The 2018 Legislative Session began on Monday, January 14, 2018 and is scheduled to end on Sunday, April 28, 2019. You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1 800-562-6000. You can also contact them by e-mail using this format: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. A complete list of email addresses for all legislators can be found at https://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/ If you need to look up your legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1 800-562-6000. You can also contact them by e-mail using this format: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. If you need to look up your legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Note: Committee members for House and Senate Committees are listed at the end of this alert.
I have also included hyperlinks on each of the bill actions below, which will take you to the WA State Legislature’s comment page for the bill where you can enter your support or opposition to the bill and include a comment (up to 1000 characters).
Civil and Equal Rights
Prepaid Postage for All Election Ballots
HB 1209 Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots.
SB 5063 Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots.
SUPPORT
HB 1209 and SB 5063 required prepaid postage on return envelopes for all elections, with county costs for the postage to be reimbursed by the state.
Status: HB 1209 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 1 at 8 AM.
SB 5063 has passed out of the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee where it can be passed out of committee and is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representatives and Senators on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their support to pass HB 1209 and SB 5063 out of their respective committees.
Native American Voting Rights
HB 1339 Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington
SB 5079 Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington
SUPPORT
HB 1339 and SB 5079 allow for non-traditional addresses when a traditional address has not been assigned or affixed to a voter’s residence or when a voter resides on an Indian reservation or Indian lands.
Status: HB 1339 is scheduled for an executive hearing on Wednesday, January 30 at 1:30 PM in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.
SB 5079 is eligible for an executive hearing in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House State Government & Tribal and the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee ask for their support for HB 1339 and SB 5079 5079.
Health Care Employees
HB 1155 Concerning meal and rest breaks and mandatory overtime for certain health care employees.
SB 5190 Concerning meal and rest breaks and mandatory overtime for certain health care employees.
SUPPORT
HB 1155 and SB 5190 addresses meals and rest periods for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, surgical technologists, diagnostic radiologic technologists, cardiovascular invasive specialists, respiratory care practitioners, and certified nursing assistants. The bills prohibit an employer from: (1) Using prescheduled on call time to fill chronic or foreseeable staff shortages; and (2) Scheduling nonemergency procedures that would require overtime.
Status: HB 1155 is scheduled for an executive hearing on Monday, January 28 at 1:30 PM in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.
SB 5190 is scheduled for an executive on hearing on Monday, January 28 at 10:00 AM in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.
Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Labor & Workplace Standards and Senate Labor & Commerce Committees and let them know you support HB 1155 and SB 5190 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.
LGBT Coordinator
HB 1650 Promoting access to earned benefits and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender veterans.
SUPPORT
HB 1650 establishes the position of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender coordinator within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This position would be responsible for promotion of and providing assistance to LGBTQ veterans to benefits and services including in applying for, and in appealing any denial of, federal and state veterans’ benefits and aid that such veterans, and the spouses and dependents of such veterans may be entitled.
Status: HB 1650 has been referred to the House Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your Representative on the House Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee and ask that HB 1650 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.
LGBTQ Commission
SB 5356 Establishing the Washington state LGBTQ commission.
SUPPORT
SB 5356 established the Washington State LGBTQ Commission. The commission would have 15 members appointed by the governor and would be responsible for monitoring and advocating for legislation affecting LGBTQ people, assess programs and policies affecting LGBTQ people, coordinate with minority commissions, women’s commission and human rights commission to address issues of mutual concern and work as a liaison between the public and private sectors to eliminate barriers to economic and health equity for LGBTQ people
Status: SB 5356 has been referred to the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee where is it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your Senators on the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee and ask that SB 5356 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.
Voters’ Pamphlets
HB 1482 Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
SB 5499 Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
SUPPORT
HB 1482 and SB 5499 modify the current state law to require that the secretary of state print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in every even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
Status: HB 1482 has been referred to the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
SB 5499 has been referred to the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee where is it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your Representatives on the House State Government & Tribal Relations and Senators on the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committees and ask that HB 1482 and SB 5499 be scheduled for a public hearing and then voted out of committee.
Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families
Feminine hygiene sales tax exemption
HB 1053 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.
SB 5206 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.
SUPPORT
HB 1053 and SB 5206 provide a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.
Status: HB 1053 had a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on Thursday, January 17. It is eligible for an executive hearing to vote it out of committee.
SB 5206 has been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House
Finance Committee ask for their support and a YES vote for HB 1053.
Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their
support and a YES vote on SB 5206.
Diaper sales and use tax exemption
HB 1054 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for diapers.
SB 5301 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for diapers.
SUPPORT
HB 1054 and SB 5301 provide a sales and use tax exemption for diapers for both adults and infants.
Status: HB 1054 is in the House Finance Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.
