The 2019 Legislative Session began on Monday, January 14, 2019. We have passed the first cutoff date which required bills to pass out of their original policy committee assignments. Any bills that did not pass out of their policy committees are now dead.
This Friday, March 1 is the 2nd cutoff date and requires bills that are in their original Fiscal Committees (House Appropriations, House Budget, House Finance, House Transportation, Senate Ways and Means, and Senate Transportation) pass out to the Rules Committee for the bills to be considered in their house of origin.
The future critical dates for the passage of bills are listed below:
Wednesday – March 13: Last day to consider (pass) bills in house of origin (5 p.m.)
Wednesday – April 3: Cutoff Date for Opposite House Bills to Pass Out of Policy Committees
Tuesday – April 9: Cutoff Date for Opposite House Bills to Pass Out of Fiscal Committees
Wednesday – April 17: 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).
Sunday – April 28: Last Day for the Regular Session
For a full explanation of how a bill becomes law click here.
You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1 800-562-6000. You can also contact them by e-mail using this format: firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. A complete list of email addresses for all legislators can be found at https://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/ If you need to look up your legislators, use the following link to find them: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/.
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
Initiative 1000
Initiative 1000 – Washington State diversity, equity and exclusion act
SUPPORT
Initiative 1000 redefines Affirmative Action to provide equal opportunity in Education, Employment and Contracting (Entrepreneurship) for the following groups:
- Women
- Veterans
- Persons with Disabilities
- People of Color;
Eliminates quotas and preferential treatment from Affirmative Action;
Expands Affirmative Action to include all Honorably discharged Veterans;
Protects Washington’s colleges & universities from federal penalties should they utilize race as a factor in their student admissions programs;
Expands the term, “sexual orientation” to all state anti-discrimination laws; and
Creates Washington State’s 1st Governors Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Status: I-1000 has been assigned to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing. It has yet to be assigned to a committee in the senate.
Action: Let your representatives and senators know that you support Initiative 1000 and ask that it be passed out of the legislature as written.
Prepaid Postage for All Election Ballots
HB 1209 Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots.
SB 5063 Providing prepaid postage for all election ballots.
SUPPORT
HB 1209 and SB 5063 required prepaid postage on return envelopes for all elections, with county costs for the postage to be reimbursed by the state.
Status: HB 1209 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5063 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees and ask for their support to pass HB 1209 and SB 5063 out of their respective committees by this Friday’s cutoff.
Native American Voting Rights
HB 1339 Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington
SB 5079 Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington
SUPPORT
HB 1339 and SB 5079 allow for non-traditional addresses when a traditional address has not been assigned or affixed to a voter’s residence or when a voter resides on an Indian reservation or Indian lands. These bills also permit the use of tribal identification for electronic voter registration the Secretary of State can obtain a copy of the applicant’s signature. They also authorize tribes to request ballot drop boxes on reservations and designation of state facilities on reservations as voter registration sites, with legal enforcement for election officials to comply.
Status: HB 1339 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5079 in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
Action: Contact your representatives and ask for their support and YES vote on SB 5079 and enact it into law.
Health Care Employees
HB 1155 Concerning meal and rest breaks and mandatory overtime for certain health care employees.
SB 5190 Concerning meal and rest breaks and mandatory overtime for certain health care employees.
SUPPORT
HB 1155 and SB 5190 addresses meals and rest periods for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, surgical technologists, diagnostic radiologic technologists, cardiovascular invasive specialists, respiratory care practitioners, and certified nursing assistants. The bills prohibit an employer from: (1) Using prescheduled on call time to fill chronic or foreseeable staff shortages; and (2) Scheduling nonemergency procedures that would require overtime.
Status: HB 1155 is eligible for an executive session in the House Appropriations Committee.
SB 5190 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees and let them know you support HB 1155 and SB 5190 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of their respective committees by this Friday’s cutoff.
LGBT Coordinator
HB 1650 Promoting access to earned benefits and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender veterans.
SUPPORT
HB 1650 establishes the position of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender coordinator within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This position would be responsible for promotion of and providing assistance to LGBTQ veterans to benefits and services including in applying for, and in appealing any denial of, federal and state veterans’ benefits and aid that such veterans, and the spouses and dependents of such veterans may be entitled.
Status: HB 1650 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session
Action: Contact your representative on the House Appropriations Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1650 and pass it out of committee by this Friday’s deadline.
State Office of Equity
HB 1783 Creating the Washington state office of equity.
SB 5776 Creating the Washington state office of equity.
SUPPORT
HB 1783 and SB 5776 establish 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.
Status: HB 1783 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5776 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriation Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1783 to pass it out of committee by this Friday’s deadline.
Immigrants
HB 1815 Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.
SB 5497 Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.
SUPPORT
HB 1815 and SB 5497 establish a state wide workgroup to develop strategies with private sector businesses, labor and immigrant advocacy groups to support current and future industries across the state.
The attorney general’s office is to develop model policies for limiting immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law at public schools, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, courthouses, and shelters to assure that they remain safe and accessible to all WA residents regardless of immigration status. These entities must then adopt necessary changes to their policies to be consistent with the model policy. If they do not adopt these changes the agency must state why and provide a copy of their policy to the attorney general. All other organizations that provide services related to physical or mental health and wellness, education, or access to justice, are encouraged to adopt the model policy.
State agencies must review their confidentiality policies and identify any changes necessary to ensure that personal information collected on individuals is limited to that necessary to perform agency duties and is not used or disclosed for other purposes. Policies must clearly state that public employees may not condition services or request information or proof regarding a person’s immigration or citizenship status, or place of birth, except as required by law. The policies must also ensure that public services are available to, and public employees shall serve, all Washington residents without regard to immigration or citizenship status.
Status: HB 1815 is in the House Appropriations Committee where is it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.
SB 5497 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where is it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1815 and SB 5497 in their respective committees by this Friday’s cutoff.
LGBTQ Commission
SB 5356 Establishing the Washington state LGBTQ commission.
SUPPORT
SB 5356 establishes the Washington State LGBTQ Commission. The commission would have 15 members appointed by the governor and would be responsible for monitoring and advocating for legislation affecting LGBTQ people, assess programs and policies affecting LGBTQ people, coordinate with minority commissions, women’s commission and human rights commission to address issues of mutual concern and work as a liaison between the public and private sectors to eliminate barriers to economic and health equity for LGBTQ people
Status: SB 5356 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where is it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on SB 5356 by this Friday’s cutoff.
Voters’ Pamphlets
HB 1482 Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
SB 5499 Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
SUPPORT
HB 1482 and SB 5499 modify the current state law to require that the secretary of state print and distribute a voters’ pamphlet for the primary in every even-numbered year and for the general election every year.
Status: HB 1482 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5499 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where is it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators and members on the Senate Ways and Means Committees and let them know that you support SB 5499 and ask that they vote YES and pass it out of committee by this Friday’s cutoff.
Transportation Funding and Tribes
HB 1584 Restricting the availability of state funds to regional transportation planning organizations that do not provide a reasonable opportunity for voting membership to certain federally recognized tribes.
SB 5778 Restricting the availability of state funds to regional transportation planning organizations that do not provide a reasonable opportunity for voting membership to certain federally recognized tribes.
SUPPORT
HB 1584 and SB 5778 set a requirement for regional transportation planning organizations to be eligible for state funds that they make reasonable opportunity for voting membership for federally recognized tribes that hold a reservation or trust lands within their planning area of the organization.
Status: HB 1584 is in the House Transportation Committee where it is scheduled for an executive session on Thursday, February 27 at 1:30 PM.
SB 5778 is in the Senate Transportation Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House and Senate Transportation Committees and let them know that you support HB 1584 and SB 5778 and that they be voted out of their committee by this Friday’s cutoff.
Disclosure of Ballot Images
HB 1823 Concerning disclosure of electronic ballot images.
SUPPORT
HB 1823 allows for an identical digital image to be taken of a paper ballot or ballot card. Once the time for recounts are completed and when there are no pending recounts these cast vote records and ballot images are made available for public inspection with exceptions including 1) less than 10 instances of a specific ballot design, 2) when there is personally identifiable information unless this information is redacted or by court order finding that a voter’s identity would not be violated. These records are not to be made available for copying.
Status: HB 1823 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Child Marriage
HB 1883 Eliminating child marriage.
