick, Greg Gilday, Shelley Kloba, Vicki Kraft, Mari Leavitt, Drew MacEwan, Jacquelin Maycumber, Joel McEntire, Gina Mossbunker, Strom Peterson, Marcus Riccelli, Alicia Rule, Mike Steele, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Mike Sells, Sharon Shoemake, and Mike Volz

Children Youth and Families:
Tana Sen (Chair), Kirsten Harris-Talley (Vice Chair), Alicia Rule (Vice Chair), Lisa Callan, Rob Chase, Tom Dent, Carolyn Slick, Roger Goodman, Bob McCaslin, Brad Lippert, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Emily Wicks, and Jesse Young

Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
Drew Hansen (Chair), Tarra Simmons (Vice Chair), Peter Albano, Lauren Davis, Debra Engelman, Greg Gilday, Roger Goodman, Jenny Graham, Steve Kirby, Brad Lippert, Tina Orwall, Strom Peterson, My-Linh Thai, Javier Valdez, Amy Wallen, Jim Walsh, and Alex Ybarra

College and Workforce Development Committee:
Vandana Slater (Chair), Debra Entenman (Vice Chair), Mari Leavitt (Vice Chair), Kelly Chambers, Bruce Chandler, Drew Hansen, Larry Hoff, Cyndy Jacobsen, Vicki Kraft, Dave Paul, Gerry Pullet, Mike Sells, and Robert Sutherland

Commerce and Gaming Committee:
Shelley Kloba (Chair), Emily Wicks (Vice Chair), Drew MacEwan, Kelly Chambers, Steve Kirby, Melanie Morgan, Eric Robertson, Brandon Vick, and Sharon Wylie

Community & Economic Development
Cindy Ryu (Chair), Dave Paul (Vice Chair), Matt Behnke, Rob Chase, Chris Corry, Brandy Donaghy, Noel Frame, Cyndy Jacobsen, Jesse Johnson, Vicki Kraft, Alicia Rule, Robert Sutherland, and Jamila Taylor

Consumer Protection and Business Committee:
Steve Kirby (Chair), Amy Wallen (Vice Chair), Chris Corry, Jeremy Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos, and Brandon Vick

Education Committee:
Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair), Laurie Dolan (Vice Chair), April Berg, Steve Bergquist, 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 Durer (Vice Chair), Peter Albano, Liz Berry, Mary Dye, Matt Behnke, Jake Fey, Keith Goerner, Kirsten Harris-Talley, Mark Clicker, 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, Brandy Donaghy, 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, Gina Mosbrucker, Tina Orwall, Bill Ramos, Tarra Simmons and Jesse Young

Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee:
Mike Chapman (Chair), Sharon Shewmake (Vice Chair), Bruce Chandler, Tom Dent, Joe Fitzgibbon, Mark Klicker, Shelley Kloba, Joel Kretz, Debra Lekanoff, Joel McEntire, Melanie Morgan, Ed Orcutt, Bill Ramos, Joe Schmick, and Larry Springer

State Government and Tribal Relations Committee:
Javier Valdez (Chair), Debra Lekanoff (Vice Chair), Laurie Dolan, Jenny Graham, Mia Gregerson, Mike Volz, and Jim Walsh

Transportation Committee:
Jake Fey (Chair), Sharon Wylie (1^st Vice Chair), Dan Bronoske (2^nd Vice Chair), Bill Ramos (2^nd Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Liz Berry, Mike Chapman, Tom Dent, Brandy Donaghy, Davina Duerr, Debra Entenman, Carolyn Eslick, Keith Gohner, Dan Griffey, David Hackney, Mark Klicker, Bob McCaslin, Ed Orcutt, Dave Paul, Alex Ramel, 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 Warnock, Jim Honeyford, Christine Rolfs, Derek Stanford, and Shelly Short

Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long-Term Care Committee:
Minka Dhingra (Chair), Keith Wagoner, David Frock, T’wina Nobles, and Judy Warnock

Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee:
Mark Mullet (Chair), Bob Hasegawa (Vice Chair), Perry Dozier, Sharon Brown, David Frockt, John Lovick, 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), Phil Fortunado, Sharon Brown, Marko Liias, Joe Nguyen, John Lovick, 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, 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:
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), Mike Padden, Jeff Holy, Patty Kuderer, Jim McCune, Jesse Salomon, and Keith Wagoner

Rules Committee:
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 Clair Wilson

State Government & Elections Committee:
Sam Hunt (Chair), Patty Kuderer (Vice Chair), Jeff Wilson, Bob Hasegawa, and Brad Hawkins

Transportation Committee:
Rebecca Saldaña (Vice Chair), Curtis King, Annette Cleveland, Mona Das, Phil Fortunato, Brad Hawkins, Liz Lovelett, John Lovick, 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, Manka Dhingra, Bob Hasegawa, Jim Honeyford, Chris Gildon, Sam Hunt, Karen Keiser, Marko Liias, Mark Mullet, Ron Muzzall, Jamie Pedersen, Ann Rivers, 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 1^st LD 2022 Weekly Legislative Alert

Cathy Baylor
Christina Henry
Amber Koens
Linda Malanchuck-Finnan
Jackie McGourty
Linda Tosti-Lane

Top Action of the Week:

HOUSING FIRST

Civil and Equal Rights

Women’s Suffrage Day

Chinese American History Month

Tribal-State Relations Committee

Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert

African American Studies

Improving Diversity, Equity and Mental Health at Community and Technical Colleges

Ranked Choice Voting

Conservation District Elections

Enhanced Washington Voting Rights Act

Redistricting Rules Changes

Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families

Customer Service Requirements for the Department of Social and Health Services

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Tax Relief for Working Families

Housing and Shelter for low-income households, households in need, and those experiencing homelessness

Diaper subsidy

Surprise medical billing

Mitigating eligibility barriers for poverty reduction programs

Unemployment benefits for undocumented immigrants

COVID-19 Economic Relief

Establishing a trust fund for children born into low-income families

Tow Trucks and Charges for Use of Credit and Debit Card Transaction Fees

Fairness in Auto and other Personal Insurance

Forgiveness of Student Loans

Residential Landlord Tenant Act and the Consumer Protection Act

Hospital Charity Care

Preventing Discrimination in Prescription Drugs

Manufactured Home Sales

Senior Citizen & Disabled Person Property Tax Relief

Education

School District Bonds

School District Director Compensation

Reproductive Rights and Health Care

Anti-abortion

Affirming WA State’s Abortion Act

Necessities/sales and use taxes

Postpartum contraception

Water fluoridation

Fertility services

Health care entity mergers

Breast Implant Surgery

Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetic Products

Violence

Emergency Care

Weapons, Guns, and Public Safety

Use of Force by Law Enforcement

State patrol diversity

Treatment of offenders of domestic violence

Sexual assault nurse examiners

Sex Trafficking and Prevention

Missing and Endangered Persons

Criminal mistreatment of Children and Vulnerable Adults

Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Harassment

Trauma informed responses in the legal system

Child abuse victims

Cyberstalking

Violence and Death Investigation Center

Budget/Revenue

Wealth Tax

Estate Taxes

State bank

National Infrastructure Bank

HOUSE COMMITEES

SENATE COMMITEES

Leave a comment Cancel reply