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

Today – 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.

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

Top Action of the Week:

Sales Tax Holiday

HB 2018 – Creating a three-day shop local and save sales and use tax holiday to benefit all Washington families for certain items $1,000 or less during the month of September.

OPPOSE

HB 2018 authorizes a shop local and save sales and use tax holiday for Labor Day Weekend 2022 for qualified items purchased by individuals. Although our state has an unfair tax system that is heavily dependent on the sales tax this bill does not deliver economic relief to those taxpayers at the bottom of the income scale and are in need of relief from our regressive tax system.  It would waste nearly $200 million dollars that could better serve our state’s economy.  Although popular in other states, experience has shown that these sales tax holidays simply lead to large windfalls for retailers and the wealthy while funds are drained from resources such as our schools and social service programs.

STATUS: HB 2018 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Appropriations Committee at 10 AM on Monday, February 28th.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know that you oppose HB 2018 and ask that it not be passed out of committee as it costs our state nearly $200 million that could better serve our state’s economy and is basically a windfall for retailers and the wealthy instead of addressing the long term needs of our state’s most vulnerable. 

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.

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Civil and Equal Rights

Chinese American History Month

ESB 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

ESB 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:  ESB 5264 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION: Call your representatives to let them know that you support ESB 5264 and ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor.

Missing Indigenous Women and Persons Alert

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

SUPPORT

SHB 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:  SHB 1725 passed unanimously out of the House and is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

ACTION:  Contact your Senators on Ways and Means, tell them you support SHB 1725 and ask them to vote YES to pass it out of committee before the February 28 cutoff date.

Enhanced Washington Voting Rights Act

E2SSB 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.

SSB 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, E2SSB 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.
• Authorizes counties to expand commissions from three to five members to remedy a potential WVRA violation.

STATUS:  E2SSB 5597 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it was heard in a public hearing on Friday, February 25 at 11:00 am and is eligible to be scheduled for an executive session.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee to let them know you support E2SSB 5597 and ask them to schedule an executive session and to vote YES to pass it out of committee before the Monday, February 28 cutoff date.

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

ACTION:  Contact your representatives in the House Rules Committee to let them know you support SB 5560.  Ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES to send it on to the governor for signature.

Use of Campaign Funds

SB 5855 Concerning the use of campaign funds to reimburse expenses for child care and other caregiving services.

SUPPORT

SB 5855 authorizes the use of campaign contributions to reimburse candidates for expenses for the direct care, protection, and supervision of a child or person over whom the candidate has direct caregiving responsibility incurred directly due to campaign activities.

Lack of childcare is a huge impediment to running for political office. If this reimbursement isn’t clearly allowed, candidates won’t take advantage of it. This will encourage more parents, particularly single parents, and parents of young children, to run for political office, making our elected officials more representative of our communities. Over 50 federal candidates have used campaign funds to pay for childcare since a ruling in 2018. This will empower a diverse pipeline of working caregivers to run for office. Fifteen states have already passed legislation allowing the use of campaign funds for dependent care.

STATUS:  SB 5855 has passed out of the Senate and is in the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a floor vote.

ACTION:  Contact your senators on the in the House Rules Committee to let them know you support SB 5855 and ask that they schedule it for a floor vote and vote YES when it reaches the floor.

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Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families

Temporary Cost of living increase for retired public workers

SB 5676 Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

SUPPORT

SB 5676 provides a one-time, 3 percent increase to the retirement benefits of retirees in the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System Plan 1, up to $110 per month. For retired state employees there have only been two small cost of living allowances (COLAs) in the last decade while purchasing power has decreased by 43 percent. This increase would provide much needed relief for retirees that are forced to choose between medication and food.  Although this one-time increase is needed in the long run there should be an annual COLA similar to the Social Security COLA. 

STATUS:  SB 5676 passed out of the House Appropriations Committee and is moving to the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a Floor Vote.

ACTION:  Call you Representatives in the House Rules Committee, tell that that you support SB 5676 and ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor.

Customer Service Requirements for the Department of Social and Health Services

E2SHB 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:  E2SHB 2075 and is in the Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible to be schedule for a floor vote.

ACTION:  Contact your Senators in the Senate Rules Committee, tell them you support E2SHB 2075, as them to schedule a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor.

Let your legislators know that many low-income citizens of Washington state do not have access to the technology necessary to seek services from a DSHS office that communicates with clients through telephones or computers only.  DSHS needs a physical office open to the public, so it is accessible to all Washington citizens in need.

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 has passed out of the house and is now in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

ACTION:  Contact your Senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee, tell them you support HB 1888 and ask them to pass it out of committee by the February 28 cutoff date.