SUPPORT
HB 1883 establishes the legal age of marriage in WA State as age 18.
Status: HB 1823 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Voter Discrimination
HB 1886 Concerning protections for persons experiencing voter discrimination.
SUPPORT
HB 1886 establishes a means to file voter discrimination charges initially with the Attorney General’s office for an investigation and if reasonable cause is found for the attorney general office to eliminate the discriminatory act by informal means. If it cannot be resolved by informal means the Attorney General may bring a civil action in the county where the alleged discriminatory act occurred or in Thurston County. A claimant may also file a complaint in the superior court where the individual resides, where the alleged discriminatory act occurred or in Thurston County after exhausting the administrative remedies associated with the filing with the Attorney General’s office.
Status: HB 1886 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Equity and Cultural Competency in Public Schools
HB 1914 Providing training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system.
SUPPORT
HB 1914 establishes the Center for Equity and Cultural Competency within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The center is responsible for developing and implementing programs and training to promote equity, diversity and inclusion, increase cultural sensitivity and competence of school administrators, personnel, students and their families and develop and maintain positive school climates.
Status: HB 1914 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Felons Voting Rights
HB 1924 Concerning the voting rights of persons convicted of a felony offense.
SUPPORT
HB 1924 changes the voting rights law to automatically restore a felon’s voting rights as long as the defendant is not in custody of the department of corrections. It states that a person serving a term of community custody is not considered to be in custody of the department of corrections unless the person is returned confinement for a violation of community custody.
Status: HB 1924 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
Action: Contact your representatives and ask for a YES vote on HB 1924 when it comes to the floor.
Social Work Student Loan Repayment Program
HB 2002 Creating the social work professional loan repayment program.
SUPPORT
HB 2002 establishes a student loan repayment program for licensed social workers and individuals who have at least a Bachelor of Social Work and work for the WA state department of children youth and families. Social workers employed by the department of children, youth, and families are eligible to participate in the program two years after commencing their employment as a social worker for the agency. A maximum lifetime award of $50,000 is allowed for up to a maximum of 10 consecutive years until the loan is repaid. If the individual terminates employment with DCYF, then eligibility is discontinued.
Status: HB 2002 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Ballot Drop Boxes
SB 5779 Concerning ballot drop box placement requirements
WATCH
SB 5779 changes the requirements for ballot drop box locations from a minimum of one ballot drop box per fifteen thousand registered voters to one drop box per twenty thousand registered voters in the county.
Status: SB 5779 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Economic Equity and Support for Low Income Individuals and Families
Initiative 976 – Vehicle Fees and Taxes
Initiative 976 Limiting state and local taxes, fees, and other charges relating to vehicles.
OPPOSE
I 976 is Tim Eyman’s initiative. The “$30 Tabs Initiative” would establish a regressive license tab fee system because cars and light trucks of all values would be taxed the same. Additionally, it would harm Sound Transit by preventing it from obtaining the amount of revenue estimated, relied upon and approved by the voters in 2016 in the measure called Sound Transit 3, and leave Sound Transit without the anticipated revenues to cover their bond costs.
Status: Initiative 976 has been referred to the House and Senate Transportation Committees where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact representative Jake Fey and Steve Hobbs the chairs of the of the House and Senate Transportation Committees and let them know that you do not support Initiative 976 and request that it NOT BE SCHEDULED for a public hearing or executive session.
Feminine Hygiene Sales Tax Exemption
HB 1053 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.
SB 5206 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.
SUPPORT
HB 1053 and SB 5206 provide a sales and use tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.
Status: HB 1053 is in the House Finance Committee where it is scheduled for an executive hearing on Wednesday, February 27 at 8 AM.
SB 5206 has been referred to 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
Finance Committee ask for their support and a YES vote for HB 1053 to pass
it out of committee this week.
Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their
support and a YES vote on SB
5206 to pass it out of committee this week.
Diaper Sales and Use Tax Exemption
HB 1054 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for diapers.
SB 5301 Providing a sales and use tax exemption for diapers.
SUPPORT
HB 1054 and SB 5301 provide a sales and use tax exemption for diapers for both adults and infants.
Status: HB 1054 is in the House Finance Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5301 has been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House
Finance Committee and ask that HB 1054 be scheduled for a public hearing and
for their support and a YES vote for HB
1054.
Contact your senator on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask that SB
5301 be scheduled for a public hearing and for their support and a YES vote
for this bill.
Child Support Pass-through Payments
HB 1136 Implementing child support pass-through payments.
SB 5144 Implementing child support pass-through payments.
SUPPORT
HB 1136 and SB 5144 require the Department of Social and Health Services to pass through a portion of child support collections for families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allows states to pass through up to $100 per month of collected child support to TANF families with one child and up to $200 per month of collected child support to TANF families with two or more children without having to reimburse the federal government for its share of the child support collected. This is known as the child support pass through. States that opt to implement the child support pass through must disregard the child support collection paid to the family in determining the family’s cash TANF benefit. Washington implemented child support pass-through payments in October 2008 but suspended the child support pass-through payments effective May 1, 2011.
Status: HB 1136 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it can be scheduled 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 executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees ask for their support and a YES vote in their respective committees on HB 1136 and SB 5144 by this Friday’s cutoff.
Affordable Housing and Homelessness Projects
HB 1219 Providing cities and counties authority to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects.
SB 5195 Providing cities and counties authority to use real estate excise taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects.
SUPPORT
HB 1219 and SB 5195 authorize cities and counties who are required to plan or who are planning under the Growth Management Act to use of real estate excise tax revenue to support affordable housing and homelessness projects for the planning, acquisition, reconstruction, repair, replacement, rehabilitation or improvement of facilities.
Status: HB 1219 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
SB 5195 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact your representatives and senator and ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1219 and SB 5195 in their respective houses.
SB 5358 Concerning affordable housing development on religious organization property
SUPPORT
SB 5358 requires cities and counties to allow for increased density housing to help meet local affordable housing development of single-family and multi-family residences located on property owned or controlled by a religious organization.
Status: SB 5358 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact your senators and ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5358.
TANF and WorkFirst programs
HB 1268 Updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, reducing sanctions, and expanding reasons for time limit extensions in the temporary assistance for needy families and WorkFirst programs.
SUPPORT
HB 1268 is a comprehensive bill that updates the standard of need for families receiving TANF and WorkFirst benefits. It revises outcome measures and the data collect and requires periodic cost of living updates to the need standard. It also expand the list of time limit exemptions for hardship reasons for recipients of TANF and WorkFirst programs. improves housing stability for people with disabilities and seniors by amending eligibility for the essential needs and housing support and the aged, blind, or disabled assistance programs.
Status: HB 1268 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
HB 1603 Revising economic assistance programs by updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, and reducing barriers to participation.
SB 5684 Revising economic assistance programs by updating standards of need, revising outcome measures and data collected, and reducing barriers to participation.
SUPPORT
HB 1603 and SB 5684 do the following:
- Require, rather than allow, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to exempt Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients from the five-year time limit due to hardship or family
violence.
- Remove a provision allowing DSHS to limit benefits for new state residents to the benefit level the recipient received in their former state of residence if that rate was lower.
- Remove the authority for DSHS to permanently disqualify households for noncompliance with WorkFirst requirements.
- Allow, rather than require, DSHS to reduce a family’s TANF grant due to non-compliance and removes the option to terminate the grant.
- Add outcome measures for use in evaluating the WorkFirst program, including data for participants who exit due to increased income, employment, at the participant’s request, or for other reasons.
- Prohibit DSHS from requiring TANF applicants to attend an orientation as a condition of eligibility.
- Allow DSHS to incorporate orientation information into the recipient assessment.
- Require DSHS to revise the comprehensive study of living costs that the standard of need for TANF is based upon.
- Require DSHS to base the standards for the Pregnant Women Assistance and the State Family Assistance programs on the revised comprehensive study.
- Specifies the act applies prospectively only and not retroactively.
Status: HB 1603 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5684 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, February 26 at 1:30 PM
Action: Contact your representatives and senators on the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees and ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1603 and SB 5684 and pass it out of their respective committees by this Friday’s cutoff.
HB 1681 Funding the working families tax exemption by imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation.
SUPPORT
HB 1681 institutes a surcharge on publicly traded companies where their chief executive officer pay ratio is at least fifty to one to provide funding for the working families tax exemption.
