Legislative Alert for January 26, 2020

The 2020 Legislative Session started on Monday, January 13, 2020 and is scheduled to end on Thursday, March 12, 2020.  As this is a short session, bills will be moving rapidly through the session. 

February 7, 2020 is the first cutoff date.  This is the last date that bills must pass out of committee except for those in the House fiscal committees and Senate Ways and Means and Transportation Committees.

February 11, 2020 is last day for bills in the House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees to pass out of these committees.

February 19, 2020 is last day of the session for bills to pass out of their house of origin or they are dead.

February 28, 2020 the last date that bills in the opposite houses from their origin to pass out of committee except for those in the House fiscal committees and Senate Ways and Means and Transportation Committees.

March 2, 2020 last day for bills in the opposite house to pass out of the House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.

March 6, 2020 at 5 PM is the last day to pass opposite house bills (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).

March 12 is the last day allowed for regular session under 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 Actions of the Week:

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

HB 1053 provides a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.  Feminine hygiene products are not a discretionary expense, they are essential products for women’s health and economic security.

HB 1053 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

Action:  Contact your representatives, let them know that you support HB 1053 and ask that HB 1053 be pulled from Rules to the floor and pass out of the House and onto the Senate.

HB 2241 Concerning assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
SB 6076 Concerning assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
Both of these bills define assault weapons in detail.  These bills goes on to prohibit the manufacture, possession, distribution, transfer, sell, offering for sell, purchase or otherwise transfer any assault weapon or large capacity magazine with the exception of those weapons that were in the legal possession of the individual prior to the effective date of the law.  These individuals cannot sell or transfer these weapons to any other person in the state other than a licensed dealer, federal licensed gun smith, or law enforcement for the purpose of permanently relinquishing the assault weapon or large capacity magazine.  Armed forces members and law enforcement officers may acquire or possess such weapons as long as they are acting within the scope of their duties. In order to continue to possess an assault weapon or large capacity magazine that was legally possessed on the effective date of this bill, the person possessing the assault weapon or large capacity magazine can only possess the assault weapon or large capacity magazine only on property owned or immediately controlled by the person, or while engaged in the legal use of the assault weapon or large capacity magazine at a duly licensed firing range, or while engaged in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, or while traveling to or from either of these locations for the purpose of engaging in the legal use of the assault weapon or large capacity magazine, provided that the assault weapon or large capacity magazine is stored unloaded and in a separate locked container during transport.

HB 2241 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

SB 6076 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

Action: Contact you representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 2241 and request that they pass it out of committee.
Contact your senator on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you support SB 6076 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

If you can only do one thing, choose one of the above bills and contact your legislators to pass a tax exemption for menstrual hygiene products OR to prohibit the sell or transfer of assault weapons or large capacity magazines.

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

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

I have also included hyperlinks on each of the bill actions below, which will take you to the WA State Legislature’s comment page for the bill where you can enter your support or opposition to the bill and include a comment (up to 1000 characters).

Civil and Equal Rights

WA State Office of Equity

HB 1783 Creating the Washington state office of equity.

SUPPORT

HB 1783 establishes the Washington state office of equity to promote access to equitable opportunities and resources that reduce disparities, including racial and ethnic disparities, and improve outcomes statewide across all sectors of government.  The bill also requires all state agencies to apply an equity lens to agency decision-making; designate a diversity, equity, and inclusion liaison; develop plans for diversity, equity, and inclusion and for language access; and collaborate with the Equity Office to develop performance measures.

Status:  HB 1783 has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing an executive session.

Action:  Contact your senators on the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee and ask that HB 1783 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

WA State Women Veterans License Plate

HB 2187 Creating Washington State Women Veterans License plate.

SUPPORT

HB 2187 creates  as special license plate recognizing the efforts of women veterans in Washington state.

Status:  HB 2187 is in the House Transportation Committee.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Transportation Committee and let them know you support HB 2187 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

School Athletics and Gender Identity

HB 2201 Ensuring equitable competition between students who participate in school athletic activities.

OPPOSE

HB 2201 defines “male students” as students whose sex at birth was male.  It prohibits “male students” from competing with and against female students in athletic activities with separate classifications for male and female students if the athletic activity is intended for female students and an individual competition sport.

We oppose to HB 2201 as it discriminates against transgender girls and places them at risk of harassment.

Status:  HB 2201 is in the House Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Transportation Committee and let them know you OPPOSE HB 2201 and should it come up for a vote to vote NO.

Extending Legislators’ Terms of Office

HB 2249 Staggering legislative terms in accordance with the constitutional amendment to extend legislative terms.

HJR 4209 Amending the Constitution with regard to the term length of members of the Legislature.