SB 5301 has been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House
Finance Committee and ask that HB 1054 be scheduled for a public hearing and for
their support and a YES vote for HB 1054.
Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask that SB 5301 be
scheduled for a public hearing and for their support and a YES vote for this
bill.
Debt Collection
HB 1066 Requiring debt collection complaints to be filed prior to service of summons and complaint.
SB 5034 Requiring debt collection complaints to be filed prior to service of summons and complaint.
SUPPORT
Requires that debt collection complaints be filed before service of the summons and complaint on defendants to ensure that defendants: (1) Understand that it is an existing court case; (2) Are informed of the case number; and (3) Receive adequate notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond and be heard to avoid default judgment. Prohibits a licensee or employee of a licensee from serving a debtor with a summons and complaint unless the summons and complaint have been filed with the court and bear the case number assigned by the court.
Status: HB 1066 has passed out of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and is likely to be sent directly to the Rules Committee who can schedule it for a hearing by the full House.
SB 5034 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 31 at 10:00 AM.
Action: Contact the House Rules Committee and your
representatives and ask that HB 1066 be
scheduled for a vote by the full House and for a YES vote on HB 1066.
Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and request that SB 5034 be voted
out of committee with a YES vote.
Child support pass-through payments
HB 1136 Implementing child support pass-through payments.
SB 5144 Implementing child support pass-through payments.
SUPPORT
HB 1136 and SB 5144 require the Department of Social and Health Services to pass through a portion of child support collections for families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allows states to pass through up to $100 per month of collected child support to TANF families with one child and up to $200 per month of collected child support to TANF families with two or more children without having to reimburse the federal government for its share of the child support collected. This is known as the child support pass through. States that opt to implement the child support pass through must disregard the child support collection paid to the family in determining the family’s cash TANF benefit. Washington implemented child support pass-through payments in October 2008, but suspended the child support pass-through payments effective May 1, 2011.
Status: HB 1136 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Friday, January 25 at 10 AM.
SB 5144 is in the Senate Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, January 24 at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary and Senate Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation Committees ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1136 and SB 5144.
Affordable Housing and Homelessness Projects
HB 1219 Providing cities and counties authority to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects.
SB 5195 Providing cities and counties authority to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects.
SUPPORT
HB 1219 and SB 5195 authorize cities and counties who are required to plan or who are planning under the Growth Management Act to use of real estate excise tax revenue to support affordable housing and homelessness projects for the planning, acquisition, reconstruction, repair, replacement, rehabilitation or improvement of facilities.
Status: HB 1219 has been referred to the House Housing, Community Development, & Veterans Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 1 at 10:00 AM.
SB 5195 has passed out of committee and is now in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Housing, Community
Development, & Veterans Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1219.
Contact your senators and ask for their support and YES vote on SB 5195.
TANF and WorkFirst programs
HB 1268 Updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, reducing sanctions, and expanding reasons for time limit extensions in the temporary assistance for needy families and WorkFirst programs.
SUPPORT
HB 1268 is a comprehensive bill that updates the standard of need for families receiving TANF and WorkFirst benefits. It revises outcome measures and the data collect and requires periodic cost of living updates to the need standard. It also expand the list of time limit exemptions for hardship reasons for recipients of TANF and WorkFirst programs. improves housing stability for people with disabilities and seniors by amending eligibility for the essential needs and housing support and the aged, blind, or disabled assistance programs.
Status: HB 1268 has been referred to the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1268.
Working Families Tax Credit
HB 1527 Providing a working families’ tax credit.
SUPPORT
HB 1527 provides a sales tax credit for low-income working individuals and families similar to the federal earned income tax credit. Persons applying for this tax credit would apply for the remittance of the funds the Employment Security Department and submit a copy of their most recent federal income tax form.
Status: HB 1527 has been referred to the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1527.
Housing Trust Fund
HB 1581 Funding local housing trust fund programs in certain cities.
SUPPORT
HB 1581 establishes funding for local housing trust fund programs. The legislature finds that there is a housing affordability crisis that requires multiple urgent and creative responses. Certain cities have established local housing trust funds to respond to the crisis; however, to be successful local housing trust funds need dedicated sources of funding to provide greater and more reliable resources to preserve and build new housing. The legislature therefore creates the construction sales and use tax remittance for certain eligible cities meeting criteria listed in the bill
Status: HB 1581 has been referred to the House Housing, Community Development, and Veterans Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Housing, Community Development, and Veterans Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1581.
Wage and Salary Information
SB 5090 Addressing wage and salary information.
SUPPORT
SB 5090 prohibits an employer from: (1) Seeking the wage or salary history of an applicant from the applicant or a current or former employer; or (2) Requiring that an applicant’s prior wage or salary history meet certain criteria.
Status: SB 5090 has been referred to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing
Action: Contact your representatives on the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5090.