Status: HB 1681 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Housing Trust Fund
HB 1581 Funding local housing trust fund programs in certain cities.
SUPPORT
HB 1581 establishes funding for local housing trust fund programs. This bill authorizes cities to create local housing trust funds for affordable housing. It distributes the state portion of the sales and use tax imposed on construction activities to a qualifying city’s local housing trust fund, up to an annual maximum of $5 million per city.
Status: HB 1581 has passed out of the House Housing, Community Development, and Veterans Committee and is now 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 ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1581 by this Friday’s cutoff.
Wage and Salary Information
HB 1696 Concerning wage and salary information.
SUPPORT
HB 1696 prohibits and employer from: (1) Seeking the wage or salary history of an applicant from the applicant or a current or former employer; or (2) Requiring that an applicant’s wage or salary history meet certain criteria. The employer may confirm an applicant’s wage or salary history if the applicant voluntarily discloses it OR after the employer has negotiated and made an offer of employment with compensation to the applicant. This bill also institutes a complaint process for violations of this legislation and allows the dept of labor and industries to order an employer to pay actual damages or $5000 whichever is greater if violations are found.
Status: HB 1696 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and let them know that you support HB 1696 and request a YES vote to pass it out of committee by this Friday’s cutoff.
SB 5090 Addressing wage and salary information.
SUPPORT
SB 5090 prohibits an employer from: (1) Seeking the wage or salary history of an applicant from the applicant or a current or former employer; or (2) Requiring that an applicant’s prior wage or salary history meet certain criteria.
Status: SB 5090 is in the Senate Rules Committee where can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate
Action: Contact your senators ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5090 when it comes to the floor for a vote.
Homeless Persons Pilot Program
SB 5261 Creating a pilot program for certain cities to hire homeless persons for local beautification projects.
SUPPORT
SB 5261 requires the department of commerce to establish a pilot program for cities to provide job opportunities to, and hire persons experiencing homelessness for, the purposes of local beautification projects. Requires the hired homeless people to be paid at least the local minimum wage and be connected with organizations that provide wraparound housing services. The pilot expires on July 1, 2022 with the final report due July 1, 2023.
Status: SB 5261 is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee ask for their support and a YES vote on SB 5261 to pass it out of committee by this Friday’s cutoff.
Universal Worker Protection Act
SB 5690 Creating the universal worker protection act.
SUPPORT
SB 5690 creates the Employee Fair Classification Act (EFCA). Under the EFCA, the following actions by employers or other persons are prohibited:
- Willfully misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor;
- Charging a misclassified employee a fee or making unlawful deductions from compensation;
- Requiring or requesting an employee make an agreement or sign a document that results in misclassification;
- Forming, assisting in, or inducing the formation of a business entity, or paying or collecting a fee for the use of a business entity, for the purposes of facilitating or evading detection of a violation of the EFCA; and
- For pay, conspire with, aid and abet, assist, or advise an employer with the intent of
- Violating the EFCA.
Status: SB 5690 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Consumer Rights
Senior Citizen and Veterans Property Taxes
HB 1044 Concerning senior citizen property taxes.
SUPPORT
HB 1044 is a bill that deals with the rising costs of property taxes in Washington State for seniors with moderate to low incomes. The current law assists seniors who as a couple earn $40,000 or less in combined disposable income, but the new law will also allow seniors a tax break if their income threshold is 35% to 55% of the county median family income. This new bill proposes the following:
Income thresholds for the senior citizen, individuals with disabilities, and veteran’s property tax exemptions are modified. Income ceilings based on a percentage of county median family income are added to each threshold category as follows:
- Income Threshold one is added to the $40,000 income threshold. Income Threshold one is defined as 55% of county median family income. A person qualifies if their combined disposable income is less than $40,000 or Income Threshold one, whichever is greater;
- Income Threshold two is added to the $35,000 income threshold. Income Threshold two is defined as 44% of county median family income. A person qualifies if their combined disposable income is between $30,001 and $35,000 or is less than Income Threshold two, whichever is greater; and
- Income Threshold three is added to the $30,000 income threshold. Income Threshold three is defined as 33% of county median family income. A person qualifies if their combined disposable income is less than $30,000 or Income Threshold three, whichever is greater.
The bill applies to taxes levied in 2020 and thereafter.
Status: HB 1044 is in the House Finance Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Finance Committee and ask them to support with HB 1044 with a YES vote and vote it out of committee.
HB 1181 Providing property tax relief for senior citizens and qualifying veterans.
SB 5160 Concerning property tax exemptions for service-connected disabled veterans and senior citizens.
SUPPORT
HB 1181 and SB 5160 seeks to adjust the income qualification thresholds for the exemption program and are modified beginning with taxes levied for collection in calendar year 2020, and thereafter, as follows:
- Income Threshold 1 replaces the $30,000 income threshold—Income Threshold 1 is defined as equal to the greater of Income Threshold 1 for the previous year or 45 percent of the county median household income (CMI);
- Income Threshold 2 replaces the $35,000 income threshold—Income Threshold 2 is defined as equal to the greater of Income Threshold 2 for the previous year or 55 percent of CMI; and
- Income Threshold 3 replaces the $40,000 income threshold—Income Threshold 3 is defined as equal to the greater of Income Threshold 3 for the previous year or 65 percent of CMI. The income threshold for the deferral program is defined as equal to the greater of the income threshold for the previous year or 75 percent of CMI, replacing the $45,000 income threshold.
The income threshold for the deferral program is defined as equal to the greater of the income threshold for the previous year or 75 percent of CMI, replacing the $45,000 income threshold. Senate Bill Report – 3 – SB 5160 CMI is defined as median household income estimates for Washington by county of the legal address of the principal place of residence, as published by the Office of Financial Management (OFM).
A claimant may, among other stated exceptions, be confined to the home of a relative for the purpose of long-term care without disqualification to the property tax exemption program.
The term “principal place of residence” is defined to mean a residence occupied for more than nine months each calendar year.
The bill includes language that states the tax preference is exempt from the tax preference performance statement and ten-year expiration date requirements for new tax preferences because the Legislature intends for the preference in this act to be permanent.
The substitute versions of these bills added language to add an heir to those who can keep the deferral going if they independently qualify for the program and have been living in the house.
Status: HB 1181 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
SB 5160 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled an executive session on Tuesday, February 26 at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your and ask them to support HB 1181 with a YES vote when it comes to the floor.
Contact your senator and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask them to support SB 5160 and vote it out of committee.
Out of Network Health Care Services
HB 1065 Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services.
SB 5031 Protecting consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services.
SUPPORT
HB 1065 and SB 5031 establishes the balance billing protection act. They find that consumers receive surprise bills or balance bills for services provided at out-of-network facilities or by out-of-network health care providers at in-network facilities. HB 1065 and SB 5031 declare an intent to: (1) Ban balance billing of consumers enrolled in fully insured, regulated insurance plans and plans offered to public employees under state health care authority provisions for certain services; (2) Provide self-funded group health plans with an option to elect to be subject to the provisions of this act; and (3) Remove consumers from balance billing disputes and require that out-of-network providers and carriers negotiate out-of-network payments in good faith under the terms of this act.
Status: HB 1065 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
SB 5031 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Contact your representatives and ask them to support HB 1065 with a YES vote when it comes to the floor for a vote.
Debt Collection
HB 1066 Requiring debt collection complaints to be filed prior to service of summons and complaint.
SB 5034 Requiring debt collection complaints to be filed prior to service of summons and complaint.
SUPPORT
Requires that debt collection complaints be filed before service of the summons and complaint on defendants to ensure that defendants: (1) Understand that it is an existing court case; (2) Are informed of the case number; and (3) Receive adequate notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond and be heard to avoid default judgment. Prohibits a licensee or employee of a licensee from serving a debtor with a summons and complaint unless the summons and complaint have been filed with the court and bear the case number assigned by the court.
Status: HB 1066 is in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for an executive hearing.
SB 5034 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a hearing and vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact your senator and members of the
Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you support HB
1066 and request that they pass it out of committee.
Contact the Senate
Rules Committee
and your senator and ask that SB
5034 be scheduled for a vote by the full House and for a YES vote on SB
5034
Protecting Taxpayers from Home Foreclosure
HB 1105 Protecting taxpayers from home foreclosure.