OPPOSE

HB 2249 and HJR 4209 are companion bills that would change the terms of office for the WA State Senate and House and stagger terms of office. House members would have four year terms of office with ½ of the representatives being elected every 2 years.  Senators would have six year terms of office with 1/3 of the senators being elected every 2 years.

We believe that extending terms of office make our legislators less accountable to the electorate.

Status:  Both HB 2249 and HJR 4209 are in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where they are eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and let them know you OPPOSE HB 2249 and HJR 4209 and should they come up for a vote to vote NO.

Felons Voting Rights

HB 2292 Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.

SB 6228 Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.

SUPPORT

HB 2292 and SB 6228 change the voting rights law to automatically restore a felon’s voting rights as long as the defendant is not in total confinement with the department of corrections.  It states that a person serving a term of community custody is not considered to be in total confinement of the department of corrections and does not include confinement imposed as a sanction for a community custody violation.  A person who has had their voting rights restored must reregister to vote before voting.

Status:  HB 2292 has been assigned to the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 6228 has passed out of the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee and is likely to be sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for consideration.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and let them know you support HB 2292 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive

Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 6228 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Public Disclosure and Election Security

HB 2293 Exempting election security information from public records disclosure.

SUPPORT

HB 2293 exempts from public disclosure security audits, security risk assessments, or security test results relating to physical security or cybersecurity of election operations or infrastructure and those portions of records containing information about election infrastructure, election security, or potential threats to election security, the public disclosure of which would have a substantial likelihood of increasing risk to the integrity of election operations or infrastructure.

Status:  HB 2293 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and let them know you support HB 2293 and request that it pass out of committee.                                                                                  

Voting Rights Opportunities  for Youth

HB 2558 Increasing opportunities for young voters.

SB 6313 Increasing opportunities for young voters.

SUPPORT

HB 2558 and SB 6313 allow individuals to vote in a primary election if they are 17 years old, but will be 18 by the general election.  They also require the Department of Licensing to provide an automated process for voter registration when receiving or renewing enhanced driver’s licenses or identicards.  Each public university with 5000 or more students must open a student engagement center which provides ballots and voter registration materials.  These student engagement centers may be open on the eight business days prior to and on the election day.  The university can contract with the county auditor to operate these centers.  The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in collaboration with the County Auditors and League of Women Voters must identify and make available civics materials for high school courses.

Status:  HB 2293 is in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.

SB 6313 is in the State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Wednesday, January 29 at 8 AM

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee and let them know you support HB 2293 and request that be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

Contact your senators on the State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee and request a YES vote to pass SB 6313  it out of committee.

Courts Open to All Act

HB 2567 Concerning open courts.

SB 6522 Concerning open courts.

SUPPORT

HB 2567 and SB 6522 prohibit warrantless civil arrests. Prohibiting these civil arrests at courthouses is necessary for immigrant survivors to be able to get help for the abuse they are experiencing.  The Legislature makes findings on the following: the importance of keeping Washington courts open, accessible, and free from interruption; that civil arrests at court facilities create a climate of fear that deters residents from interacting with the justice system; and that it is imperative to ensure that all members of the community feel safe coming to, remaining at, and returning from court.

Status:  HB 2567 is eligible for an executive session in the House Civil Rights and Justice Committee.
SB 6422 is eligible for a public hearing and executive session in the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

Action:  Contact your representatives in the House Civil Rights and Justice Committee and let them know that you support HB 2567 and ask that it pass out of committee. 

Contact your senators on the on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know you support SB 6522 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass it out of committee.

Redistricting Commission

HB 2575 Concerning reforms to increase transparency and accountability of the Washington redistricting commission.

SUPPORT

HB 2575 modernizes the state’s Redistricting Commission to increase transparency and accountability and maximizes public input.  This bill does the following:

• Begins the start of the Commission earlier with the appointment of four full time commissioners moved to Dec 1 of the year ending in 0 and their selection of the chair by January 1 of the year ending in 1.  These commissioners must hold two rounds of public hearings in each congressional district.  The bill further outlines how this public input must be done to assure input from diverse voices and communities
• Before any public forum is held, the Commission must publish a report detailing its priorities and intentions for using redistricting criteria in its decision-making process. Any preliminary plan and reasonably final plan must be made public to allow for public review and comment. And the final report that accompanies the redistricting plans must include  a) a summary of all public input received; b) all plans discussed by the full Commission; c) a summary of the data used to create those plans; d) analyses of the maps using specified redistricting metrics; e) a written explanation if an alternative plan furthers redistricting criteria more than the final plan; and f) any other information that provides the basis on which the Commission made its decisions.
• Gives people with limited English a better chance to engage with the commission by requiring translation services and notices in major languages.

Status:  HB 2575 is in House State Government & Tribal Relations Relations Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Tuesday, January 28 at 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your representative in the House S and let them know you support SB 6034 and request that it be pulled to the floor for a vote to pass on to the House.