Homeless persons pilot program
SB 5261 Creating a pilot program for certain cities to hire homeless persons for local beautification projects.
SUPPORT
SB 5261 requires the department of commerce to establish a pilot program for cities to provide job opportunities to, and hire persons experiencing homelessness for, the purposes of local beautification projects. Requires the hired homeless people to be paid at least the local minimum wage and be connected with organizations that provide wraparound housing services. Expires January 1, 2023.
Status: SB 5261 has been referred to the Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 23 at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your Senators on the Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5261.
Homeless persons pilot program
SB 5358 Concerning affordable housing development on religious organization property
SUPPORT
SB 5358 requires cities and counties to allow for increased density housing to help meet local affordable housing development of single-family and multi-family residences located on property owned or controlled by a religious organization.
Status: SB 5358 has been referred to the Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 30 at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your Senators on the Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5358.
Reproductive Rights and Health Care
Medicaid Services Access
HB 1186 Continuing access to Medicaid services.
SUPPORT
HB 1186 requires medical assistance to be provided for pregnant women who are state residents and whose family income at the time of application is no greater than one hundred-ninety-three percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services. Requires the state health care authority to take such actions as may be necessary to assure the receipt of federal financial participation under the medical assistance program and any other federal funding sources that are currently available or may become available in the future.
Status: HB 1186 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask that HB 1186 be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.
Healthcare Provider Misconduct Notice
HB 1198 Requiring health care providers sanctioned for sexual misconduct to notify patients.
SUPPORT
HB 1198 requires a health
care provider who is subject to the uniform disciplinary act and has been
sanctioned by a disciplining authority for sexual misconduct to provide a
disclosure to all patients before a patient’s first visit with the licensee
following the sanction.
Status: HB 1198 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your Representatives and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee Committee and let them know you support HB 1198 and request a public hearing on HB 1198.
Dental Coverage for Pacific Islander
HB 1218 Concerning dental coverage for Pacific islanders residing in Washington.
SUPPORT
HB 1218
Establishes a dental services program that provides dental coverage to
income-eligible members of Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations and the
United States with no premium or cost-sharing payment requirements. Defines
“COFA citizen” as a person who is a citizen of: (1) The Republic of
the Marshall Islands; (2) The Federated States of Micronesia; or (3) The
Republic of Palau. This would expand
dental coverage to the COFA citizens who qualify for medical assistance. Currently other income eligible Washington
residents who qualify for medical assistance also qualify for dental assistance.
Status: HB 1218 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and tell them you support HB 1218 and ask that they schedule it for a public hearing and pass it out of committee.
Indian Health Improvement Act
HB 1365 Creating the Washington Indian health improvement act.
SB 5415 Creating the Washington Indian health improvement act.
SUPPORT
HB 1365 and SB 5415 establishes the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act to establish the Indian health improvement account to provide incentives to tribes to assume the administrative burdens created by the federal requirements for the state shift health care costs to the federal government. It establishes an advisory committee made up of primarily tribal representatives and local urban Indian health organizations whose responsibilities include a. adopting the Indian health advisory plan, b. facilitating better understanding of health disparities and historical trauma and tribal sovereignty and self-governance, c. providing oversight of contracting and service performance contracts to address impacts on services to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and d. providing oversight of the Indian Health reinvestment account. The goal of the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act is to raise the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives and improve delivery of services by increasing access to care, strengthening continuity of care, and improving population health through investment in capacity and infrastructure.
Status: HB 1365 has been assigned to the House Health
Care and Wellness Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on
Wednesday, January 30 at 1:30 PM.
SB 5415 has been assigned to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee
where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action:
Contact your representatives on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee
and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1365.
Contact your senators on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and ask
that SB
5415 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session and
voted out of committee.
Maternal Mortality
HB 1369 Concerning maternal mortality reviews
SB 5425 Concerning maternal mortality reviews
SUPPORT
HB 1369 and SB 5425 update the state’s maternal mortality review which conducts comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of maternal of women while pregnant or within one year of the end of the pregnancy. It requires that at least one member of the panel be a tribal representative and expands the list of categories of persons who can serve on the panel. It also expands the list of agencies to include the new Department of Children, Youth and Families and its licensees and providers who may be requested to provide records for the morality review panel. The bill will also allow the Department of Health with a signed written data sharing agreement to share information with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The requirements for data sharing agreement prohibit identifying information for the deceased individuals and their families from being released and any attempts of the recipient from attempting to identify these individuals.
Status: HB 1369 is in the House Health Care and
Wellness Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, Feb 1
at 8:00 AM
SB 5425 is in the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee where it is
scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, Feb 1 at 8:00 AM.
Action: Contact your representative son the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you support HB 1369 and SB 5425 and request a YES vote in their respective committees.