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

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

SUPPORT

ESHB 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.

An amendment to the bill:

• removes a $500 million appropriations and makes funding subject to “amounts appropriated”;
•  specifies that Apple Health and Home will operate through awards and loans rather than grants, which must follow the Housing Trust Fund program;
• changes rules for document recording fee surcharges;
• removes an initial requirement that 50 percent of persons receiving housing vouchers be unsheltered is removed; 
• reduces a requirement that at least 25% of expenditures be allocated to organizations that serve and are substantially governed by individuals disproportionately impacted by homelessness and behavioral health conditions to 10%; 
• eliminates the geographic phase-in of the program;
• requires the Health Care Authority to implement a screening tool to make determinations for the housing benefit;
• requires improvement of billing and administrative burdens for foundational community support providers;
• changes the definitions of “homeless person” and “permanent supportive housing” to align with the Growth Management Act; and
• references to “supportive housing” are changed to “permanent supportive housing.”

STATUS: STATUS: ESHB 1866 is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

ACTION:   Contact your senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee.  Let them know you support ESHB 1866, and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.  People who suffer from chronic mental and physical health problems have far better outcomes if they are housed.  

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 has passed out of the House and is scheduled for an executive session in the House Appropriations Committee at 10:00 am on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

ACTION:  Contact your Representatives on the House Appropriations Committee, tell them you support SB 5566 and ask them to vote YES to pass it out of committee before the February 28 cutoff date.

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

SUPPORT
ESSB 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. This bill will remain in effect until August 1, 2032. In order to be eligible for this exemption:

• the facility must be used for people experiencing homelessness, must include no more than 200 beds, must not require erecting a new permanent structure, and must be used on a site for no more than five years;
• the facility is located in a jurisdiction that has declared a state of emergency on homelessness;
• the facility operator establishes a community advisory committee that creates a process to accept and address community complaints;
• the jurisdiction must determine whether to allow drugs or alcohol by facility occupants based on an analysis of the needs and population served by the facility;
• the facility must comply with water quality regulations;
• the facility host or operator must have developed a disengagement plan for cleanup of the facility, a medical waste disposal plan for the facility, and a solid waste management plan for the facility; and
• the jurisdiction must require and make available employment, mental health, and drug counseling services at the facility.

STATUS:  ESSB 5428 is in House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a floor vote.

ACTION:  Contact your Representatives in the House Rules Committee and tell them you support ESSB 5428 and ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor.

Diaper subsidy

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

SUPPORT

SSB 5838 provides a monthly diaper subsidy for parents or other caregivers receiving temporary assistance for needy families effective Nov 1, 2023.  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:  SSB 5838 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is has been scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

ACTION:  Contact your Representatives in the House Appropriations Committee, tell them you support SSB 5838 and ask them to vote YES to pass it out of committee before the February 28 cutoff date.

Surprise medical billing

E2SHB 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

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.

ESHB 1688 expands 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 and arbitration process for insurance carriers, health care providers, and for facilities covered by the balance billing prohibitions is modified

STATUS:  E2SHB 1688 is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

ACTION:  Contact your senators in the Senate Ways & Means Committee to let them know you support E2SHB 1688, and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee before the February 28 cutoff date.

Working Families Tax Credit Law

HB 2096 Concerning the working families’ tax exemption, also known as the working families tax credit.

SUPPORT

HB 2096 makes technical corrections to the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) and would ensure that everyone who needs the working families’ tax credit, including ITIN filers, have access to it with refund amounts being adjusted annually for inflation to the nearest $5.00.

STATUS:  HB 2096 has been referred to the Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a Floor Vote. HB 2096 has passed out of the House and is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10:00 am.

Action:  Contact your Senators in the Senate Ways & Means Committee, tell them you support HB 2096 and ask them to vote YES to pass it out of committee before the February 28 cutoff date.

Forgiveness of Student Loans

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

SUPPORT

SSB 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:  ESSB 5847 is currently in currently in the House Committee on Appropriations and scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, February 28^th at 11:00 am.

ACTION:  Contact your House Representative in the House Committee on Appropriations and tell them you support SSB 5847 and ask them vote YES to pass the bill out of committee.

Hospital Charity Care

SHB 1616 Concerning the charity care act.

SUPPORT

SHB 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 more than 2.2 million Washingtonians who are not currently eligible.

STATUS:  SHB 1616 is currently in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and set for a hearing on February 28^th at 10 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senator on the Senate Ways & Means Committee and let them know you support SHB 1616 and ask them vote YES to pass the bill out of committee.

Preventing Discrimination in Prescription Drugs

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

SUPPORT

SSB 5610 requires 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:  SSB 5610 is currently on a second reading in the House Rules committee and waiting for a vote on the House Floor.

