2024 Lobby Day and Legislative Update

Monday, January 22, was AAUW-WA lobby day and we had some great input from a fantastic lineup. Many thanks to our AAUW-WA Policy team for making that happen. If you missed it – listed below are our presenters and a link to view the meeting! Links at the bottom so you can easily reach your State Senators and Representatives - Be an Activist!

Lobby Day Presenters

• AAUW-WA Legislative Consultant Nancy Sapiro, overview of our bills and what is happening in Olympia
• Tammie Schrader, regional computer science coordinator for NWESD, speaking on media literacy and AI
• Tristan Eddy and Hailey Gray, Justice for Girls Coalition, talking about “at risk” girls and what programs and policies support their success
• Robin Lucas, grassroots organizer, and Meghan Kissell, national AAUW Public Policy Director
• AAUW-WA Public Policy Team, review of bills and priorities

View the recording

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

AAUW-WA has four areas of legislative priority for 2024: Education, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Economic Security, and Healthcare.  The status of each bill follows below. Because this Congressional session is incredibly short, we have opted to adopt a solution proposed by AAUW-WA to respect the extreme time crunch our legislators are under this session: we have forwarded a Request for Support to each of our district legislators covering the Seattle area, but have not requested a meeting. If you believe you and others in your district really want and would participate in a meeting with the legislator, please send me a note asap to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If there is enough support, we will work quickly to try to coordinate a meeting for your district.

EDUCATION

Supporting Students Who Are Chronically Absent, SB 5850 / HB 2146
The bill seeks to tackle the multi-faceted issues contributing to high absence rates. It is currently in committee.
Sponsors: Senator Braun and Rep Rule

School Library Information and Technology Programs, SB 5102
This bill would require school district boards of directors to provide resources and materials for the operation of school library information and technology programs, and to ensure that every student has access to a library technology program. It is currently in committee.
Sponsor: Senator Wellman

Implementing the Since Time Immemorial Curriculum, HB 1332
In 2015 the legislature mandated schools to teach Washington’s tribal history, culture, and government. This legislation would set minimum standards and a deadline for implementation of Since Time Immemorial, and clear the way for state grants to help develop curricula. The bill is ready to go to the floor for a vote of the House.
Sponsors: Rep Lekanoff

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Task Force, SB 5838 / HB 1934
Artificial intelligence (AI) bills are being introduced by members of both parties, addressing the use in court filings, intimate images, and more.  The task force would include representatives from the legislature, state agencies, tribes, trade groups, civil liberties organizations, education, consumer advocates, and businesses.  The Senate bill passed out of its policy committee and is now in Ways and Means. View the House hearing (starting at minute 53).
Sponsors: Senator Nguyen and Rep Couture

ECONOMIC SECURITY

Flexible Work Hours for Peace Officers, SB 5424/ HB 1413
In an effort to increase the diversity of the workforce in law enforcement, SB 5424 would allow law enforcement agencies to adopt flexible work policies. These policies may allow officers to work less than full-time when feasible, such as supplementing work during peak hours with part-time officers and including alternative shift and work schedules. SB 5424 passed the Senate unanimously. The bill has moved to the House and is in committee.
Sponsors: Senator Cleveland and Rep Shavers

Concerning Paid Sick Leave, SB 5793/ HB 1991
SB 5793 modifies the state’s paid sick leave statute to amend the definition of family member within the law to include chosen family. This bill also expands the use of paid sick leave to include extreme weather events, such as snow days that result in the closure of child care centers or schools, and unsafe roads. The Senate bill moved out of committee on January 22. Link to watch the action. The House companion bill, HB 1991, was heard in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on January 17 and is scheduled to move out of committee on the 26th. Link to watch.
Sponsors: Senator Saldaña and Rep Fosse

HEALTHCARE

Constitutional Amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 8202 / HJR 4201
This is a proposal to amend the State Constitution to specify that the state cannot interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom decisions. This includes the right to have an abortion and the right to choose to use contraception. Update: The resolution is in Senate Rules. Because this is a proposal to amend our constitution, it requires a 2/3 vote of the Senate, not a simple majority, for it to advance.
Sponsors: Senator Keiser and Rep Gregerson, at request of Governor Inslee

Keep Our Care Act, SB 5241/ HB 1263
SB 5241 would prohibit a health entity consolidation that diminishes access to affordable quality care and would ensure AG oversight of all mergers. It also would allow for community input through public notification of proposed consolidations and the opportunity for public input and comment. The sponsor of the bill has amendments ready, which are acceptable to the reproductive health care community, and which attempt to address some of the reasonable concerns raised by the Hospital Association in the previous session. This would be a great time to reach out to your Senator (again) and urge them to support the bill.
Sponsors: Senator Randall and Rep Simmons

DISTRICT LEGISLATORS & LINKS

Do you have 2 minutes? Please send a message to your district legislators and ask them to support the above bills!

District 32, Edmonds-SnoKing, Seattle
Cindy Ryu-D (House)
Lauren Davis-D (House)
Jesse Salomon-D (Senate)

District 34, Seattle
Emily Alvarado -D (House)
Joe Fitzgibbon-D (House)
Joe Nguyen-D (Senate)  (SB 5838 Establishing AI task force)

District 36, Seattle
Julia Reed -D (House)
Liz Berry-D (House)
Noel Frame -D (Senate)

District 37, Seattle
Chipalo Street -D (House)
Sharon Tomiko Santos-D (House)
Rebecca Saldaña-D (Senate)  (SB 5793 Concerning paid sick leave; changes definition to match pfml)

District 43, Seattle
Frank Chopp-D (House)
Nicole Macri-D (House)
Jamie Pedersen-D (Senate)

District 46, Seattle
Darya Farivar -D (House)
Gerry Pollet-D (House)
Javier Valdez -D (Senate)