Comprehensive Sex Education
HB 1407 Concerning comprehensive sexual health education.
SB 5395 Concerning comprehensive sexual
health education.
SUPPORT
HB
1407 and SB 5394 expand the requirements for every public school to provide
comprehensive sexual health education that is an integral part of the
curriculum. The curriculum in addition
to being medically and scientifically accurate, must also be evidence based and
encourages healthy relationships that are based on mutual respect and affection
and are free from violence, coercion and intimidation. The curriculum also must teach how to
identify and respond to behaviors that contribute to sexual violence and
emphasize the importance of affirmative consent before sexual activity.
Status: HB 1407 has been referred to the House Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
SB 5395 has been referred to the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representative and members of the House Education Committee and let them know you support HB 1407 and request that they schedule a public hearing.
Contact your Senators and members of Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee and let them know you support SB 5395 and request that they schedule a public hearing.
Nonresident Pharmacies
HB 1412 Concerning nonresident pharmacies.
SB 5459 Concerning nonresident
pharmacies.
SUPPORT
HB 1412
and SB 5459 amend the state’s statute regarding pharmacies located in other
states and Canada and clarifies what types of documentation is necessary for
licensure by the department of health.
Status: HB 1412 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday Feb 1 at 8:00 AM.
SB 5459 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representative and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1412.
Contact your Senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5459 and request that they schedule a public hearing.
SB 5184 Concerning prescription coverage
and the use of nonresident pharmacies.
SUPPORT
SB
5184 Requires health carriers to include in any contract with a pharmacy
benefit manager (PBM) a requirement that the PBM receive enrollee authorization
prior to filling prescriptions through a nonresident pharmacy. Requires health
plans and nonresident pharmacies to provide notices to health plan enrollees about
the use of nonresident pharmacies.
Status: SB 5184 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 28 at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your Senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Health Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5184 and request that it be voted out of committee.
Mental Health Parity
HB 1447 Concerning mental health parity.
SUPPORT
HB
1447 amends the requirements for health
care coverage to require that health benefit plans issued or renewed on or
after January 1, 2020 cover medically necessary outpatient and inpatient
treatment services for mental disorders covered by the diagnostic categories
describe in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published
by the American Psychiatric Association.
Status: HB 1447 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public.
Action: Contact your representative and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1447 and request that they schedule a public hearing.
Female genital mutilation
SB 5257 Restricting the practice of female genital mutilation
SUPPORT
SB
5257 revises the list of acts or conduct of licensed providers that are
considered unprofessional and thus prohibited to include performing female
genital mutilation which is defined as circumcision, excision, or infibulation
of the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris that is
performed for nonmedical reasons on any: (a) Patient under the age of eighteen;
or (b) Nonconsenting patient age eighteen or older.
Status: SB 5257 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 1 at 8 AM.
Action: Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support HB 5257 and ask that it be voted out of committee.
Abortion Prohibition Bills
HB 1526 Enacting the Washington pain capable unborn child protection act.
OPPOSE
HB
1526 prohibits abortion except in the case of a life threatening medical
emergency (not including psychological or emotional conditions) or fetal
anomaly unless a physician has determined the post fertilization age of a
fetus.
Status: HB 1526 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact Eileen Cody (chair) and Nicole Macri (vice chair) of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know that you do not support HB 1526 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.
HB 1560 Prohibiting certain types of abortions.
OPPOSE
HB
1560 prohibits and criminalizes abortion after 11 weeks post fertilization, and
removal of a fetus by the of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or
clamps or suction to cause the “death” of and extract the fetus.
Status: HB 1560 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact Eileen Cody (chair) and Nicole Macri (vice chair) of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know that you do not support HB 1560 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.
Reproductive Healthcare Access for All
HB 1612 Eliminating barriers to reproductive health care for all.
SB 5602 Eliminating barriers to reproductive health care for all.
SUPPORT
Expands
reproductive health access to all people in Washington. These bills include
specific provisions that address the reproductive health care needs of
Washington’s immigrant and transgender communities. HB 1612 and SB 5602 do the following:
- Create a state funded program to cover family planning services for immigrants who would be eligible for the Take Charge federal waiver program but cannot access it because of federal restrictions. It also requires outreach and education about this program.
- Prohibit gender identity discrimination, including automatic denials based on gender identity, in all reproductive health services covered by Medicaid and private insurance plans.
- Require private insurance plans to cover additional reproductive health services, beyond those required in the Reproductive Parity Act (RPA) and the preventive services statute.
- Correct the RPA to explicitly include student health plans.
Status: HB 1612 has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing
SB 5602 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representative and members of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and let them know you support HB 1612 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.
Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5602 and ask that it be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.
Pelvic Exam Consent
SB 5282 Requiring informed consent for pelvic exams.