ACTION: Contact your House Representative tell them you support SSB 5610 and ask them to send the bill to the floor and vote YES!

First-Time Homebuyer Bill

HB 2097 Changing the definition of first-time home buyer.

SUPPORT

SSB 2097 bill modifies the definition of first-time home buyer under the Housing Trust Fund program. Under the HTF program, a first-time home buyer is an individual or their spouse or domestic partner who has not owned a home during the prior three-year period. The 2021- 23 biennial capital budget included an expanded definition for first-time home buyer for the purpose of awarding homeownership projects under the HTF to include an individual who meets any of the following:

• a single parent who has only owned a home with a former spouse while married;

• an individual who is a displaced homemaker and has only owned a home with a spouse;

• an individual who has only owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation; and

• an individual who has only owned a property that is discerned to be uninhabitable by a licensed building inspector.

STATUS: SSB 2097 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where there was a public hearing on February 26 and it is scheduled for an executive session on Wednesday, February 28th at 10 AM.

ACTION: Contact your Senator on the Ways & Means Committee and tell them you support HB 2097

and should be sent to the Senate floor for a vote!

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Education

School Free and Reduced Meal Program

SHB 1878 Increasing public school participation in the community eligibility provision of the United States department of agriculture.

SHB 1878 expands access to the free and reduced meal program in the schools and removes an onerous application and income verification process that presents a barrier to many families in need. This bill would expand mandatory participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) – which allows schools with high numbers of low-income students to serve free meals to all students. Providing universal meals to students reduces stigma for children and families and reduces time spent on paperwork.

STATUS:  SHB 1878 has passed out of both the House and Senate and is on its way to the governor’s office for signature.

ACTION:  Contact Governor Inslee and let him know that you support SHB 1878 and ask that he sign it into law.

School Funding Formulas

SHB 1590 Concerning enrollment stabilization funding to address enrollment declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUPPORT

SHB 1590 would address the shortfall in funds that school districts are facing due to reduced enrollment due to COVID 19.  Strict reading of the apportionment process by which WA state funds school districts would require that funding be cut to all districts according to the number of students who have dis-enrolled due to the COVID 19 pandemic crisis.  Although the loss of students is not sufficient to close classrooms or buildings and do not result in decreased expenditures by the districts to maintain the standard of education for those students who are enrolled, this withholding of funding would be a drastic cut that would have repercussions for years to come. These bills attempt to keep schools whole until this crisis has abated, and students and families and staffing have stabilized.

It would be stronger if those districts who have gone above and beyond to keep students enrolled, incurring excess expenditures as a result, were also made whole by full reimbursement of all COVID expenditures, as opposed to the allocation of funds according to Title 1 status.   SHB 1590 is a policy fix that allows levy and local effort assistance (LEA – also known as levy equalization) to be based on 2020 levels. It needs to pass to ensure that districts remain whole and that our schools and services are maintained at a level that supports our children.

STATUS:  SHB 1590 is scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday, February 28^th at 10 AM. 

ACTION:  Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SHB 1590 and ask that they vote YES to pass it out of committee.

SSB 5581 Addressing pupil transportation allocations.

SUPPORT

SB 5581 would require the Office of the Superintendent of Education (OSPI) to reimburse 100 percent of school district costs for serving students in distinct passenger categories beginning in the 2023-24 school year.  These categories are identified as students with disabilities, those that are homeless and those in foster care.

STATUS:  SSB 5581 has passed out of the Senate on a unanimous vote. It is currently in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

ACTION: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know you support SSB 5581 and ask them to schedule it for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

2SHB 1664 Concerning prototypical school formulas for physical, social, and emotional support in schools.

schools.

SUPPORT

School Districts and educators across the state have been advocating for years to update the woefully outdated and underfunded (even by the standard of decades ago) ‘prototypical’ school funding formulas. They do not call for funding of sufficient nurses, counselors, mental health professionals, etc. for our schools, even as our schools have been called upon to provide more and more of the services more reasonably provided by our healthcare system. In some cases, there are unfunded mandates that siphon funding away from the school districts’ primary function of educating our students. There is no stable funding so districts must hunt for grant or partnership opportunities on an annual basis, or rely on the ability of local taxpayers to fill the funding gap. 

2SHB 1664 requires each public school to have at least one school nurse and one counselor on site. It increases the minimum allocations for, social workers, psychologists, and counselors within the prototypical school model.  Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to adopt rules that require school districts to prioritize specified funding allocated through the model for physical, social, and emotional support staff with a valid educational staff associate certificate.  Physical, social, and emotional support staff is defined and include school nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors, and classified staff who provide student and staff safety, parent involvement coordinators and other district employees and contractors who provide physical, social, and emotional support as defined by the OSPI.