SUPPORT
HB 1105 is a bill that seeks to help consumers avoid foreclosure due to a lapse in the payment of state property taxes. The bill creates a counselor referral hotline account and a housing counseling activities account. The objective of the bill is to provide greater notice to taxpayers who are delinquent and help provide a mechanism to cure the delinquency through housing counselor assistance and/or through a payment plan agreement with taxing authorities. With the problem of homelessness and the rising property taxes in our state we must do everything we can to ensure that those that can afford to stay in their house are given the opportunity to do so with better notice and assistance.
Status: HB 1105 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Rules Committee and ask them to pull HB 1105 to the floor and to support this bill with a YES vote on when it comes to the floor for a vote.
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: HB 1527 is eligible for an executive session in the House Finance Committee and is awaiting budget negotiations.
SB 5810 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session. Budget negotiations are in process. Note: Sen. Saldaña introduced SB 5961 which enacts a capital gains tax which will notes that a portion of this tax must be used for the working families tax credit.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means Committees ask for their support and a YES vote on HB 1527 and SB 5810 and pass them out of their respective committees by this Friday’s cutoff.
HB 1681 Funding the working families tax exemption by imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation.
SUPPORT
HB 1681 institutes a surcharge on publicly traded companies where their chief executive officer pay ratio is at least fifty to one to provide funding for the working families tax exemption.
Status: HB 1681 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Medical Bill Debt Collection Reform
HB 1531 Reforming the Rules for Medical Debt Collection.
SB 5530 Reforming the Rules for Medical Debt Collection
SUPPORT
HB 1531 and SB 5530 are bills to ensure that people are not penalized for seeking medical care when they need it. Medical billing is not transparent, and people often don’t know how much they owe until after they have already received medical care. This is a problem for those with insurance and those without it. This bill will address the following problems with our current system:
- Prohibits Pre-Judgment interest
- Reduces Post Judgment interest
- Mandates that debt collectors provide people with information about Charity Care
- Requires Debt collectors to cease collections if a Charity Care Application is Pending
- Eliminates bench warrants for medical debt
- Prohibits the assignment and sale of debt for 120 days after the first billing; and
- Prohibits debt collectors from making adverse credit reports for 180 days post assignment.
Status: HB 1531 is in the House Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
SB 5530 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Contact Representatives Kloba and Stanford and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1531 when the bill comes to the floor for a vote.
Zombie Debt Collection
HB 1730 Stopping the Practice of Time-Barred Debt Collection.
SUPPORT
HB 1730 is a bill to stop the practice of debt collection once the statute of limitations has passed. Under the current law, debt collectors can still contact you by phone and by mail asking you to pay on a debt that has already passed the statute of limitations. This practice is often known as zombie debt collection because a consumer can unknowingly restart the clock on the statute of limitations by making a payment and restart their legal liability on the debt. The objective of this bill is to stop this practice. Under this bill, any payment of principal or interest made after the limitations period has expired shall not revive or extend the limitations period. This bill will hopefully stop a very misleading practice of debt collectors.
Status: HB 1730 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
Action: Contact your representatives and ask them to support this bill with a YES vote on HB 1730 when it comes to the floor.
Increasing Jurisdictional Amounts in Small Claims Court
SB 5621 – Increasing the jurisdictional amount for small claims courts.
Support
SB 5621 raises the jurisdiction of small claims court from $5,000 to $10,000 for individual persons. With the amendment as the bill passed out of committee the amount that businesses can file in small claims court remains at $5000.
Status: SB 5621 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact Senator Palumbo and let him know that you support SB 5621 and ask that he vote YES on this bill.
Reproductive Rights and Health Care
Medicaid Services Access
HB 1186 Continuing access to Medicaid services.
SUPPORT
HB 1186 requires medical assistance to be provided for pregnant women who are state residents and whose family income at the time of application is no greater than one hundred-ninety-three percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services. Requires the state health care authority to take such actions as may be necessary to assure the receipt of federal financial participation under the medical assistance program and any other federal funding sources that are currently available or may become available in the future.
Status: HB 1186 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask that HB 1186 be scheduled for a public hearing and voted out of committee.
Healthcare Provider Misconduct Notice
HB 1198 Requiring health care providers sanctioned for sexual misconduct to notify patients.
SUPPORT
HB 1198 requires a health care provider
who is subject to the uniform disciplinary act and has been sanctioned by a
disciplining authority for sexual misconduct to provide a disclosure to all
patients before a patient’s first visit with the licensee following the
sanction.
Status: HB 1198 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 1198 and ask that they vote YES on this bill.
Dental Coverage for Pacific Islander
HB 1218 Concerning dental coverage for Pacific Islanders residing in Washington.
SB 5274 Concerning dental coverage for
Pacific Islanders residing in Washington.
SUPPORT
HB 1218 and SB 5274 Establish a dental services
program that provides dental coverage to income-eligible members of Compact of
Free Association (COFA) nations and the United States with no premium or cost-sharing
payment requirements. Defines “COFA citizen” as a person who is a
citizen of: (1) The Republic of the Marshall Islands; (2) The Federated States
of Micronesia; or (3) The Republic of Palau.
This would expand dental coverage to the COFA citizens who qualify for
medical assistance. Currently other
income eligible Washington residents who qualify for medical assistance also
qualify for dental assistance.
Status: HB 1218 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee by Friday, Feb 22.
SB 5274 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your senator and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5274 and request that it be voted out of committee.
Indian Health Improvement Act
HB 1365 Creating the Washington Indian health improvement act.
SB 5415 Creating the Washington Indian health improvement act.
SUPPORT
HB 1365 and SB 5415 establishes the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act to establish the Indian health improvement account to provide incentives to tribes to assume the administrative burdens created by the federal requirements for the state shift health care costs to the federal government. It establishes an advisory committee made up of primarily tribal representatives and local urban Indian health organizations whose responsibilities include a. adopting the Indian health advisory plan, b. facilitating better understanding of health disparities and historical trauma and tribal sovereignty and self-governance, c. providing oversight of contracting and service performance contracts to address impacts on services to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and d. providing oversight of the Indian Health reinvestment account. The goal of the Washington Indian Health Improvement Act is to raise the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives and improve delivery of services by increasing access to care, strengthening continuity of care, and improving population health through investment in capacity and infrastructure.
Status: HB 1365 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5415 is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for an executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5415 and ask for a YES vote to pass it out of committee.
Maternal Mortality
HB 1369 Concerning maternal mortality reviews
SB 5425 Concerning maternal mortality reviews
SUPPORT
HB 1369 and SB 5425 update the state’s maternal mortality review which conducts comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of maternal of women while pregnant or within one year of the end of the pregnancy. It requires that at least one member of the panel be a tribal representative and expands the list of categories of persons who can serve on the panel. It also expands the list of agencies to include the new Department of Children, Youth and Families and its licensees and providers who may be requested to provide records for the morality review panel. The bill will also allow the Department of Health with a signed written data sharing agreement to share information with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The requirements for data sharing agreement prohibit identifying information for the deceased individuals and their families from being released and any attempts of the recipient from attempting to identify these individuals.
Status: HB 1369 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5425 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday February 26 at 1:30 PM.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know that you support SB 5425 and request a YES vote in their committee.
Comprehensive Sex Education
HB 1407 Concerning comprehensive sexual health education.
SB 5395 Concerning comprehensive sexual
health education.
SUPPORT
HB
1407 and SB 5395 expand the requirements for every public school to provide
comprehensive sexual health education that is an integral part of the
curriculum. The curriculum in addition
to being medically and scientifically accurate, must also be evidence based and
encourages healthy relationships that are based on mutual respect and affection
and are free from violence, coercion and intimidation. The curriculum also must teach how to
identify and respond to behaviors that contribute to sexual violence and
emphasize the importance of affirmative consent before sexual activity.
Status: HB 1407 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5395 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 5395 and request a YES vote to pass SB 5395.
Nonresident Pharmacies
HB 1412 Concerning nonresident pharmacies.
SB 5459 Concerning nonresident
pharmacies.
SUPPORT
HB 1412
and SB 5459 amend the state’s statute regarding pharmacies located in other
states and Canada and clarifies what types of documentation is necessary for licensure
by the department of health.
Status: HB 1412 is in the Rules Committee where it can be schedules for a vote by the full House.
SB 5459 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Contact your representatives to let them know you support HB 1412 and request a YES vote on HB 1412.