SUPPORT
SB
5282 Prohibits a licensed health care provider from knowingly performing or
authorizing a student practicing under their authority to perform a pelvic
examination on a patient who is anesthetized or unconscious.
Status: SB 5282 has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 1 at 8 AM.
Action: Contact your senators and members of Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 5282 and ask that it be voted out of committee.
Violence Against Women
Sexual Assault Kit Notice
HB 1016 Concerning hospital notification of availability of sexual assault
evidence kit collection.
SUPPORT
HB 1016
requires a hospital that does not provide sexual assault evidence kit
collection or have appropriate providers available to provide the collection at
all times, to develop a plan by July 1, 2020, to assist individuals with
obtaining the collection. Requires a hospital that does not perform the
collection or have appropriate providers available to, beginning July 1, 2020:
(1) Provide notice, within two hours of a request, to an individual who
presents in the emergency department and requests a collection that the
hospital does not perform the collection or does not have appropriate providers
available; and (2) Coordinate care with the local community sexual assault
agency and assist the patient in finding a facility with an appropriate
provider available.
Status: HB 1016 is currently in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1016.
Sexual Assault Protection Orders
HB 1149 Clarifying requirements to obtain a sexual assault protection order.
SUPPORT
HB 1149
finds that the state supreme court’s decision in Roake v. Delman, 189 Wn.2d 775
(2018), does not reflect the legislature’s intent regarding requirements for
obtaining a civil sexual assault protection order. The bill clarifies that a
petitioner who seeks a sexual assault protection order is not required to
separately allege or prove that the petitioner has a reasonable fear of future
dangerous acts by the respondent, in addition to alleging and proving that the
petitioner was sexually assaulted by the respondent.
Status: HB 1149 is currently in the House Civil Rights and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Friday, February 1 at 10 AM.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Justice Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1149.
Sexual Assault Survivors
HB 1166 Supporting sexual assault survivors
SUPPORT
HB 1166
changes the composition of the joint legislative task force on sexual assault
forensic examination best practices.
Requires the task force to: (1) Develop policies and submit recommendations on the storage, retention, and destruction of unreported sexual assault kits; (2) Monitor implementation of state and federal legislative changes; (3) Collaborate with the office of the attorney general to implement reforms pursuant to federal grant requirements; and (4) Make recommendations for institutional reforms.
Provides a December 31, 2021, expiration date for the task force.
Requires the state auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the statewide sexual assault tracking system and operations of the Washington state patrol crime laboratory with respect to processing sexual assault kits.
Requires the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to designate sexual assault kits as unreported or reported.
Expands the requirements of the specialized, intensive, and integrative training for people responsible for investigating sexual assault cases involving adult victims.
Requires the Washington state patrol, when it receives a request for examination of a sexual assault kit from a law enforcement agency, to conduct the laboratory examination of the kit and enter relevant information into the combined DNA index system, within forty-five days of receipt of the request.
Requires law enforcement agencies to submit to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory requests for forensic analysis of sexual assault kits collected before July 24, 2015, and in the possession of the law enforcement agencies.
Prohibits the disposal or destruction of untested sexual assault kits.
Status: HB 1166 is currently in the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 31 at 8 Am.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1166.
Statute of Limitations for Felony Sex Offences
HB 1231 Modifying the statute of limitations for certain felony sex offenses.
SUPPORT
HB 1231
modifies and lifts the statute of limitations on the crimes of rape of a child
in the first degree, and child molestation in the first degree,
Status: HB 1231 is currently in the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 31 at 8:00 AM.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Public Safety Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1231.
Assault Weapons
HB 1286 Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
SB
5340 Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
SUPPORT
HB
2648 and SB 5340 define what constitutes an assault weapon and large capacity
magazines. It prohibits the manufacture, possession, distribution, import,
transfer, sale, purchase or transfer of any assault weapon or large capacity
magazine. A person who owns such as of
the effective date of the bill may not sell or transfer the weapon or large
capacity magazine to anyone other than a licensed gun dealer, a gun smith for
repair, or to law enforcement. This bill
exempts government agents/employees, and members of the US armed services who
are authorized as part of their jobs from the ban. Other exceptions are also
listed.
Status: HB 1286 is currently in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
SB 5340 is currently in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary and Senate Law and Justice Committees and ask that HB 1286 and SB 5340 be scheduled for public hearing and passed out of committee.
Temporary Protection Orders
HB 1350 – Issuing temporary protection orders
SUPPORT
HB 1350 modifies which courts handle temporary protection order and transferring to the superior courts
Status: HB 1350 is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 29 at 10 AM in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 1350 and request that they vote it out of committee.
Immunity from Prosecution for Prostitution in Some Circumstances
HB 1382 Increasing access to emergency assistance for victims by providing
immunity from prosecution for prostitution offenses in some circumstances.