STATUS:  2SHB 1664 is currently in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28^th at 10 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support 2SHB 1664 and ask them to to pass it out of committee.

Prejudgment Interest

E2SSB 5155 Concerning prejudgment interest.

OPPOSE AS IT WAS AMENDED

Under SB 5155 deals with tort suits and the interest on judgements.  This bill would modify when the interest on judgement begins accruing from the time the event is believed to have first occurred rather than when the judgement is entered. That would mean that interest on a claim would begin to accrue before a school district even became aware of the claim and long before any investigation into the validity of the claim. This is precedent-setting for the country—there is nothing else like this—and for a reason. It is bad policy, particularly for public entities, as every penny sent to tort lawyers as a result of this bill would come straight from taxpayers.

Context:

The WA legislature is considering enacting a new law to require defendants in personal injury lawsuits to pay back interest on top of the money a jury awards the plaintiff at trial. They are also debating whether public agencies (including school districts) should be subject to this new form of “prejudgment interest,” or only private sector defendants.  Senate Bill 5155:

• Takes the entire amount a jury determines a defendant must pay the plaintiff, and adds interest back to the date when the plaintiff’s claim first accrued (typically on the date of injury).
• The Senate already passed this bill but, before they did, amended the bill to exclude public agencies, including school districts and excluded medical malpractice defendants.
• The House is now considering this bill, and some House members want to put public agencies/schools back into the bill.
• The House Committee on Civil Rights & Justice considered this bill and amended it. The Committee put public schools back and medical malpractice defendants back into the bill and/or the bill could be amended on the House floor right before voting.
• What does this mean for schools if SB 5155 this amended version applies to school districts? School districts would be harshly impacted by this new form of “prejudgment interest” because of the unique nature of minor student claims.
  • Minors have until age 21 to file a lawsuit (longer for some types of claims), so districts may not receive a claim for a decade or more—under this bill, years of prejudgment interest would have accumulated before districts even receive notice of a claim.
  • The largest components of an award for serious injury to a child are for future damages the child is expected to incur throughout their lifetime. This bill would require school districts to pay years of BACK interest on a potential lifetime of FUTURE damages, that are unknown even at the time of award.
    • The WA Office of Financial Management has projected this new type of prejudgment interest would cost schools $23M+ in interest payments over the next six years.

STATUS:  E2SSB 5155 is scheduled for an executive session Monday, February 28^th at 11 AM in the House Appropriations Committee.

 Action:  Message your legislators on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee to ask that they RETAIN the language as the bill originally came out of the Senate to exempt public entities or to vote NO on the E2SSB 5155.

School District Procurement Process

ESB 5017 Clarifying school district procurement requirements for personal service contracts for construction management, value engineering, constructability review, and building commissioning. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Clarifying school district procurement requirements for service contracts for construction management, value engineering, constructability review, and building commissioning.).

SUPPORT

SB 5017 is a technical change to the current law and clarifies that school districts can continue to procure construction management, value engineering, constructability review, and building commissioning through the request for proposal (RFP) process and allows selection of contractors based on qualifications, not just price. 

STATUS:   ESB 5017 has passed out of House Capital Budget Committee and is headed to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives and let them know that you support ESB 5017 and ask that they vote YES to send ESB 5017 to the governor for signature.

School Seismic Safety Grant Program

SSB 5933 Establishing a school seismic safety grant program

SUPPORT

SSB 5933 establishes a school seismic safety grant program for school districts and state tribal compact schools for remediation of seismic or tsunami hazards in qualifying buildings.  It also requires qualifying buildings be in high seismic hazard areas and that they must have been built prior to 1998, and not received a seismic retrofit to the 2005 seismic standards.

Given the failure to pass legislation to make it possible for school districts to pass bond measures to maintain schools, this bill is critical to prepare our schools for the seismic emergencies we know are coming. The Senate Capital Budget proposal is providing over $120M in seismic retrofit or school replacement provided a district can put up 33% of the cost. We have hundreds of schools in the state that were built before 1998 and need this update. The Senate is looking for $500M every biennia until the work is done to make our students safe. We need the House to maintain that funding level and move this bill forward.

STATUS:   SSB 5593 has passed out of the House Capital Budget Committee and is headed to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives and let them know that you support SSB 5933 and ask that they vote YES to send SSB 5933 to the governor for signature.

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Reproductive Rights and Health Care

Affirming WA State’s Abortion Act

EHB 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 an

d 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: EHB 1851 passed the House chamber and is in the Senate Rules Committee and is eligible to be scheduled for a floor vote. 