Pregnancy Discrimination

SB 6034 Extending the time allowed to file a complaint with the human rights commission for a claim related to pregnancy discrimination.

SUPPORT

SB 6034 extends the time allowed for a person to file a pregnancy discrimination complaint with the human rights commission within one year after the alleged unfair practice.

Status:  HB 6034 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

Action:  Contact your senators and let them know you support SB 6034 and request that it be pulled to the floor for a vote to pass on to the House.

Prevention of Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation

SB 6169 Training on the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

SUPPORT

SB 6169 directs the department of labor and industries to create a registry of qualified trainers and peer trainers on the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, including harassment based on gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation.  The bill further identifies minimum requirements (including topics) for training and experience the individual must have in order to be listed on this registry.

Status:  HB 6169 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 PM

Action:  Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 6169 and request that they pass it out of committee.

Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families

Diaper sales and use tax exemption

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

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

SUPPORT

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

Status:  HB 1054 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5201 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee to request that  HB 1054 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee. 
Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee to request SB 5301 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee. 

Child support pass-through payments

HB 1136 Implementing child support pass-through payments.

SB 5144 Implementing child support pass-through payments.

SUPPORT

HB 1136 and SB 5144 require the Department of Social and Health Services to pass through a portion of child support collections for families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allows states to pass through up to $100 per month of collected child support to TANF families with one child and up to $200 per month of collected child support to TANF families with two or more children without having to reimburse the federal government for its share of the child support collected. This is known as the child support pass through. States that opt to implement the child support pass through must disregard the child support collection paid to the family in determining the family’s cash TANF benefit. Washington implemented child support pass-through payments in October 2008 but suspended the child support pass-through payments effective May 1, 2011.  The HB 1136 allows for the maximum described above.  SB 5144 was amended in committee and requires the Department of Social and Health Services to pass through child support up to $50 per month collected on behalf of a family, or up to $100 a month for a family that includes two or more children

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

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

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee to request that HB 1136 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.
Contact your Senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5144 and request a YES vote to move it out of committee.

TANF and WorkFirst programs

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

SUPPORT

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

Status:  HB 1268 is in the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action Contact your representatives on the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee to let them know you support HB 1268 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

Unemployment benefits for persons with family responsibilities

HB 1445 Making unemployment benefits accessible to persons with family responsibilities and other availability issues and making clarifying changes.

SB 5473 Making unemployment benefits accessible to persons with family responsibilities and other availability issues and making clarifying changes.

SUPPORT

Both HB 1445 and SB 5473 make changes to the unemployment insurance program which would allow a good cause consideration for receiving unemployment benefit to include that the separation from work was necessary because care for a child or vulnerable adult in the claimant’s care is inaccessible. The claimant must have made reasonable effort to preserve the employment status by requesting leave or changes in working conditions or schedule that would accommodate the situation. Good cause also includes alteration to the claimant’s usual work shifts making care for a child or vulnerable adult inaccessible. Good cause separation related to the death, illness, or disability for an immediate family member is changed to a family member.

Status:  HB 1445 is in the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be brought to the House floor for a vote by the full House.

SB 5473 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce.

Action:  Contact your representatives and ask that HB 1445 be pulled to the floor for a vote and that they vote YES on HB 1445.

Contact your senator in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee ask for their support and a YES vote for SB 5473.

Working Families Tax Credit

HB 1527 Providing a working families’ tax credit.

SB 5810 Providing a working families’ tax credit.

SUPPORT

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

Status: Both HB 1527 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
SB 5810 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Finance Committee and senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee to request that  HB 1527 and SB 5810 be scheduled for executive sessions in their respective committees and that they pass on to the Rules Committees for consideration.

Government services outside of urban growth areas

HB 2206 Concerning equity by authorizing government services outside of urban growth areas.

SUPPORT

HB 2206 recognizes that certain government water and sewer services are needed in mostly rural areas such as which are not part of urban growth areas.  This act provides equity for communities in recognition that the urban growth boundaries are artificial constructs that provoke disparate treatment to communities of lower-income individuals, which tend to include people of color, seniors, and people with disabilities. Local governments are not currently required to provide the same level of government services throughout rural areas as are provided in urban areas, yet there is a recognition that, in some locations, extension of public services is prudent and desirable to the community.

Status:  HB 2206 is in the House Environment and Energy Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Environment and Energy Committee and let them know you support  HB 2206 and ask that HB 2206 be scheduled for a public hearing and an executive session to pass out of committee.

Expanding opportunities for marijuana businesses

HB 2263 Expanding opportunities for marijuana businesses by removing residency barriers and providing access to capital for minority and women-owned businesses through a fee on certain investments.

SB 6085 Expanding opportunities for marijuana businesses by removing residency barriers and providing access to capital for minority and women-owned businesses through a fee on certain investments.