SUPPORT
HB 1382
allows for persons seeking emergency assistance or seeks emergency assistance
for a victim of a violent offense, assault in the third degree, assault in the
fourth degree or rape in the third degree to not be charged with prostitution
if the evidence of the charge was obtained as a result of the need for
emergency assistance.
Status: HB 1382 has been assigned to the House Public Safety Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB 1382 and request that they vote it out of committee.
Domestic Violence Programs
HB 1517 Concerning domestic violence.
SB
5681 Concerning domestic violence.
SUPPORT
HB
1517 and SB 5681 do the following
- Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study on domestic violence (DV) treatment programs operating under the new administrative regulatory model.
- Requires the Washington State University Department of Criminal Justice to develop a DV risk assessment tool.
- Establishes requirements for DV offenders participating in the Special Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative.
- Modifies community custody conditions for DV offenders.
- Establishes requirements for deferred prosecutions involving DV behavioral problems.
- Specifies timeframes for which DV no-contact orders entered as a condition of sentence remain in effect. Requires the enforcement of civil DV protection orders issued by Canadian Courts.
Status: HB 1517 has been assigned to the House Public Safety Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 28 at 1:30 PM
SB 5681 has not yet been assigned to a committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Public Safety Committee and let them know that you support HB 1517 and request that they vote it out of committee.
Domestic Violence Resources
HB 1533 Making information about domestic violence resources available in the
workplace.
SUPPORT
HB
1533 requires that the employment security department create a domestic
violence poster with a space for an employer to provide the name or names of
community resources regarding domestic violence. The poster is required to be posted with the
other required employment posters.
Status: HB 1533 has been assigned to the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, January 31 at 8:00 AM
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and let them know that you support HB 1533 and request that they vote it out of committee.
High Capacity Magazines
SB 5062 Concerning high capacity magazines.
SUPPORT
SB
5062 prohibits a person from manufacturing, possessing, distributing,
importing, transferring, selling, offering to sell, or purchasing a large
capacity magazine. Defines “large capacity magazine” as an ammunition
feeding device with the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition.
Status: SB 5062 is currently in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full senate.
Action: Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5062 and ask that they vote YES.
Trafficking Victims
SB 5164 Providing public assistance to certain victims of human trafficking.
SUPPORT
SB 5164
requires the department of social and health services, for determining
eligibility for public assistance and participation levels in the cost of
medical care, to exempt restitution payments made to people of Japanese and
Aleut ancestry pursuant to the civil liberties act of 1988 and the Aleutian and
Pribilof Island restitution act.
Authorizes the department of social and health services to establish a food assistance program for victims of human trafficking.
Provides eligibility to victims of human trafficking for state family assistance programs, as provided in rule, who otherwise meet program eligibility requirements.
Requires medical care services to be provided to victims of human trafficking, who are not eligible for Medicaid, who otherwise qualify for the state family assistance program.
Requires the state health care authority to: (1) Add the medical care services enrollees into the apple health for kids, with the same benefits and services provided to Medicaid apple health for kids enrollees; and (2) Coordinate with the department, food assistance programs for legal immigrants, state family assistance programs, and refugee cash assistance.
Status: SB 5164 is scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee on Wednesday, January 29 at 1:30 PM
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee and let them know you support SB 5164 and ask that they vote YES on this bill.
Possession of Firearms
SB 5205 Concerning provisions governing firearms possession by persons who have
been found incompetent to stand trial and who have a history of one or more
violent acts.
SUPPORT
SB
5205 Prohibits a person from possessing a firearm if his or her charges are
dismissed based on incompetency to stand trial and the court makes a finding
indicating that the person has a history of one or more violent acts.
Status: SB 5205 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, January 31 at 10:00 AM.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 5205 and ask that they vote YES on this bill.
Domestic Violence Registry
SB 5244 Creating a domestic violence offender registry.
SUPPORT
SB
5244 requires the court, when a person is convicted of a qualifying domestic
violence offense, to enter an order designating the person a serious domestic
violence offender and requiring the person to appear on the serious domestic
violence offender registry.
Requires the Washington state patrol to: (1) Maintain a central registry of serious domestic violence offenders; (2) Upon request of a person who appears on the registry, investigate whether the person’s registration period has ended by operation of law; (3) Notify registered serious domestic violence offenders of any changes to the registration requirements; and (4) Notify an offender included on the registry for one or more offenses committed exclusively when the offender was a juvenile of his or her ability to petition for relief from registration.
Status: SB 5244 is currently in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you support SB 5244 and ask that they vote YES and pass it out of committee.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Prevention
SB 5258 Preventing the sexual harassment and sexual assault of certain isolated workers.