ACTION: Contact your Senators and those on the Senate Rules Committee, let them know you support EHB 1851 and ask them to schedule a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

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 Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a floor vote.

ACTION: Let your senator in the Rules Committee know you support HB 1651 , ask them to schedule it for a floor VOTE, and ask your Senator to vote YES to pass it on to the governor’s desk for signature.

Water fluoridation

SHB 1684 Concerning public Health and fluoridation of drinking water

SUPPORT

SHB 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: SHB 1684 has passed out of the House but did not pass out its policy committee in the Senate by the February 24^th cutoff date and is DEAD.

Breast Implant Surgery

2ESSB 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: 2ESSB 5441 passed the Senate unanimously but did not pass out of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee by the February 24 cutoff date and is DEAD.

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Violence

Emergency Care

SHB 1703 Modernizing the statewide 911 emergency communications system.

SUPPORT

SHB 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:  SHB 1703 has passed out of the Senate, with amendments. It will now go back to the House for reconciliation between the two passed bills. 

ACTION:  Contact your representative and let them know you support SHB 1703 and ask for a YES vote to concur with the Senate amendments.

Weapons, Guns, and Public Safety

ESSB 5078 Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety

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

STATUS:  ESSB 5078 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House

Action:  Contact your representatives and let them know you support ESSB 5078 and ask for a YES vote when it comes to the floor.

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

SUPPORT

SHB 1630 makes it unlawful to knowingly carry or possess firearms and other specified weapons in ballot counting centers, voting centers, student engagement hubs, county elections and voter registration offices and areas of facilities used for these functions.   It also makes it a crime to knowingly carry or possess a firearm on school premises, school transportation, and facilities being used by schools, and in areas of facilities while being used for official meetings of the school district board of directors.

STATUS:  SHB 1630 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. 

ACTION:  Contact your senators on the Rules Committee, let them know you support SHB 1630 and ask to schedule it for a Floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

ESHB 1705: Concerning ghost guns

SUPPORT

SHB 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. It also establishes standards for marking untraceable firearms and unfinished frames and receivers with serial numbers.

STATUS:  ESHB 1705 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, let them know you support ESHB 1705, ask them to schedule a Floor vote and ask that they vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

ESSB 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. ESSB 5690 exempts uniformed 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. Such events are required to be permitted

STATUS:   ESSB 5690 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a floor vote.

ACTION:   Contact your representatives in the House Rules committee,  let them know you support ESSB 5690, ask them to schedule it for a floor vote, and ask them to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

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

SUPPORT

SHB 1941 was amended in committee and prohibits schools from conducting lockdown drills that include live simulations of or reenactments of active shooter scenarios that are not trauma-informed and age and developmentally appropriate. 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:  SHB 1941 is currently 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 support SHB 1941, ask them to schedule a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

Use of Force by Law Enforcement

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

OPPOSE

SSB 5919 gives law enforcement more flexibility in the use of force.  “Physical force” means any act likely to cause physical pain or injury or any other act exerted upon a person’s body to compel, control, constrain, or restrain the person’s movement. “Physical force” does not include pat downs, incidental touching, verbal commands, or compliant handcuffing where there is no physical pain or injury. “Necessary” means that, under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonably effective alternative to the use of force does not appear to exist, and that the amount of force used was a reasonable and proportional response to the effect the legal purpose intended or to protect against the threat posed to the officer or others.

The situations where a peace officer may use physical force are expanded. A peace officer may use physical force against a person when necessary to:

• protect against criminal conduct where there is probable cause to make an arrest;
• effect an arrest;
• prevent an escape;
• effect an investigative detention, with less than probable cause if the peace officer has reasonable and articulable facts that point towards criminal activity, including when, under the totality of the circumstances, the situation escalates so that there are now facts sufficient to effectuate an arrest, whether or not an arrest is carried out; or
• protect against an imminent threat of bodily injury to the peace officer, another person, or the person against whom force is being used.

The standard reasonable care is also amended.

The standard for vehicular pursuits is amended. A peace officer may not conduct a vehicular pursuit unless four factors are met:

• there is reasonable suspicion that a person in the vehicle has committed, or is committing a violent offense, sex offense, an escape offense, a driving under the influence offense, a crime against persons offense, or another criminal offense where the public safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person are considered to be greater than the safety risks of the vehicular pursuit under the circumstances;
• the pursuit must be necessary for the purpose of identifying or apprehending the person;
• the person poses a public safety risk, and the safety risk of failing to apprehend or identify the person is greater than the safety risks of the vehicular pursuit under the circumstances; and
• the officer receives authorization to continue the pursuit from a supervising officer and there is supervisory control of the pursuit.