SB 5184 Concerning prescription coverage
and the use of nonresident pharmacies.
SUPPORT
SB
5184 Requires health carriers to include in any contract with a pharmacy
benefit manager (PBM) a requirement that the PBM receive enrollee authorization
prior to filling prescriptions through a nonresident pharmacy. Requires health
plans and nonresident pharmacies to provide notices to health plan enrollees
about the use of nonresident pharmacies.
Status: SB 5184 is in the Senate 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 5184 and request that they vote YES on SB 5184
Mental Health Parity
HB 1447 Concerning mental health parity.
SUPPORT
HB
1447 amends the requirements for health
care coverage to require that health benefit plans issued or renewed on or
after January 1, 2020 cover medically necessary outpatient and inpatient
treatment services for mental disorders covered by the diagnostic categories
describe in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published
by the American Psychiatric Association.
Status: HB 1447 is DEAD as it failed to pass out of its policy committee.
Standardized Health Care Plans
HB 1523 Increasing the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market.
SB 5526 Increasing the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market.
SUPPORT
HB 1523 and SB 5526 establish regulations for insurance plans in the exchange
such as reducing deductibles, making more services available before the
deductible, provide predictable cost sharing, reducing barriers to maintaining
and improving health, and encouraging choice based on value while limiting
increases in health plan premium rates.
Status: HB 1523 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5526 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and let them know you support HB 1523 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session and voted out of committee this week.
Contact your senator and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 5526 and request that it be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session and voted out of committee this week.
Health Care Coverage for Young Adults
HB 1697 Concerning health coverage for young adults.
SUPPORT
HB 1697 requires the WA State Health
Care Authority to individuals who are at least 19 and no older than 26 years of
age who have income at or below 133 % of the federal poverty level, who are not
incarcerated, and not eligible for Medicaid.
This bill would allow undocumented immigrants under the age of 26 to
receive health care through WA State’s Apple Health Program.
Status: HB 1697 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Abortion Prohibition Bills
HB 1526 Enacting the Washington pain capable unborn child protection act.
OPPOSE
HB
1526 prohibits abortion except in the case of a life threatening medical
emergency (not including psychological or emotional conditions) or fetal
anomaly unless a physician has determined the post fertilization age of a
fetus.
Status: HB 1526 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Celebrate! Your advocacy and support of progressive representation killed this bill.
HB 1560 Prohibiting certain types of abortions.
OPPOSE
HB
1560 prohibits and criminalizes abortion after 11 weeks post fertilization, and
removal of a fetus by the of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or
clamps or suction to cause the “death” of and extract the fetus.
Status: HB 1560 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Celebrate! Your advocacy and support of progressive representation killed this bill.
SB 5721 Concerning the regulation of abortion facilities.
OPPOSE
SB
5721 adds restrictive regulations to facilities that provide abortions.
Status: SB 5721 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Celebrate! Your advocacy and support of progressive representation killed this bill.
Reproductive Healthcare Access for All
HB 1612 Eliminating barriers to reproductive health care for all.
SB 5602 Eliminating barriers to reproductive health care for all.
SUPPORT
Expands
reproductive health access to all people in Washington. These bills
include specific provisions that address the reproductive health care needs of
Washington’s immigrant and transgender communities. HB 1612 and SB 5602 do the following:
- Create a state funded program to cover family planning services for immigrants who would be eligible for the Take Charge federal waiver program but cannot access it because of federal restrictions. It also requires outreach and education about this program.
- Prohibit gender identity discrimination, including automatic denials based on gender identity, in all reproductive health services covered by Medicaid and private insurance plans.
- Require private insurance plans to cover additional reproductive health services, beyond those required in the Reproductive Parity Act (RPA) and the preventive services statute.
- Correct the RPA to explicitly include student health plans.
Status: HB 1612 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5602 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and an executive session.
Action: Contact your senators and members of Senate Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 5602 and ask that it be voted out of committee this week.
Universal Health Care
HB 1877 Providing a pathway to establish a universal health care system for the residents of Washington state.
SB
5822 Providing a pathway to establish a universal health care system for the
residents of Washington state.
SUPPORT
HB
1877 and SB 5822 declare that health care is a human right. These bills
direct the health care authority to convene a workgroup on establishing a
universal health care system in Washington state. The work group must consist of stakeholders,
including: 1) consumers, 2) large and small businesses with experience with
large and small group insurance and self-insured models, 3) labor, 4) health
care providers and facilities, 5)health carriers, 6)state agencies, and 6) legislators.
The work group must study and make recommendations to the Legislature on a
universal health care system, that is publicly funded and privately delivered,
including: 1) options for increasing coverage and access for uninsured and
underinsured 2) transparency measures, 3) innovations promoting quality, 4)
options for ensuring a just transition for all stakeholders, 5) options to
expand health care purchasing in collaboration with neighboring states, and 6) options
for revenue and financing mechanisms to fund the system. The report is due back
to the legislature by November 15, 2020.
Status: HB 1877 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5822 is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on SB 5822 to pass it out of committee this week.
Female Genital Mutilation
HB 2000 Prohibiting female genital mutilation.
SUPPORT
HB
2000 prohibits female genital mutilation and makes it a class B felony when
conducted on minors (under age 18). It also revises the list of acts or conduct of
licensed providers that are considered unprofessional and thus prohibited to
include performing female genital mutilation that is conducted on minors and
non-consenting adults. Female genital
mutilation is defined as circumcision, excision, or infibulation of the whole
or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris that is performed
for nonmedical reasons.
Status: HB 2000 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5257 Restricting the practice of female genital mutilation
SUPPORT
SB
5257 revises the list of acts or conduct of licensed providers that are
considered unprofessional and thus prohibited to include performing female
genital mutilation which is defined as circumcision, excision, or infibulation
of the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris that is
performed for nonmedical reasons on any: (a) Patient under the age of eighteen;
or (b) Nonconsenting patient age eighteen or older.
Status: SB 5257 is in the Senate Rules Committee where it is eligible to be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact your senators and let them know you support HB 5257 and ask that they vote YES when HB 5257 comes to the floor.
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 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 5282 and ask that they vote YES when SB 5282 comes to the floor.
Minimum Health Care Coverage
SB 5840 Requiring maintenance of minimum essential health care coverage.
SUPPORT
When
the federal government passed the tax cuts and jobs act of 2017 it repealed the
individual mandate starting 2019 that requires all Americans under 65 to have
health insurance or pay a penalty.
Maintaining essential health care coverage is an essential part of
stabilizing the health insurance market and ensuring residents of the state
have access to affordable health care.
We know that in the 1990’s Washington’s individual health care insurance
market collapsed partially as a result of revoking the state’s requirement to
maintain minimum essential coverage.
SB 5840 implements a requirement for residents of Washington state to maintain a minimum essential coverage or pay a penalty. Included are exemptions for persons under 18, persons over 64, residents of other states, individuals who were exempt under the federal law as it existed on December 15, 2017 or eligible for a hardship exemption as designated by the health exchange.
Status: SB 5840 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Violence Against Women
Sexual Assault Kit Notice
HB 1016 Concerning hospital notification of availability of sexual assault
evidence kit collection.
SUPPORT
HB 1016
requires a hospital that does not provide sexual assault evidence kit
collection or have appropriate providers available to provide the collection at
all times, to develop a plan by July 1, 2020, to assist individuals with
obtaining the collection. Requires a hospital that does not perform the
collection or have appropriate providers available to, beginning July 1, 2020:
(1) Provide notice, within two hours of a request, to an individual who
presents in the emergency department and requests a collection that the
hospital does not perform the collection or does not have appropriate providers
available; and (2) Coordinate care with the local community sexual assault
agency and assist the patient in finding a facility with an appropriate
provider available.
Status: HB 1016 has passed the House and is in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee and let them know that you support HB 1016 and request that they pass it out of committee.
Sexual Assault Protection Orders
HB 1149 Clarifying requirements to obtain a sexual assault protection order.
SUPPORT
HB 1149
finds that the state supreme court’s decision in Roake v. Delman, 189 Wn.2d 775
(2018), does not reflect the legislature’s intent regarding requirements for
obtaining a civil sexual assault protection order. The bill clarifies that a
petitioner who seeks a sexual assault protection order is not required to separately
allege or prove that the petitioner has a reasonable fear of future dangerous
acts by the respondent, in addition to alleging and proving that the petitioner
was sexually assaulted by the respondent.