SUPPORT
SB 5258 requires every hospitality,
retail, behavioral health care, or custodial employer, or labor contractor who
employs a custodian, security guard, hotel or motel housekeeper, or worker who
spends a majority of his or her working hours alongside two or fewer coworkers
at a location that is not his or her home to: (1) Adopt a sexual harassment
policy; (2) Provide mandatory training to the managers, supervisors, and
employees; (3) Provide a list of resources for the employees to use; and (4)
Provide a panic button to each worker that spends most of his or her working
hours alongside two or fewer coworkers at a location that is not his or her
home.
Requires the department of labor and industries to publish advice and guidance for employers with fifty or fewer employees relating to the requirements mentioned above. Requires the director of the department of labor and industries to establish procedures for licensing property service contractors. Requires hotels and motels with sixty or more rooms to meet the requirements in this act by January 1, 2020.
Status: SB 5258 is currently in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full senate.
Action: Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5258 and ask that they vote YES.
HOUSE COMMITEES
Appropriations Committee:
Timm Ormsby (Chair), June Robinson (1st
Vice Chair), Steve Berquist (2nd Vice Chair), Drew Stokesbary, Drew
MacEwen, Skyler Rude, Michele Caldier, Bruce Chandler, Eileen Cody, Laurie
Dolan, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Drew Hansen, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, Zach
Hudgins, Laurie Jinkins, Vicki Kraft, Nicole Macri, Gina Mosbrucker, Eric
Pettigrew, Gerry Pollet, Cindy Ryu, Joe Schmick, Tana Senn, Larry Springer,
Derek Stanford, Mike Steele, Pat Sullivan, Robert Sutherland, Gael Tarleton,
Steve Tharainger, and Mike Volz
Capital Budget Committee:
Steve Tharinger (Chair), Beth Doglio
(Vice Chair), Strom Peterson (Vice Chair), Richard DeBolt, Norma Smith, Mike
Steele, Lisa Callan, Chris Corry, Lauren Davis, Mary Dye, Carolyn Eslick, Chris
Gildon, Morgan Irwin, Bill Jenkin, Mari Leavitt, Debra Lekanoff, Jacquelin
Maycumber, Melanie Morgan, Marcus Riccelli, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Mike Sells,
Monica Jurado Stonier, and Jim Walsh
Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
Laurie Jinkins (Chair), My-Linh Thai
(Vice Chair), Morgan Irwin, Jeremie Dufault, Roger Goodman, Jenny Graham, Drew
Hansen, Christine Kilduff, Steve Kirby, Brad Klippert, Tina Orwall, Matt Shea,
Javier Valdez, and Amy Walen
College and Workforce Development
Committee:
Drew Hansen (Chair), Debra Entenman
(Vice Chair), Mari Leavitt (Vice Chair), Luanne Van Werven, Chris Gildon, Jenny
Graham, Steve Berquist, Jared Mead, Dave Paul, Gerry Pollet, Bill Ramos, Skyler
Rude, Mike Sells, Vandana Slatter, Robert Sutherland, and Jesse Young
Consumer Protection and Business
Committee:
Steve Kirby (Chair), Kristine Reeves
(Vice Chair), Brandon Vick, Larry Hoff, Andrew Barkis, Brian Blake, Jeremie
Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Derek Stanford, Mike Volz, and Amy
Walen
Education Committee:
Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair), Laurie
Dolan (Vice Chair), Dave Paul (Vice Chair), Mike Steele, Bob McCaslin, Mike Volz,
Steve Berquist, Michelle Caldier, Lisa Callan, Chris Corry, Paul Harris,
Christine Kilduff, Vicki Kraft, Jacquelin Maycumber, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Skyler
Rude, Monica Jurado Stonier, My-Linh Thai, and Javier Valdez
Finance Committee:
Gael Tarleton (Chair), Amy Walen
(Vice Chair), Ed Orcutt, Jesse Young, Mike Chapman, Noel Frame, Nicole Macri,
Jeff Morris, Tina Orwall, Larry Springer, Drew Stokesbary, Brandon Vick, and
Sharon Wylie
Health Care and Wellness Committee:
Eileen Cody (Chair), Nicole Macri (Vice
Chair), Joe Schmick, Michelle Caldier, Kelly Chambers, Lauren Davis, Richard
DeBolt, Paul Harris, Laurie Jinkins, Jacquelin Maycumber, Marcus Riccilli, June