We believe that this bill rolls back the protections put in place last year with E2SHB 1310. In part, that bill, created a standard for the use of force by peace officers. The current law allows a peace officer to use physical force against another person when necessary to protect against criminal conduct where there is probable cause to make an arrest; effect an arrest; prevent an escape; or protect against an imminent threat of bodily injury to the peace officer, another person, or the person against whom force is being used. A peace officer may use deadly force only when necessary to protect against an imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to the officer or another person. 

This bill is unnecessary and is a dangerous step backwards.  This bill expands the authority to use physical force in all investigatory stops based on reasonable suspicion, the lowest standard of proof. It allows for considerable officer discretion which will increase racial profiling.

STATUS: ESB 5919 passed out of House Committee on Public Safety and is now in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives in the House and let them know that you OPPOSE ESB 5919 and urge them to vote NO if and/or when it comes to the floor. 

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

SUPPORT

SHB 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, transporting a person for evaluation or treatment, or providing other assistance under civil or forensic commitment laws;
• taking a minor into protective custody when authorized or directed by statute;
• executing or enforcing a court order authorizing or directing a peace officer to take a person into custody;
• executing a search warrant; or
• executing or enforcing an oral directive issued by a judicial officer in the courtroom or a written order where the court expressly authorizes a peace officer to use physical force to execute or enforce the directive or 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:  SHB 1735 has passed out of the Senate and is headed to the Governor’s Office for signature.

ACTION: Contact Governor Inslee and let him know that you support SHB 1735 and ask that he sign it into law.

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

SUPPORT

SHB 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:   ESHB 2037 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate

ACTION: Contact your senators in the Rules Committee, let them know that you support ESHB 2037, as them to schedule a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

State patrol diversity

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

SUPPORT

SHB 2057 the Governor’s Office of Equity is directed to contract for an independent, expert consultant to support their oversight of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) strategic plan. Additional consultant activities include developing agency-specific process and outcome measures which consider community feedback and recommending effective agency programs and services to reduce disparities across the WSP. Several activities assigned to the consultant in the underlying bill are assigned to the Office of Equity including providing technical assistance to the WSP and annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature on the evaluation of progress in implementing the plan.

Appropriates $650,000 from the State Patrol Highway Account to the Governor’s Office of Equity for the purposes of the independent consultant contract, a study of barriers to hiring commissioned officers and costs associated with oversight.  $331,000 from the State Patrol Highway Account is provided to the WSP and to support the costs of WSP’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office and the external psychologist contract.

STATUS:  SHB 2057 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

ACTION:  Contact your Senators in the Rules Committee, let them know that you support SHB 2057, ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

Sexual assault nurse examiners

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

ACTION:  Contact your senators in the Senate Rules. Committee, let them know that you support HB 1622, and ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

Sex Trafficking and Prevention

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.

Victim of human trafficking is defined in statute as a non-citizen and any qualifying family members who have:

• filed or are preparing to file an application for a T or U visa with the appropriate federal agency; or
  • been harmed by certain crimes including kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, custodial interference, luring, trafficking, or coercion of an involuntary servitude, the sexual exploitation of children, among others, and:
    • the person is taking steps to meet conditions for federal benefits for victims of trafficking; or
    • the person is preparing to file or has filed an application for asylum.

STATUS:  HB 1748 has passed out of the Senate, with amendments. It will now go back to the House for reconciliation between the two passed bills.

ACTION Contact your senators and let them know that you support HB 1748. Ask them for a YES vote to concur with the House amendments when it comes to the floor. 

Missing and Endangered Persons

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

SUPPORT
HB 1571 does the following: 

• 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 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.
• Provides that, upon knowledge from certain authorities that a person in custody or being released from custody at a jail is the subject of a missing person’s report, the jail is required to notify the agency of original jurisdiction for the missing person’s report.

STATUS:  SHB 1571 has passed out of the Senate Law & Justice Committee, and is now in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday February 28 at 10 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Ways & Means Committee and let them know that you support SHB 1571. Ask that they pass it out of committee. 

SHB 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:  SHB 1725 is now in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10 am.  

ACTION Contact your senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee and let them know that you support SHB 1725 and ask that they pass it out of committee. 

Criminal mistreatment of children and vulnerable adults

ESHB 1048 Concerning the removal of specific religious references regarding the criminal mistreatment of children and vulnerable adults from a statute.

SUPPORT

SHB 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:  ESHB 1048 passed out of Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry, & Rehabilitation and is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

ACTION: Contact your senators in the Rules Committee and let them know that you support ESHB 1048. Ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

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

SUPPORT

SSB 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:  SSB 5572 passed out of House Committee on Public Safety and in 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 SSB 5572 And ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor.