Status: HB 1149 has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your senators and members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1149.
Sexual Assault Survivors
HB 1166 Supporting sexual assault survivors
SUPPORT
HB 1166
changes the composition of the joint legislative task force on sexual assault
forensic examination best practices.
Requires the task force to: (1) Develop policies and submit recommendations on the storage, retention, and destruction of unreported sexual assault kits; (2) Monitor implementation of state and federal legislative changes; (3) Collaborate with the office of the attorney general to implement reforms pursuant to federal grant requirements; and (4) Make recommendations for institutional reforms.
Provides a December 31, 2021, expiration date for the task force.
Requires the state auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the statewide sexual assault tracking system and operations of the Washington state patrol crime laboratory with respect to processing sexual assault kits.
Requires the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to designate sexual assault kits as unreported or reported.
Expands the requirements of the specialized, intensive, and integrative training for people responsible for investigating sexual assault cases involving adult victims.
Requires the Washington state patrol, when it receives a request for examination of a sexual assault kit from a law enforcement agency, to conduct the laboratory examination of the kit and enter relevant information into the combined DNA index system, within forty-five days of receipt of the request.
Requires law enforcement agencies to submit to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory requests for forensic analysis of sexual assault kits collected before July 24, 2015, and in the possession of the law enforcement agencies.
Prohibits the disposal or destruction of untested sexual assault kits.
Status: HB 1166 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1166 to pass it out of committee this week.
Statute of Limitations for Felony Sex Offences
HB 1231 Modifying the statute of limitations for certain felony sex offenses.
SUPPORT
Substitute
HB 1231 lifts the statute of limitations on the crimes of Rape in the first and
second degrees if the victim is under the age of 16; Rape of a Child in the
second and third degrees; Child Molestation in the second and third degrees;
Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the first degree; Custodial Sexual Misconduct
in the first degree; and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The statute of
limitations is extended to 20 years for Rape in the first and second degrees if
the victim is 16 years or older, and for Indecent Liberties. The statute of
limitations is extended to 10 years for the crime of Rape in the third degree.
The statute of limitations for Incest is extended to 10 years, or the victim’s
thirtieth birthday if committed against a victim under the age of 18, whichever
is later.
Status: HB 1231 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House
Action: Contact your representatives and ask for their support and YES vote on HB 1231 as passed out of committee.
Assault Weapons
HB 1286 Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
SB
5340 Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
SUPPORT
HB
2648 and SB 5340 define what constitutes an assault weapon and large capacity
magazines. It prohibits the manufacture, possession, distribution, import,
transfer, sale, purchase or transfer of any assault weapon or large capacity
magazine. A person who owns such as of
the effective date of the bill may not sell or transfer the weapon or large
capacity magazine to anyone other than a licensed gun dealer, a gun smith for
repair, or to law enforcement. This bill
exempts government agents/employees, and members of the US armed services who
are authorized as part of their jobs from the ban. Other exceptions are also
listed.
Status: HB 1286 and SB 5340 are both DEAD as they did not pass out of their policy committees.
Temporary Protection Orders
HB 1350 – Issuing temporary protection orders
SUPPORT
HB 1350 modifies which courts handle temporary protection order and transferring to the superior courts
Status: HB 1350 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
Action: Contact your representatives e and let them know that you support HB 1350 and request that they vote YES on HB 1350 when it comes to the floor.
Immunity from Prosecution for Prostitution in Some Circumstances
HB 1382 Increasing access to emergency assistance for victims by providing
immunity from prosecution for prostitution offenses in some circumstances.
SUPPORT
HB 1382
allows for persons seeking emergency assistance or seeks emergency assistance
for a victim of a violent offense, assault in the third degree, assault in the
fourth degree or rape in the third degree to not be charged with prostitution
if the evidence of the charge was obtained as a result of the need for
emergency assistance.
Status: HB 1382 has passed out of the House Public Safety Committee and is most likely being sent 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 HB 1382 and request that they vote YES when it comes to the floor.
Domestic Violence Programs
HB 1517 Concerning domestic violence.
SB
5681 Concerning domestic violence.
SUPPORT
HB
1517 and SB 5681 do the following
- Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study on domestic violence (DV) treatment programs operating under the new administrative regulatory model.
- Requires the Washington State University Department of Criminal Justice to develop a DV risk assessment tool.
- Establishes requirements for DV offenders participating in the Special Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative.
- Modifies community custody conditions for DV offenders.
- Establishes requirements for deferred prosecutions involving DV behavioral problems.
- Specifies timeframes for which DV no-contact orders entered as a condition of sentence remain in effect.
- Requires the enforcement of civil DV protection orders issued by Canadian Courts.
Substitute HB 1517 modifies the current statutory definitions pertaining to DV to distinguish between DV committed by intimate partners and family or household members. Intent language was added specifying that the legislative intent for reorganizing the definition is to facilitate data analysis rather than to substantively change DV cases.
Status: SHB 1517 is in the House Appropriations Committee and is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5681 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriation Committee and let them know that you support SHB 1517 and request that they vote it out of committee this week.
Domestic Violence Resources
HB 1533 Making information about domestic violence resources available in the
workplace.
SUPPORT
HB
1533 requires that the employment security department create a domestic
violence poster with a space for an employer to provide the name or names of
community resources regarding domestic violence. The poster is required to be posted with the
other required employment posters.
Status: HB 1533 has passed the House and is now in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee where it can be scheduled for a public hearing and executive session
Action: Contact your senators and members of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and let them know that you support HB 1533 and ask that a public hearing and executive session be scheduled.
Missing and Murdered Native American Women
HB 1713 Improving law enforcement response to missing and murdered Native
American women.
SUPPORT
HB 1713
establishes a legislative task force on missing and murdered Native American
women to monitor and improve law enforcement response to missing persons
reports for Native American women. This task force is responsible for
developing a best practices protocol, developing a tool kit for tribal and
urban Indian communities to educate
families about steps and actions they can take if a loved one is missing,
raising public awareness of the issue. representatives
on this task force include representatives from the legislature, tribal
organizations, urban Indian organizations, the bureau of Indian affairs, FBI,
and the governor’s office of Indian affairs.
The first report of this committee is due Dec 1, 2019. The task force must also develop a database
of nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that provide aid and support in
locating missing Native American women.
Status: HB 1713 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 that you support HB 1713 and request that they vote YES when it comes to the floor.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Prevention
HB 1728 Preventing the sexual harassment and sexual assault of certain isolated workers.
SB 5340 Preventing the sexual harassment and sexual assault
of certain isolated workers.
SUPPORT5258
HB
1728 and SB 5258 require
every hospitality, retail, behavioral health care, or custodial employer, or
labor contractor who employs a custodian, security guard, hotel or motel
housekeeper, or worker who spends a majority of his or her working hours
alongside two or fewer coworkers at a location that is not his or her home to:
(1) Adopt a sexual harassment policy; (2) Provide mandatory training to the
managers, supervisors, and employees; (3) Provide a list of resources for the
employees to use; and (4) Provide a panic button to each worker that spends
most of his or her working hours alongside two or fewer coworkers at a location
that is not his or her home.
Requires the department of labor and industries to publish advice and guidance for employers with fifty or fewer employees relating to the requirements mentioned above. Requires the director of the department of labor and industries to establish procedures for licensing property service contractors. Requires hotels and motels with sixty or more rooms to meet the requirements in this act by January 1, 2020.
Status: HB 1728 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
SB 5258 has passed out of the Senate and is now in the House Labor and Workplace Standard Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and let them know you support SB 5258 to protect isolated workers from sexual harassment.
HB 1756 Concerning the safety and security of adult entertainers.
SB 5724 Concerning the safety and security of adult entertainers.
SUPPORT
HB
1756 and SB 5724 require
the Dept of Labor and Industries to develop training for entertainers that
include 1) education about the rights and responsibilities of entertainers,
including working as an independent contractor; 2) reporting workplace
injuries, including sexual and physical abuse and sexual harassment; 3) risk of
human trafficking; and 4) resources for assistance. The bill also requires the entertainer to
sign an affidavit that they have received this training in order to receive or
renew an adult entertainer license. The
adult entertainment establishment must provide a panic button to each
entertainer at no cost to the entertainer.