SUPPORT

HB 2263 and SB 6085 look to remove financial barriers to minority and women owned marijuana businesses through the creation of a marijuana equity fund to provide low or no interest loans for existing minority and women-owned marijuana businesses. This funding would be available through a fee on new capital investments in marijuana businesses.  The bill also removes the 6 month residency requirement to apply for a marijuana business license

Status:  HB 2263 is eligible for an executive session in the House Commerce and Gaming Committee.

SB 6085 is in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Commerce and Gaming Committee and let them know you support  HB 2263 and ask for a YES vote out of committee.
Contact your senator on the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and let them know that you support SB 6085 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

Leave accrual for government employees

HB 2264 Increasing the cap on accrued vacation leave

SUPPORT

HB 2264 increases the accrued vacation leave limit for employees of offices, departments and institutions of the state government from 240 to 280 hours.

Status:  HB 2264 has is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 PM in the House Appropriations Committee .

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know you support  HB 2264.

Breast milk expression

HB 2266 Concerning reasonable accommodation for the expression of breast milk without requiring written certification from a health care professional.

SUPPORT

HB 2266 prohibits an employer from requiring written certification from the employee’s health care provider regarding the need for a reasonable accommodation to express breast milk.

Status:  HB 2264 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  HB 2266 and request that HB 2266 be pulled to the floor for a vote by the full House and for a YES vote.

Housing for homeless persons

HB 2282  Creating a grant program for converting unused public buildings to housing for homeless persons.

SUPPORT

HB 2282 creates a public building conservation grant program within the department of commerce to encourage counties to convert unused, publicly owned buildings into housing for homeless persons.

Status:  HB 2282 is in the House Capital Budget Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representative on the House Capital Budget Committee and let them know that you support HB 2282 and request that it pass out of committee.

Teacher job sharing

HB 2286 Supporting teacher job sharing through grants.

SUPPORT

HB 2286 establishes a grant program through the office of superintendent of public instruction to support job sharing in school districts for certificated instructional staff.  Grant awards must be used by the district to support health benefit costs for full time positions filled by two or more employees in excess of the health insurance benefit allocation provided per certificated staff unit.  .

Status:  HB 2286 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know that you support HB 2286 and request a YES vote when it come up for a vote.

Child Support

HB 2302 Concerning child support, but only with respect to standards for determination of income, abatement of child support for incarcerated obligors, modification of administrative orders, and notices of support owed.

SUPPORT WITH CONCERNS

HB 2302 makes modification to child support standards.  It clarifies the standard used to determine what constitutes full time employment for calculation of work, how to impute income for a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed and adds criteria which imputes income for a voluntarily unemployed or underemployed full time high school student 20 hours per week at minimum wage – this imputation is rebuttable.  The bill also recognizes that an individual who is incarcerated for 6 months or more frequently owe significant child support debts and such debts severely impact the individual’s ability to have a successful reentry and reintegration into society.  The bill allows for an automatic abatement within a child support order where there is a rebuttable presumption that an incarcerated person is unable to pay the child support obligation. Unless the presumption is rebutted, the child support obligation would be abated to ten dollars per month while the individual is incarcerated.  The bill also allows for a motion to be filed to reverse or terminate an abatement during the period of incarceration by demonstrating that the incarcerated person has possession of, or access to, income or assets available to provide support while incarcerated.
We  concerned about families in the middle may be at jeopardy of eviction from the inability to pay for their housing, possible loss of job for not being able to afford transport, loss of care for their children from not being able to pay the cost of child care, loss of utilities, possible homelessness, loss of medical care arewith the loss of child support.

We are requesting that before the portion regarding abatement of child support payments for incarcerated individuals is implemented that the Department of Child Support conduct a study looking at the impact of this changes in procedure.

Status:  HB 2302 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Civil Rights and Justice Committee on Friday, January 31 at 10 AM.

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 2302 with concerns.  Request that the bill be amended to require the Department of Child Support conduct a study looking at the impact and any mitigation for abatement of a child support order for incarcerated individuals.

Workplace Safety

SB 6122 Protecting temporary workers.

SUPPORT

SB 6122 modifies the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act to require a staffing agency to visit the worksite employer’s actual workplace to review safety and health practices and hazards and then provide training to the employee for industry specific hazards the employee may encounter at the worksite.  The training must be completed annually and in the preferred language of the worker.  Training must be during work hours and at no cost to the employee.

Status:  SB 6122 is in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, January 27 at 10 AM.

Action:  Contact your senator in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and let them know that you support SB 6122.

Higher Education Access

SB 6141 Expanding access to higher education.

