Lunell Haught, President

Joan Lawson, Advocacy Portfolio Director

Hayley Day, Editor

March 21, 2021 Vol. 53, Issue 11

Action Alerts

Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can "take action" on these most pressing bills by sending a suggested, editable email to legislators, encouraging them to vote to promote the League issue in question.

Secure budget proviso for children’s hearing aids

House Bill 1047—requiring coverage for hearing instruments for children and adolescents—did not get a hearing in committee because there was no budget proviso available. Assumptions about the cost of this mandate were wildly different. As a result, a budget proviso is requested that would fund a study by the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner to determine the actual cost of this mandate. The cost of the study is $75,000. The proviso would be attached to the insurance commissioner budget. The insurance commissioner office would provide the study results to the Legislature by the end of the year, prior to the beginning of the 2022 Legislative session. Ask your representatives to request the proviso and vote yes.

Restore the right to vote to people who are out of prison

House Bill 1078 will strengthen our democracy, increase public safety, and promote racial justice by automatically restoring the right to vote for everyone living in the community. It’s time for Washington to join more than 20 other states across the political spectrum that allow all citizens to vote. Please send an email to your senator now, and spread the word about voting rights restoration using this toolkit.

Visit the Current Actions page to learn how to support all actions.

Policy bills deadline approaches

By Kimberley Abbey, Health Care, Behavioral Health, and Reproductive Rights Issue Chair

This is the beginning of week 11 of the 2021 legislative session, which lasts five more weeks, ending on April 25. The Legislature is approaching a transition in the session called the "policy cutoff," which is next Friday, March 26. Each chamber is considering bills passed by the other chamber. All policy bills must pass out of committee by March 26 and fiscal bills by April 2, except bills related to operating, capital, and transportation budgets. Please note the bills on the League Legislative Issue Web Pages that interest you and continue to support them. Check out the Current Actions page too. Thank you for supporting our League priorities!

LWVWA Issues

The LWVWA supports the following League Legislative Issues in the current Washington state legislative session. Click on an issue to learn more, including current and upcoming bills affecting the issue. In this virtual legislative session, you can also testify for a bill online.

DEMOCRACY

Elections | Voting Rights Restoration Act moves to Senate floor.

Election Security | Ensure secure, accurate, and transparent elections.

Money in Politics | Speak up for SR 1 in Congress.

Redistricting and Census | Speak Up Schools have started. Don't miss out on the fun. Your voting power starts here.

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS

Climate Change | Many hearings this week; you can sign in pro.

Energy | Energy bills this session mostly focused on reducing climate change.

Natural Resources | ESSB 5038 moves out of policy committee.

Transportation | A new transportation budget will be adopted this year and emphasis will be on reducing the net impact of transportation systems on climate change.

ENSURING SOCIAL JUSTICE

Criminal Justice | Take action to support voting rights for people who are out of prison.

Social Justice | Visit our Issue Web Page for additional social justice bills that need action.

Gun Safety | Assure public safety and free speech.

Housing and Homelessness | Emphasis will be on obtaining increased investment in affordable housing and retention of, at minimum, current levels of rental assistance and other homelessness prevention programs.

Health Care, Behavioral Health and Reproductive Rights | Budget proviso needed.

IMPROVE EDUCATION

Public Education | Fully fund K-12 education and increase funding for student support services, including broadband access.

ESTABLISHING FAIR REVENUE

Adequate and Fair Revenue and Budget | Help pass fair and adequate revenue.

How to testify for a bill online

In addition to contacting your legislators via Action Alerts, bill comments, emails and phone calls, you can register to testify remotely, submit written testimony or have your position noted for the legislative record. Speak for yourself and explain your personal interest in the bill. Unless you obtain permission, you should not emphasize the League in testimony.

Just follow these steps:

Visit the "Participating in Committee Hearings" section of the Washington State Legislature's website.
Press the "Register to Testify Remotely" button, even if you just want to submit written testimony or have your position noted for the record.
Select House or Senate.
Use the dropdown menus at the top to select the committee and the hearing date and time.
Select the bill you’re interested in, then select the type of testimony — oral, written or noting your position for the record — and follow the directions provided.
Fill out your identifying information, then hit "Submit" at the bottom.

Calendar

Monday, March 22—LWV of Snohomish County and Skagit County present Speak Up School training to prepare testimonies before the redistricting commission.
Monday, March 22—Legislative Districts 18 and 24 Town Halls.
Wednesday, March 24—Legislative District 33 Town Hall.
Friday, March 26—Last day to pass bills out of committees and read them into the record on the floor from opposite house, except House fiscal committees, Senate Ways and Means and Senate transportation committees.
Wednesday, March 31—Legislative District 37 Town Hall.

Other ways to follow the state legislature

Washington State Legislature website, leg.wa.gov.
Washington state's public affairs TV network, TVW.org.