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

SUPPORT
SHB 1901 updates the 2021 law and amends 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:  SHB 1901 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, February 28 at 10 AM.  

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee and let them know that you support SHB 1901 and ask that they pass it out of the committee. 

ESSB 5245 Concerning the safety of crime victims.

SUPPORT

ESSB 5245 was amended in committee and now provides that the department of correction and witness notification programs are expanded to add victims of domestic violence ofenders, assault in the 3^rd degree, vehicular homicide by disregard for the safety of others, unlawful imprisonment, and controlled substance homicide 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: ESSB 5245 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House. 

ACTION: Contact your representatives in the House Rules Committee, let them know you support ESSB 5245,  ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

SHB 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:  SHB 1593 is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday February 28 at 10 AM.

ACTION: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways & Means Committee and let them know that you support SHB 1593. Ask that they pass HB 1593 out of committee.

Trauma informed responses in the legal system

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 House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a full House vote. 

ACTION: Contact your Representatives in the House Rules Committee,  let them know that you support SB 5612, ask that they schedule it for a floor vote and that they vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

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

SUPPORT
SSB 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: SSB 5814 has passed out of the House Appropriations Committee and is headed to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a floor vote. 

Action: Contact your representatives in the House Rules Committee, let them know you support SSB 5814, ask them to schedule it for a floor vote and to vote YES when it comes to the floor. 

ESSB 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.

ESSB 5628 also creates a new crime named cyberstalking.  A person commits the gross misdemeanor crime of cyberstalking if they:

• knowingly and without consent install or monitor an electronic tracking device or causes an electronic tracking device to be installed, placed, or used with the intent to track the location of another person; and
• the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know that knowledge of the installation or monitoring would cause the person reasonable fear, the perpetrator has notice that the person does not want to be contacted or monitored by the perpetrator, or there is a protective order in effect protecting the person being stalked from the perpetrator.

The crime of cyberstalking is elevated to a Class C felony if committed under several additional circumstances.

Victims of cyber harassment may apply to have their address protected through the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program.

STATUS:  ESSB 5628 to the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a full floor vote. ACTION: Contact your representatives in the House Rules Committee, let them know that you support ESSB 5628, ask them to schedule a floor vote and ask that they vote YES when it comes the floor.

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Budget/Revenue

Supplemental Budget

HB 1816 Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

SB 5693 Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

This past week both the House and the Senate presented their versions of the Supplemental Budget for the 2021-23 biennium with both bills moving rapidly through each house.  Supplemental budgets are considered and passed in the even-numbered years to make adjustment to the primary 2-year budget which is passed in odd-numbered years.  Both houses start off with the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal which was originally released in December. 

Your legislators need to hear from you that now is the time to invest in our communities so that our families and residents of the State of WA can survive and thrive in our world today.  Although the revenue forecasts are positive due to state taxes coming in faster than originally expected and federal COVID relief funds that have yet to be allocated, our state’s residents still have extraordinary needs. COVID has resulted in the health and well-beginning of our state’s residents being highly impacted, some positively (i.e., mostly the wealthy) and negatively for many.  Since March 2020, economic, racial and gender inequality have deepened.  According to the WA Employment Security Department 2021 ended with 70,000 fewer jobs than when the pandemic began.  According to the US Census Bureau Pulse Survey between December 20, 2021, and January 10, 2022, 450,000 Washington State households reported not having enough to eat in the previous 7 days, and over 500,000 reported little to no confidence that they would be able to pay the next month’s rent or mortgage.

The following information regarding the supplemental budget is a portion of an article written by the WA State Budget and Policy Center and is in our opinion a good summary of why we need to invest rather than siphon resources away from public needs:

“Lawmakers in Washington state should heed the wisdom of community advocates, who know from both research and personal experience that greater funding for schools, health care, childcare, early learning, and the environment will strengthen families. This greater funding will also ensure communities – especially those who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) who have been hit hardest by the economic downturn and public health crisis – have the resources needed to get through and beyond these difficult times. But to make these important investments, lawmakers must reject costly tax cuts that would unnecessarily benefit the wealthy and disadvantage BIPOC and lower-income Washingtonians by permanently draining funding from their communities. Investing in community foundations, as proposed by Governor Inslee, will set the state up to thrive in the long run.