Robinson, Monica Jurado Stonier, My-Linh Thai, and Steve Tharinger
Housing, Community Development and
Veterans Committee:
Cindy Ryu (Chair), Melanie Morgan
(Vice Chair), Bill Jenkin, Andrew Barkis, Debra Entenman, Noel Frame, Chris
Gildon, Mari Leavitt, and Kristine Reeves
Human Services and Early Learning
Committee:
Tana Senn (Chair), Lisa Callan (Vice
Chair), Noel Frame (Vice Chair), Tom Dent, Carolyn Eslick, Bob McCaslin, Chris
Corry, Roger Goodman, Dan Griffey, Christine Kilduff, Brad Klippert, John
Lovick, & Lillian Ortiz-Self
Labor and Workplace Standards Committee:
Mike Sells (Chair), Mike Chapman
(Vice-Chair), Gina Mosbrucker, Bruce Chandler, Mia Gregerson, Larry Hoff, and
Timm Ormsby
Public Safety Committee:
Roger Goodman (Chair), Lauren Davis (Vice Chair), Brad Klippert, Robert
Sutherland, Sherry Appleton, Jenny Graham, Dan Griffey, John Lovick, Tina
Orwall, Mike Pellicciotti, and Eric Pettigrew
Rules Committee:
Frank Chopp (Chair), Steve Berquist, Kelly Chambers, Mike Chapman, Chris Corry,
Lauren Davis, Noel Frame, Chris Gildon, Christine Kilduff, Joel Kretz, John
Lovick, Jacqueline Maycumber, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Tina Orwall, Eric Pettigrew,
Marcus Riccelli, Skyler Rude, Larry Springer, Monica Jurado Stonier, Pat
Sullivan, Robert Sutherland, Mike Volz, J. T. Wilcox, and Sharon Wylie
State Government and Tribal Relations
Committee:
Mia Gregerson (Chair), Mike Pelliciotti (Vice Chair), Jim Walsh, Keith Goehner,
Sherry Appleton, Laurie Dolan, Zack Hudgins, Gina Mosbrucker, and Norma Smith
SENATE COMMITEES
Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health
& Long-Term Care Committee:
Manka Dhingra (Chair), Keith Wagoner,
Jeanne Darneille, David Frockt, and Steve O’Ban
Early Learning and K-12 Committee:
Lisa Wellman (Chair), Claire Wilson (Vice
Chair), Brad Hawkins, Jeff Holy, Sam Hunt, John McCoy, Mark Mullet, Mike
Padden, Jamie Pedersen, Jesse Salomon, and Keith Wagoner
Health and Long Term Care Committee:
Annette Cleveland (Chair), Emily
Randall (Vice Chair), Steve O’Ban, Barbara Bailey, Randi Becker, Steve Conway,
Manka Dhingra, David Frockt, Karen Keiser, Ann Rivers, and Kevin Van De Wege
Higher Education and Workforce
Development Committee:
Guy Palumbo (Chair), Emily Randall
(Vice Chair), Jeff Holy, Sharon Brown, Doug Ericksen, Marko Liias, and Lisa
Wellman
Housing Stability and Affordability
Committee:
Patty Kuderer (Chair), Mona Das (Vice
Chair), Hans Zeiger, Jeanne Darneille, Phil Fortunato, Rebecca Saldaña, and
Judy Warnick
Human Services, Reentry &
Rehabilitation Committee:
Jeanne Darneille (Chair), Joe Nguyen
(Vice Chair), Maureen Walsh, Annette Cleveland, Steve O’Ban, Claire Wilson, and
Hans Zeiger
Labor and Commerce Committee:
Karen Keiser (Chair), Steve Conway
(Vice Chair), Curtis King, John Braun, Rebecca Saldaña, Maureen Walsh, and Lisa
Wellman
Law & Justice Committee:
Jamie Pedersen (Chair), Manka Dhingra
(Vice Chair), Mike Padden, Jeff Holy, Patty Kuderer, Jesse Salomon, and Lynda
Wilson
Rules Committee:
Cyrus Habib (Chair), Karen Keiser
(Vice Chair), Mark Schoesler, Randi Becker, Andy Billig, Reuven Carlyle,
Annette Cleveland, Bob Hasegawa, Curtis King, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, John
McCoy, Joe Nguyen, Ann Rivers, Tim Sheldon, and Shelly Short
State Government, Tribal Relations &
Elections Committee:
Sam Hunt (Chair), Patty Kuderer (Vice
Chair), Hans Zeiger, Barbara Bailey, Bob Hasegawa, Brad Hawkins, and Dean Takko
Ways & Means Committee:
Christine Rolfes (Chair), David
Frockt (Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead), Mark Mullet (Capital Budget
Cabinet), John Braun, Sharon Brown, Jim Honeyford, Barbara Bailey, Randi
Becker, Andy Billig, Reuven Carlyle, Steve Conway, Jeanne Darneille, Bob
Hasegawa, Sam Hunt, Karen Keiser, Marko Liias, Guy Palumbo, Ann Rivers, Mark
Schoesler, Kevin Van De Wege, Keith Wagoner, Judy Warnick, and Lynda Wilson
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