SUPPORT

SB 6141 recognizes the increasing importance of a postsecondary education as well as the financial barriers faced by many students who want to pursue a postsecondary education.  This bill establishes a means to share information about new financial aid opportunities and increase awareness of what is available including the expanded Washington college grants.  This bill requires the development of a centralized online statewide calculator tool for estimating combined financial aid packages from the federal Pell grant and the Washington college grant program for all public four-year institutions of higher education in Washington state. The calculator must be designed for anonymous use and may not be used to collect or share data.  It also requires that all school districts beginning in 2020-21 school year in coordination with the office of superintendent of public instruction facilitate a financial advising day with all high schools in each district.

Status:  SB 6141 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Committee and let them know that you support SB 6141 and request a YES vote to pass it out of committee.

Reproductive Rights and Health Care

Feminine hygiene sales tax exemption

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

SUPPORT

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

Status:  HB 1053 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

Action:  Contact your representatives, let them know that you support HB 1053 and ask that HB 1053 be pulled from Rules to the floor and pass out of the House and onto the Senate.

Patient protection

HB 1608 Protecting patient care.

SB 5542 Protecting patient care.

SUPPORT

HB 1608 and SB 5542 prohibit a health care entity from limiting a health care provider’s provision of accurate and comprehensive information to patients about the patient’s health status, treatment options, and information regarding the Death with Dignity Act, if the provider is acting in good faith, within the provider’s privileges, and within the accepted standard of care.  It also requires the Department of Health (DOH) to create and make available online materials to inform health care providers and staff of the authority to act under these provisions, which health care entities must provide to privileged or employed health care providers and staff. And it requires the DOH to create materials for providers and patients about the Death with Dignity Act.

Status:  HB 1608 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.

SB 5542 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives letting them know that you support HB 1608 and ask that HB 1608 be pulled from Rules to the floor and pass out of the House and onto the Senate.

Contact your senator on the Health and Long Term Care Committee letting them know that you support SB 5542 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee.

Health Care Coverage for Young Adults

HB 1697 Concerning health coverage for young adults.

SB 5814 Concerning health coverage for young adults

SUPPORT
HB 1697 and SB 5814 require the state health care authority to provide health coverage to individuals who: (1) Are between the ages of nineteen and twenty-six years old; (2) Have a countable income that is at or below one hundred thirty-three percent of the federal poverty level; (3) Are not incarcerated; and (4) Are not eligible for categorically needy medical assistance as defined in the social security Title XIX state plan. It also requires the authority to seek federal funding to defray state costs associated with providing coverage to those persons.

Status:  HB 1697 is in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

SB 5814 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

Action:  Contact your representatives and members of the Health Care and Wellness Committee and tell them you support HB 1697 and ask that they schedule it for an executive session and pass it out of committee.
Contact your senator on the Health and Long Term Care Committee letting them know that you support SB 5814 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session to pass out of committee

Comprehensive Sex Education

HB 1407 Concerning comprehensive sexual health education.

SB 5395 Concerning comprehensive sexual health education.

SUPPORT
HB 1407 and SB 5395 require every public school district to provide a comprehensive sexual health education as an integral part of the curriculum that is evidence-informed, inclusive for all students regardless of their protected class status, skills-based, and meets other requirements including:

• encourages healthy relationships based on mutual respect and affection and are free from violence, coercion, and intimidation;
• teaches how to identify and respond to attitudes and behaviors contributing to sexual violence;
• emphasizes the importance of affirmative consent, meaning conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity, as a requirement before sexual activity; and is consistent with the health and physical education learning standards, which must be available on OSPI’s website.

The amended SB5395 requires that the comprehensive sexual health education  be phased in for students in grades 6 through 12 by Sept 1, 2020 and for K through 5 by Sept 1, 2021.

Status:  HB 1407 is in the House Education committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 5395 passed out of the Senate on Wednesday, January 23 and is now in the House Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your representatives in the House Education Committee and request that SB 5395 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

HB 2184 Requiring comprehensive sexual health education with an affirmative consent curriculum in all public schools by the 2022-23 school year in accordance with the recommendations of the sexual health education work group.
SUPPORT
HB 2184 expands the requirements for every public school to provide comprehensive sexual health education that is an integral part of the curriculum.  The curriculum in addition to being medically and scientifically accurate must encourage healthy relationships that are based on mutual respect and affection and are free from violence, coercion and intimidation.  The curriculum also must teach how to identify and respond to behaviors that contribute to sexual violence and emphasize the importance of affirmative consent before sexual activity.  This bill phases in the requirement for public schools in the following manner:

1. 2020-2021 school year -For schools who already providing comprehensive sexual education must ensure that the curriculum, instruction, and materials include information about affirmative consent and bystander training
2. 2020-2021 school year – for schools who are not currently providing comprehensive sexual health education they must prepare for incorporating information about affirmative consent and bystander training into the comprehensive sexual health education curriculum, instruction, and materials.  They must consult with parents and guardians of students, local communities, and the WA state school directors association in this preparation.
3. 2021-2022 school – comprehensive sexual health education including information about affirmative consent must be provided to all public school students in grades 6-12.
4. 2022-2024 school year – all WA State public schools – grades K-12 – must provide comprehensive sexual health education including information about affirmative consent.