Washington state lawmakers have the opportunity to make historic investments in their communities right now. Over the past 25 years, the state has seen significant growth in its population and economy. But relative to that growth, state funding for community needs has declined since the mid-1990s. As Figure 1 shows below, under Governor Inslee’s proposed adjustments to the 2021-23 state budget, total funding (including federal stimulus funds) would be nearly $1 billion less than what was allocated in the 1995-1997 budget (adjusted for economic growth). And total state-only funding would be nearly $10 billion less under the governor’s proposal compared to mid-1990s levels.

Only with substantial COVID-19 relief from the federal government has the state budget been able to rebound from the deep funding cuts enacted following the Great Recession. However, these funds are temporary – intended only to address the current public health and economic crises. As a result, lawmakers cannot rely on federal support to meet long-term community needs. Instead, to maintain community investments after federal relief expires at the end of 2024, state lawmakers must find new and equitable sources of funding.”[1]

For additional information and analysis of the governor’s proposed budget click here to read the entire article from the WA State Budget & Policy Center.

STATUS:  SHB 1816 is in the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ESSB 5693 has passed out of the Senate and is currently in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

ACTION:    Contact your legislators on SHB 1816 and in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on ESSB 5693 and let them know that you support a supplemental budget plan makes much-needed community investments that at-least return WA State to pre-recession levels, although this is not enough to meet today’s needs.  The one-time funds from the federal government cannot fill the gaps in the long run to fund essential state services.  We must expand on the governor’s proposal for the welfare of our state’s residents and fund schools, childcare, healthcare, and social services.   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.  We must ensure that our state is able to maintain community investments for the years to come and not be shortsighted due to a one-time influx of federal dollars.

Sales Tax Holiday

HB 2018 – Creating a three-day shop local and save sales and use tax holiday to benefit all Washington families for certain items $1,000 or less during the month of September.

OPPOSE

HB 2018 authorizes a shop local and save sales and use tax holiday for Labor Day Weekend for qualified items purchased by individuals. Although our state has an unfair tax system that is heavily dependent on the sales tax this bill does not deliver economic relief to those taxpayers at the bottom of the income scale and are in need of relief from our regressive tax system.  It would waste nearly $200 million dollars that could better serve our state’s economy.  Although popular in other states, experience has shown that these sales tax holidays simply lead to large windfalls for retailers and the wealthy while funds are drained from resources such as our schools and social service programs.

STATUS: HB 2018 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Appropriations Committee at 10 AM on Monday, February 28^th.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations  Committee and let them know that you oppose HB 2018 and ask that it not be passed out of committee as it costs our state nearly $200 million that could better serve our state’s economy and is basically a windfall for retailers and the wealthy instead of addressing the long term needs of our state’s most vulnerable. 

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 in 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 SJM 8006 and ask that it be pulled to the floor for a vote by the full House. 

Wealth Tax

SHB 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

SHB 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: SHB 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 an executive session to pass out of committee.

ACTION:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations committee and let them know that you support  SHB 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 let them know that you support a wealth tax and ask that it be scheduled for an executive session to pass out of committee.

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/domestic partner 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

E2SSB 5188 An act relating to the creation of the Washington State public financial cooperative.
SUPPORT

E2SSB 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:  ESSB 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.

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HOUSE COMMITEES

Appropriations Committee:
Timm Ormsby (Chair), Steve Bergquist  (Vice Chair), Mia Gregerson (Vice Chair),  Nicole Macri (Vice Chair), Matt Behnke, Kelly Chambers, Chris Corry, Michele Calder, Bruce Chandler, Frank Chop, Eileen Cody, Laurie Dolan, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Noel Frame, Drew Hansen, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, Cyndy Jacobsen, Jesse Johnson, Debra Lukianoff, Drew McEwen, Gerry Pullet, Skyler Rude, Cindy Ryu, Joe Schmick, Tana Sen, Larry Springer, Mike Steele, Drew Cokesbury, Monica Stonier, Pat Sullivan, and Steve Tharinger

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

Rules Committee:
Laurie Jinkins (Chair), Steve Bergquist, Dan Bronoske, Michelle Calder, Lauren Davis, Tom Dent, Jeremy Dufault, Greg Gilday, Jenny Graham, Mia Grierson, Paul Harris, Cyndy Jacobsen, Mark Clicker, Joel Kretz, Melanie Morgan, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Tina Orwall, Alex Ramel, Marcus Riccelli, Eric Robertson, Tarra Simmons, Larry Springer, Monica Jurado Stonier, Pat Sullivan, My-Linh Thai, Amy Wallen, and J.T. Wilcox

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
• Lisa Weber

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[1] Tracy Yeung & Andy Nicolas, “Now is the time to invest in community foundations and the people they serve” – Scmudget Blog, Washington State Budget & Policy Center.  February 14, 2022. https://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-community-foundations-and-the-people-they-serve/