The bill also requires the adult entertainment establishment to record
accusations regarding customer acts of violence including sexual
assault/harassment and retain this information for 5 years after the most
recent accusation. If the accusation is
made under penalty of perjury or other evidence, the customer must be
prohibited for at least 3 years after the date of the incident.
Status: HB 1756 is in the House Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full House.
SB 5724 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Action: Contact your representatives and ask for their support to pass HB 1756.
Protection Orders
HB 1786 Improving procedures and strengthening laws relating to protection
orders, no-contact orders, and restraining orders.
SUPPORT
HB 1786
requires that a court when issuing a protection order, no-contact order, or
restraining order to also issue an order prohibiting the individual from
accessing, obtaining, or possessing any firearms or other dangerous weapons if
evidence shows the individual used, displayed, or threatened to use a firearm
or other dangerous weapon. It also
requires the surrender of any concealed pistol license by the individual. It also changes the language in the law from
“intimate partner” to “protected person”.
Status: HB 1786 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 that you support HB 1786 and request that they vote YES when it comes to the floor.
Sexually violent predators’ placement and treatment
HB 1825 Concerning the placement and treatment of conditionally released sexually violent predators.
SUPPORT
HB 1825
requires that any person who is subject to restricted liberty as a sexually
violent predator has the right to an individualize discharge plan in addition
to adequate care and individualized treatment.
If a petition is presented to the court for a placement outside county
where the individual is committed the individual must provide documentation
that the residence is appropriate meeting the requirements of RCW
71.09.092. If
the department determines that the proposed residence is not an appropriate
placement the department must investigate and report on whether or not an appropriate
placement in a county other than the county proposed by the committed person is
available. If none can be identified the
report must contain an explanation as to how it came to this conclusion and
must detail all efforts to find alternative treatment providers and residential
placement options. HB 1825 adds that in the case that the sexually violent
predator was convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an offense
with a victim under the age of 18, the proposed housing cannot be within ¼ mile
of any public or private school K-12
Status: HB 1825 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
Action: Contact your representatives on the House Appropriations Committee and let them know that you support HB 1825 and request that they vote it out of committee by this Friday’s cutoff.
Sexual assault nurse examiners
HB 1942 Increasing the availability of sexual assault nurse examiner education in
rural and underserved areas.
SUPPORT
HB 1942
requires the WA State University School of Nursing to establish an educational
program to increase the availability of qualified sexual assault nurse
examiners in eastern WA. The School of
Nursing is also directed to establish a regional sexual assault nurse examiner
leader pilot program to determine educational needs in local communities,
provide recommendations to increase the number of sexual assault nurse
examiners, and develop community action plans.
The pilot program is also directed to train lead sexual assault nurse
examiners, develop support mechanisms and role requirements for the lead sexual
assault nurse examiners.
Status: HB 1942 is DEAD as it did not pass out of its policy committee.
Higher Education Sexual Violence Task Force
HB 1998 Creating a task force on sexual violence at institutions of higher education.
SUPPORT
HB 1998
establishes a joint legislative task force on Title IX protections and
compliance. The task force is directed
to
- Examine legislative, administrative, and other options to ensure that this state provides clear, consistent, and comprehensive protections for survivors that are consistent with federal law;
- Develop model procedures, policies, and guidance for institutions of higher education to implement in this state; and
- Evaluate and recommend oversight and accountability measures, including the feasibility of establishing a statewide office to implement, monitor, and ensure the consistency of campus sexual violence policies statewide.
Status: HB 1998 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 that you support HB 1998 and request that they vote YES when it comes to the floor.
High Capacity Magazines
SB 5062 Concerning high capacity magazines.
SUPPORT
SB
5062 prohibits a person from
manufacturing, possessing, distributing, importing, transferring, selling,
offering to sell, or purchasing a large capacity magazine. Defines “large
capacity magazine” as an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to
accept more than ten rounds of ammunition.
Status: SB 5062 is currently in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full senate.
Action: Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5062 and ask that they vote YES.
Trafficking Victims
HB 1971 Providing public assistance to certain victims of human trafficking.
SB 5164 Providing public assistance to certain victims of human trafficking.
SUPPORT
HB
1971 and SB 5164 require the department of social and health services, for
determining eligibility for public assistance and participation levels in the
cost of medical care, to exempt restitution payments made to people of Japanese
and Aleut ancestry pursuant to the civil liberties act of 1988 and the Aleutian
and Pribilof Island restitution act.
Authorizes the department of social and health services to establish a food assistance program for victims of human trafficking.
Provides eligibility to victims of human trafficking for state family assistance programs, as provided in rule, who otherwise meet program eligibility requirements.
Requires medical care services to be provided to victims of human trafficking, who are not eligible for Medicaid, who otherwise qualify for the state family assistance program.
Requires the state health care authority to: (1) Add the medical care services enrollees into the apple health for kids, with the same benefits and services provided to Medicaid apple health for kids enrollees; and (2) Coordinate with the department, food assistance programs for legal immigrants, state family assistance programs, and refugee cash assistance.
Status: HB 1971 is in the House Appropriations Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing and executive session.
SB 5164 is eligible for an executive session in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Action: Contact your representatives and members of the House Appropriations Committee and request that they pass HB 1971 out of committee by this Friday’s deadline.
Contact your senators on the Senate Human Ways and Means Committee and let them know you support SB 5164 and ask that they vote YES on this bill and pass it out of committee by this Friday’s deadline.
Possession of Firearms
SB 5205 Concerning provisions governing firearms possession by persons who have
been found incompetent to stand trial and who have a history of one or more
violent acts.
SUPPORT
SB
5205 Prohibits a person from possessing a firearm if his or her charges are
dismissed based on incompetency to stand trial and the court makes a finding
indicating that the person has a history of one or more violent acts.
Status: SB 5205 is in the Senate 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 5205 and ask that they vote YES on this bill.
Domestic Violence Registry
SB 5244 Creating a domestic violence offender registry.
SUPPORT
SB
5244 requires the court, when a
person is convicted of a qualifying domestic violence offense, to enter an
order designating the person a serious domestic violence offender and requiring
the person to appear on the serious domestic violence offender registry.
Requires the Washington state patrol to: (1) Maintain a central registry of serious domestic violence offenders; (2) Upon request of a person who appears on the registry, investigate whether the person’s registration period has ended by operation of law; (3) Notify registered serious domestic violence offenders of any changes to the registration requirements; and (4) Notify an offender included on the registry for one or more offenses committed exclusively when the offender was a juvenile of his or her ability to petition for relief from registration.
Status: SB 5244 is currently in the Senate Law and Justice Committee where it is eligible for a public hearing.
Action: Contact your senators on the Senate Law and Justice Committee and let them know that you support SB 5244 and ask that they vote YES and pass it out of committee.
Legislative Code of Conduct
SB 5861 Extending respectful workplace code of conduct provisions to all members
of the legislative community.
SUPPORT
SB 5861 requires the public disclosure commission to
establish a code of conduct for registered lobbyists. It must include a process
for conducting investigations into any alleged violations of the code of
conduct in order to make credible findings when allegations are sustained. The code of conduct must be
modeled on the code of conduct developed for the legislature itself. Lobbyists must sign a statement at the time
of registration that they have completed a training course on the respectful
workplace code developed by the commission.
If a lobbyist’s registration is revoked, they cannot conduct any
lobbying activity during the period of revocation.
Status: SB 5861 is currently in the Senate Rules Committee where it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Action: Contact your senators and let them know that you support SB 5861 and ask that they vote YES when it comes to the floor.