Status:  HB 2184 is eligible for an executive session in the House Education Committee.

Action:  Contact your representative and members of House Education Committee and let them know you support HB 2184 and request that it be scheduled for an executive session and a YES vote out of committee.

SB 6175 Concerning sexual health education and affirmative consent.

SUPPORT
HB 2184 expands the current requirements for school districts that offer a sexual health education program that in addition to its being medically and scientifically accurate that it be evidence-informed and includes information about affirmative consent.

Status:  SB 6175 is in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee and request that SB 6175 be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Pelvic Exam Consent

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

Status:  SB 5282 passed out of the Senate on Friday, January 24 and has not yet been assigned to a committee in the House.

Action:  Contact your representatives and let them know that you support SB 5282

Menstrual Hygiene Products in Public School Bathrooms

SB 6073 Providing menstrual hygiene products in public school bathrooms.

SUPPORT

SB 6073 requires that all school districts by the beginning of the 2021-22 school year make menstrual hygiene products available at no cost in all gender-neutral bathrooms and bathrooms designed for female students located in public schools (including charter schools) that serve students in grades six through 12.

Status:  SB 6073 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee to let them know that you support passage of SB 6073 and request that it be scheduled for an executive session.

Cost-sharing for insulin products

SB 6087 Imposing cost-sharing requirements for coverage of insulin products.

SUPPORT

SB 6087 requires any health plan issued or renewed after January 1, 2021 that provides coverage for  insulin drug that it must cap copayments, deductibles, or other forms of cost sharing to an amount not to exceed $100.00 per thirty-day supply.

Status:  SB 6087 has passed out of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 PM

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 6087 and ask that it be passed out of committee.

Prescription Drug Affordability Board

SB 6088 Establishing a prescription drug affordability board.
SUPPORT
SB 6088 establishes a prescription drug affordability board with responsibilities to identify prescription drugs and biological products that are of a high cost or where the drug has increased in prices for a thirty-day supply by two hundred percent or more in a 12 month period. The board can conduct cost reviews of drugs meeting the criteria in the bill. 

(1) The board must establish a process for setting upper limits for prescription drugs that the board has determined have led or will lead to excess costs to the state or patients. 

(2)Any state agency administering a state purchased health care program shall not pay an amount above the upper payment limit set by the board for a prescription drug.

(3) The process must take into consideration:

(a) The cost of administering the drug;

(b) The cost of delivering the drug to patients; and 

(c) Other relevant administrative costs related to the production and delivery of the drug.

(4) The process must provide for the suspension of an upper payment limit if a drug is placed on the food and drug administration shortage list.

(5) The board must monitor the supply of drugs for which it sets an upper payment limit and may suspend that limit if there is a shortage of the drug in the state.

Status:  SB 6088 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee.

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know you support SB 6088 and ask that it be passed out of committee.

Postpartum Medicaid Coverage

SB 6128  Extending coverage during the postpartum period.

SUPPORT

SB 6128 expands Medicaid coverage to one year after a pregnancy ends instead of the current limit of 60 days.  The bill also directs the health care authority to submit a waiver request to the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to allow the state to receive federal match for the coverage of pregnant and postpartum persons.

Status: SB 6128 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Monday, January 27 at 1:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your Senator on the Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you support SB 6128 and ask that it be passed out of committee.

Insulin Purchasing Program

SB 6113 Creating a central insulin purchasing program.

SUPPORT

SB 6113 establishes a central insulin purchasing program to allow the northwest prescription drug consortium to act as the single purchaser of insulin for the state thus leveraging the buying power of all insulin purchasers in the state with the goal of lowering the cost of insulin.

Status:  SB 6113 has passed out of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 PM.

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 6113 and ask that it be passed out of committee

Pregnancy and Student Health Plan Coverage

SB 6129 Concerning student health plan coverage for pregnancy services.

SUPPORT

SB 6129 adds student health plans to the requirement that all other health plans have in WA State that if they provide maternity coverage, they must also provide the covered person with substantially equivalent coverage to permit the abortion of the pregnancy.

Status:  SB 6129 is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it eligible a public hearing and executive session.

Action:  Contact your Senator on the Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you support SB 6129 and ask that it be passed out of committee.

Violence Against Women

Extreme Risk Protection Orders

HB 2196 Concerning standards for issuance and enforcement of extreme risk protection orders.

OPPOSE
HB 2196 prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from assisting in the enforcement of any extreme risk protection order issued under federal law.  It also increases the standard for issuance of WA State extreme risk protection order from a preponderance of evidence (“more likely than not”) to clear and convincing evidence (“which requires that evidence be close to certain of being true”).  and it removes the requirement that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others and replaces it with “an imminent, particularized, and substantial risk of causing death or serious physical injury to self or others.  In November 2016, WA State’s Voters overwhelmingly passed (by 71%) Initiative 1491- Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to temporarily prevent individuals who are at high risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms by allowing family, household members, and police to obtain a court order when there is demonstrated evidence that the person poses a significant danger, including danger as a result of a dangerous mental health crisis or violent behavior.

Status:  HB 2196 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you OPPOSE HB 2196 and should it come up for a vote to vote NO.

SB 5745 Concerning extreme risk protection orders.

SUPPORT
SB 5745 directs the court to consider relevant evidence regarding a threatened hate crime in determining whether to issue an extreme risk protection order. And it replaces language referring to dangerous mental health issues with language addressing behaviors that present an imminent threat of harm to self or others.

Status:  SB 5745 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be brought up for a vote by the full Senate.

Action:  Contact your senator and let them know that you support SB 5745 and request that it be pulled from Rules for consideration by the full Senate.

Cooperating with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

HB 2226 Relating to federal immigration enforcement.

SB 6030 Concerning federal immigration enforcement

OPPOSE
HB 2226 and SB 6040 would require local law enforcement to cooperate with the US department of justice and ICE in detaining undocumented or presumed undocumented persons. The bill also institutes enforcement action against any executive, administrative state, county, or municipal officer who does not cooperate with ICE and also has the attorney general’s office filing suit against a local government and states the court must enjoin the locality for the “unlawful sanctuary policy”. 

HB 2226 and SB 6030 as they place our communities and families at risk:

• Research has shown that undocumented immigrants are unlikely to contact or cooperate with police if they are victimized by crime from fear of being asked about their immigration status and possibly deported
• Victims of domestic violence who are undocumented or from Latino communities in many cases will suffer in silence rather than report to police. 
• Immigrant communities have lower crime rates than nonimmigrant communities.  Deporting immigrants does not promote public safety and thus community safety may be undermined when police act as immigration enforcers.

Status:  HB 2226 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.

SB 6030 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee letting them know that you OPPOSE HB 2226 and should it come up for a vote to vote NO.

Contact your representatives on the Senate Law and Justice Committee letting them know that you OPPOSE SB 6030 and should it come up for a vote to vote NO.

Assault weapons and large capacity magazines

HB 2241 Concerning assault weapons and large capacity magazines.

SB 6076 Concerning assault weapons and large capacity magazines.

SUPPORT
HB 2241 and SB 6076 define assault weapons in detail.  These bills goes on to prohibit the manufacture, possession, distribution, transfer, sell, offering for sell, purchase or otherwise transfer any assault weapon or large capacity magazine with the exception of those weapons that were in the legal possession of the individual prior to the effective date of the law.  These individuals cannot sell or transfer these weapons to any other person in the state other than a licensed dealer, federal licensed gun smith, or law enforcement for the purpose of permanently relinquishing the assault weapon or large capacity magazine.  Armed forces members and law enforcement officers may acquire or possess such weapons as long as they are acting within the scope of their duties. In order to continue to possess an assault weapon or large capacity magazine that was legally possessed on the effective date of this bill, the person possessing the assault weapon or large capacity magazine can only possess the assault weapon or large capacity magazine only on property owned or immediately controlled by the person, or while engaged in the legal use of the assault weapon or large capacity magazine at a duly licensed firing range, or while engaged in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, or while traveling to or from either of these locations for the purpose of engaging in the legal use of the assault weapon or large capacity magazine, provided that the assault weapon or large capacity magazine is stored unloaded and in a separate locked container during transport.

Status:  HB 2241 is in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.

SB 6076 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

Action: Contact you representatives on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and let them know that you support HB 2241 and request that they pass it out of committee.
Contact your senator on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you support SB 6076 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.

Human Trafficking

HB 2320 Requiring training on human trafficking.

SB 6356 Requiring training on human trafficking.
SUPPORT
HB 2320 and SB 6356 require all transient accommodations to provide annual training on human trafficking to their employees.  The training must cover 1) the differences between sex and labor trafficking, 2) guidance specific to public lodging sector on identifying human trafficking, 3) guidance on responding to suspected trafficking, 4) contact information of a national human trafficking hotline and appropriate local law enforcement agency.  By January 1, 2021 every operator of a transient accommodation must conspicuously post signage for their employees regarding human trafficking awareness. The department of health may not renew or issue a license to an applicant without first receiving written confirmation that the training, signage, and procedures for reporting have been met.

Status:  HB 2320 is in the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee where it is scheduled an executive session on Tuesday, January 28 at 9 AM.

SB 6356 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session. 

Action:  Contact your representatives on the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee and let them know that you support HB 2320 and request that they pass it out of committee.

Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and ask that they schedule SB 6356 for a public hearing and executive session and vote it out of committee.

Model Sexual Assault Protocols

SB 6158 Concerning model sexual assault protocols for hospitals and clinics.
SUPPORT
SB 6158 establishes a sexual assault coordinated community task force within the attorney general’s office to develop model protocols ensuring that adult or minor sexual assault victims receive a coordinated community response when presenting for care at any hospital or clinic following a sexual assault. The task force is to report it its findings and recommendation to the legislature and governor by December 1^st of each year with the task force expiring on Dec 31, 2022.

Status:  SB 6158 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full senate.

Action:  Contact your senator and request that SB 6158 pulled to the floor for a vote and passage by the full senate.

Victims of nonfatal strangulation

SB 6162 Concerning victims of nonfatal strangulation.
SUPPORT
SB 6162 finds that nonfatal strangulation is among the most dangerous acts of domestic violence and sexual assault.  While victims may show no or minimal external signs of injury, they may have life threatening injuries including traumatic brain injuries.  This bill directs the office of crime victims advocacy to develop best practices that local communities can use on a voluntary basis to create more access to forensic nurse examiners in cases of nonfatal strangulation assault including, but not limited to, partnerships to serve multiple facilities, mobile nurse examiner teams, and multidisciplinary teams to serve victims in local communities.  The bill also directs that evidence gathering costs incurred by a hospital or other emergency medical facility may not be billed or charged directly or indirectly to the victim of the assault.  Such costs are to be paid by the state.

Status: SB 6162 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session

Action:  Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 6162 and request that they pass it out of committee.

HOUSE COMMITEES

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

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

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

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

Commerce and Gaming Committee:
Strom Peterson (Chair), Drew MacEwen, Kelly Chambers, Brian Blake, Bill Jenkin, Steve Kirby, Shelley Kloba, Melanie Morgan, Brandon Vick, and Jesse Young

Consumer Protection and Business Committee:
Steve Kirby (Chair), Brandon Vick, Larry Hoff, Andrew Barkis, Brian Blake, Davin Duerr, Jeremie Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Mike Volz, Amy Walen, and Alex Ybarra

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

Environment & Energy Committee:
Joe Fitzgibbon (Chair), Debra Lekanoff (Vice Chair), Matt Shea, Mayr Dye, Matt Boehnke, Richard DeBolt, Beth Doglio, Jake Fey, Jared Mead, June Robinson, and Sharon Shewmake

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

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

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

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

Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Committee:
Zach Hudgins (Chair), Shelley Kloba (Vice Chair), Norma Smith, Matt Boehnke, Vandana Slatter, Gael Tarleton, Luanne, Van Werven, and Sharon Wylie

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

Local Government Committee:
Gerry Pollet (Chair), Davina Duerr (Vice Chair), Vicki Kraft, Dan Griffey, Sherry Appleton, Keith Goehner, and Tana Senn

Public Safety Committee:
Roger Goodman (Chair), Lauren Davis (Vice Chair), Sherry Appleton (2^nd Vice Chair), Brad Klippert, Robert Sutherland, Jenny Graham, Dan Griffey, John Lovick, Tina Orwall, Mike Pellicciotti, and Eric Pettigrew

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

Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee:
Brian Blake (Chair), Sharon Shewmake (Vice Chair), Bruce Chandler, Tom Dent, Mike Chapma, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Joel Kretz, Debra Lekanoff, Ed Orcutt, Erick Pettigrew, Bill Ramos, Joe Schmick, Larry Springer, and Jim Walsh

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

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

SENATE COMMITEES

Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee:
Kevin Van De Wege (Chair), Jesse Salomon (Vice Chair), Judy Warnick, Jim Honeyford, John McCoy, Christine Rolfes, and Shelly Short

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

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

Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee:
Reuven Carlyle (Chair), Liz Lovelett (Vice Chair), Doug Ericksen, Phil Fortunado, Sharon Brown, Mona Das, Steve Hobbs, Marko Liias, John McCoy, Joe Nguyen, Ann Rivers, Tim Sheldon, Shelly Short, Derek Stanford, and Lisa Wellman

Financial Institutions, Economic Development and Trade Committee:
Mark Mullet (Chair), Bob Hasegawa (Vice Chair), Lynda Wilson, John Braun, Mona Das, Doug Ericksen, and Steve Hobbs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local Government Committee:
Dean Takko (Chair), Jesse Salomon (Vice Chair), Shelly Short, Jim Honeyford, Sam Hunt, and Liz Lovelett

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

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

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

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

Hint:  You can view bills by going to the following website and plug in the bill number for which you want to view the history and status:
http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/