HOUSE COMMITEES
Appropriations Committee:
Timm Ormsby (Chair), June Robinson (1st
Vice Chair), Steve Berquist (2nd Vice Chair), Drew Stokesbary, Drew
MacEwen, Skyler Rude, Michele Caldier, Bruce Chandler, Eileen Cody, Laurie
Dolan, Mary Dye, Joe Fitzgibbon, Drew Hansen, Paul Harris, Larry Hoff, Zach
Hudgins, Laurie Jinkins, Vicki Kraft, Nicole Macri, Gina Mosbrucker, Eric
Pettigrew, Gerry Pollet, Cindy Ryu, Joe Schmick, Tana Senn, Larry Springer,
Derek Stanford, Mike Steele, Pat Sullivan, Robert Sutherland, Gael Tarleton,
Steve Tharainger, and Mike Volz
Capital Budget Committee:
Steve Tharinger (Chair), Beth Doglio
(Vice Chair), Strom Peterson (Vice Chair), Richard DeBolt, Norma Smith, Mike
Steele, Lisa Callan, Chris Corry, Lauren Davis, Mary Dye, Carolyn Eslick, Chris
Gildon, Morgan Irwin, Bill Jenkin, Mari Leavitt, Debra Lekanoff, Jacquelin
Maycumber, Melanie Morgan, Marcus Riccelli, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Mike Sells,
Monica Jurado Stonier, and Jim Walsh
Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
Laurie Jinkins (Chair), My-Linh Thai
(Vice Chair), Morgan Irwin, Jeremie Dufault, Roger Goodman, Jenny Graham, Drew
Hansen, Christine Kilduff, Steve Kirby, Brad Klippert, Tina Orwall, Matt Shea,
Javier Valdez, and Amy Walen
College and Workforce Development
Committee:
Drew Hansen (Chair), Debra Entenman
(Vice Chair), Mari Leavitt (Vice Chair), Luanne Van Werven, Chris Gildon, Jenny
Graham, Steve Berquist, Jared Mead, Dave Paul, Gerry Pollet, Bill Ramos, Skyler
Rude, Mike Sells, Vandana Slatter, Robert Sutherland, and Jesse Young
Consumer Protection and Business
Committee:
Steve Kirby (Chair), Kristine Reeves
(Vice Chair), Brandon Vick, Larry Hoff, Andrew Barkis, Brian Blake, Jeremie
Dufault, Cindy Ryu, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Derek Stanford, Mike Volz, and Amy
Walen
Education Committee:
Sharon Tomiko Santos (Chair), Laurie
Dolan (Vice Chair), Dave Paul (Vice Chair), Mike Steele, Bob McCaslin, Mike
Volz, Steve Berquist, Michelle Caldier, Lisa Callan, Chris Corry, Paul Harris,
Christine Kilduff, Vicki Kraft, Jacquelin Maycumber, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Skyler
Rude, Monica Jurado Stonier, My-Linh Thai, and Javier Valdez
Finance Committee:
Gael Tarleton (Chair), Amy Walen
(Vice Chair), Ed Orcutt, Jesse Young, Mike Chapman, Noel Frame, Nicole Macri,
Jeff Morris, Tina Orwall, Larry Springer, Drew Stokesbary, Brandon Vick, and
Sharon Wylie
Health Care and Wellness Committee:
Eileen Cody (Chair), Nicole Macri
(Vice Chair), Joe Schmick, Michelle Caldier, Kelly Chambers, Lauren Davis,
Richard DeBolt, Paul Harris, Laurie Jinkins, Jacquelin Maycumber, Marcus
Riccilli, June Robinson, Monica Jurado Stonier, My-Linh Thai, and Steve
Tharinger
Housing, Community Development and
Veterans Committee:
Cindy Ryu (Chair), Melanie Morgan
(Vice Chair), Bill Jenkin, Andrew Barkis, Debra Entenman, Noel Frame, Chris
Gildon, Mari Leavitt, and Kristine Reeves
Human Services and Early Learning
Committee:
Tana Senn (Chair), Lisa Callan (Vice
Chair), Noel Frame (Vice Chair), Tom Dent, Carolyn Eslick, Bob McCaslin, Chris
Corry, Roger Goodman, Dan Griffey, Christine Kilduff, Brad Klippert, John
Lovick, & Lillian Ortiz-Self
Labor and Workplace Standards Committee:
Mike Sells (Chair), Mike Chapman
(Vice-Chair), Gina Mosbrucker, Bruce Chandler, Mia Gregerson, Larry Hoff, and
Timm Ormsby
Public Safety Committee:
Roger Goodman (Chair), Lauren Davis (Vice Chair), Brad Klippert, Robert Sutherland,
Sherry Appleton, Jenny Graham, Dan Griffey, John Lovick, Tina Orwall, Mike
Pellicciotti, and Eric Pettigrew
Rules Committee:
Frank Chopp (Chair), Steve Berquist, Kelly Chambers, Mike Chapman, Chris Corry,
Lauren Davis, Noel Frame, Chris Gildon, Christine Kilduff, Joel Kretz, John
Lovick, Jacqueline Maycumber, Lillian Ortiz-Self, Tina Orwall, Eric Pettigrew,
Marcus Riccelli, Skyler Rude, Larry Springer, Monica Jurado Stonier, Pat
Sullivan, Robert Sutherland, Mike Volz, J. T. Wilcox, and Sharon Wylie
State Government and Tribal Relations
Committee:
Mia Gregerson (Chair), Mike Pelliciotti (Vice Chair), Jim Walsh, Keith Goehner,
Sherry Appleton, Laurie Dolan, Zack Hudgins, Gina Mosbrucker, and Norma Smith
Transportation Committee:
Jake Fey (Chair), Vandana Slatter (2nd Vice Chair), Javier Valdez (2nd
Vice Chair), Sharon Wylie (1st Vice Chair), Andrew Barkis, Jim
Walsh, Jessy Young, Matt Bohnke, Kelly Chambers, Mike Chapman, Tom Dent, Beth
Doglio, Jeremie Dufault, Debra Entenman, Carolyn Eslick, Keith Goehner, 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 Whewmake, and Luanne Van Werven
SENATE COMMITEES
Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health
& Long-Term Care Committee:
Manka Dhingra (Chair), Keith Wagoner,
Jeanne Darneille, David Frockt, and Steve O’Ban
Early Learning and K-12 Committee:
Lisa Wellman (Chair), Claire Wilson
(Vice Chair), Brad Hawkins, Jeff Holy, Sam Hunt, John McCoy, Mark Mullet, Mike
Padden, Jamie Pedersen, Jesse Salomon, and Keith Wagoner
Health and Long Term Care Committee:
Annette Cleveland (Chair), Emily
Randall (Vice Chair), Steve O’Ban, Barbara Bailey, Randi Becker, Steve Conway,
Manka Dhingra, David Frockt, Karen Keiser, Ann Rivers, and Kevin Van De Wege
Higher Education and Workforce
Development Committee:
Guy Palumbo (Chair), Emily Randall
(Vice Chair), Jeff Holy, Sharon Brown, Doug Ericksen, Marko Liias, and Lisa
Wellman
Housing Stability and Affordability
Committee:
Patty Kuderer (Chair), Mona Das (Vice
Chair), Hans Zeiger, Jeanne Darneille, Phil Fortunato, Rebecca Saldaña, and
Judy Warnick
Human Services, Reentry &
Rehabilitation Committee:
Jeanne Darneille (Chair), Joe Nguyen
(Vice Chair), Maureen Walsh, Annette Cleveland, Steve O’Ban, Claire Wilson, and
Hans Zeiger
Labor and Commerce Committee:
Karen Keiser (Chair), Steve Conway
(Vice Chair), Curtis King, John Braun, Rebecca Saldaña, Maureen Walsh, and Lisa
Wellman
Law & Justice Committee:
Jamie Pedersen (Chair), Manka Dhingra
(Vice Chair), Mike Padden, Jeff Holy, Patty Kuderer, Jesse Salomon, and Lynda
Wilson
Rules Committee:
Cyrus Habib (Chair), Karen Keiser
(Vice Chair), Mark Schoesler, Randi Becker, Andy Billig, Reuven Carlyle, Annette
Cleveland, Bob Hasegawa, Curtis King, Patty Kuderer, Marko Liias, John McCoy,
Joe Nguyen, Ann Rivers, Tim Sheldon, and Shelly Short
State Government, Tribal Relations &
Elections Committee:
Sam Hunt (Chair), Patty Kuderer (Vice
Chair), Hans Zeiger, Barbara Bailey, Bob Hasegawa, Brad Hawkins, and Dean Takko
Transportation Committee:
Steve Hobbs (Chair), Rebecca Saldaña
(Vice Chair), Curtis King, Tim Sheldon, Annette Cleveland, Mona Das, Manka
Dhingra, Phil Fortunato, 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, Barbara Bailey, Randi
Becker, Andy Billig, Reuven Carlyle, Steve Conway, Jeanne Darneille, Bob
Hasegawa, Sam Hunt, Karen Keiser, Marko Liias, Guy Palumbo, Ann Rivers, Mark
Schoesler, Kevin Van De Wege, Keith Wagoner, Judy Warnick, and Lynda Wilson
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: