email : Webview : This Week in Olympia

February 19, 2024

Updates, News from Our Legislative Consultant Nancy Sapiro, Action Alerts, and More

The 2024 Legislative session is now more than 66% complete, after having passed the House of Origin cutoff on Tuesday, February 13. The vast number of bills introduced during the biennium are dwindling and legislators are now back in committees, largely considering a smaller set of bills already debated, amended, and passed by the other chamber. At this point in session, the process moves at lightning speed, allowing just eight days for the opposite House policy committees to hear and pass referred bills, compared to 24 days for the House of Origin at the beginning of session.

As floor action wound down early last week, the chambers passed some of the more contentious bills of the session regarding firearms dealers, hospital mergers (Keep Our Care Act), sentencing modifications, rent stabilization, and unemployment insurance for striking workers.

With just over 20 days left, there is still a lot of work to do. On Monday, February 19, attention will turn to the supplemental budget proposals. The operating and transportation budgets will be released on Monday, with public hearings and executive action to follow later in the week.

Below is information on where AAUW-WA's legislative priorities stand as of February 19.

AAUW-WA has four areas of legislative priority for 2024: Education, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Economic Security, and Healthcare. (You can use these links to go to each section.) This issue contains brief summaries, updates and action alerts. For more complete bill summaries, refer to the January 15, 2024 "This Week in Olympia."

Supporting Students Who Are Chronically Absent
SB 5850 / HB 2146
Sponsors: Senator Braun and Rep Rule

Addressing the multi-faceted issues contributing to high absence rates in schools.

Update: The bill passed unanimously through the Senate on February 13. ESSB 5850 is now scheduled to be heard in House Education on February 19 and then is scheduled to move out of its committee on the 20th.

Click HERE to sign in PRO on this bill.

School Library Information and Technology Programs
ESSB 5102
Sponsor: Senator Wellman

Requiring school district boards of directors to provide resources and materials for the operation of school library information and technology programs, and ensuring that every student has access to a library technology program.

Update: ESSB 5102 unfortunately did not move out of its House of Origin by the February 13 cutoff and is now considered dead for the 2024 legislative session.

Implementing the Since Time Immemorial Curriculum
2SHB 1332
Sponsor: Rep Lekanoff

Setting minimum standards and a deadline for implementation of Since Time Immemorial, and clearing the way for state grants to help develop curricula.

Update: The bill passed unanimously out of the House on January 31. E2SHB 1332 was then heard in Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education on February 14. As of this writing, it has not yet been scheduled for executive action. Click HERE to view the hearing.

Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Task Force
SB 5838 / HB 1934
Sponsors: Senator Nguyen and Rep Couture

Crearting an AI task force that would include representatives from the legislature, state agencies, tribes, trade groups, civil liberties organizations, education, consumer advocates, and businesses.

Update: An amended bill passed off of the Senate floor on February 8, 31-18. SB 5838 is now scheduled to be heard in the House Consumer Protection Committee on February 20 and then is scheduled to move out of committee on the 21st.

Click HERE to sign in PRO on SB 5838.

Flexible Work Hours for Peace Officers
ESSB 5424/ HB 1413
Sponsors: Senator Cleveland and Rep Shavers

Allowing law enforcement agencies to adopt flexible work policies for officers, such as working less than full-time when feasible, supplementing work during peak hours with part-time officers, and including alternative shift and work schedules.

Update: ESSB 5424 passed the Senate unanimously on January 17. It was then heard in the House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry on February 14. The bill is now scheduled to move out of committee on the 19th. Click here to follow along with the hearing.

Concerning Paid Sick Leave
SB 5793/ HB 1991
Sponsors: Senator Saldaña and Rep Fosse

Modifying the state's paid sick leave statute to amend the definition of family member within the law to include chosen family and allowing workers to use sick leave to care for chosen family.

Update: SB 5793 passed through the Senate on February 7 on a 28/21 vote with amendments that narrowed the scope of the bill, eliminating the provisions around using leave for weather events. It was heard on February 16 in the House Labor policy committee. The bill is now scheduled for executive action on the 20th. Click here to follow the hearing.

Reproductive Freedom Constitutional Amendment
Senate Joint Resolution 8202/ HJR 4201
Sponsors: Senator Keiser and Rep Gregerson, at request of Governor Inslee

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. AAUW-WA signed a letter of support along with other women’s rights organizations to ask that the bill be called to the floor for a vote.

Keep Our Care Act
SB 5241/ HB 1263
Sponsors: Senator Randall and Rep Simmons

Ensuring that health entity mergers and acquisitions improve, rather than harm, access to affordable quality care. Giving the AG’s office the tools it needs to ensure that future health system mergers and other transactions improve access to care. Prohibiting a health entity consolidation that diminishes access to affordable quality care and ensuring AG oversight of all mergers.

Update: After hours of floor debate on February 8, the bill passed out of the Senate, 28-21. Thanks to all of you for your advocacy on behalf of this policy! SB 5241 then moved to the House, where there was a robust hearing in the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on the 14th. It is now scheduled to move out of committee on the 20th. Click here to follow along with the hearing next week.

Other bills that AAUW-WA is supportive of and tracking

Reasonable Accommodations for Constructions Workers who Menstruate or Express Milk – EHB 2266

Sponsor: Rep Stonier

HB 2266 ensures that all employers in the state provide reasonable, sanitary accommodations for workers who menstruate, lactate, or express milk. Current law allows for exemptions for employers with mobile crews or those employing less than 15 workers. Some of the reasonable accommodations defined in the bill are more frequent and longer bathroom breaks, modified work schedules, and providing seating when it is not usually available. The bill aims to protect the health of workers while also providing additional privacy on jobsites.

Update: The bill has passed the House and is scheduled for executive action in Senate Labor on February 19.

Promoting Inclusive Learning Standards and Instructional Materials in Public Schools – ESB 5462

Sponsor: Senator Liias

This bill would require school districts to adopt curriculum that covers inclusive, age-appropriate materials that tell the histories, contributions, and perspectives of LGBTQ+ Washingtonians.

Update: The bill passed out of the Senate on January 17 on a 29-19 vote. It was heard in House Education on February 14 and is scheduled for executive action on February 20.

Harmonizing language relating to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment – HB 1954

Sponsor: Rep Riccelli

Last year the Legislature passed a bill, HB 1340, which protects WA health care providers who provide reproductive and gender affirming care. An amendment was added to the bill, at the last moment, which resulted in some unnecessary confusion. As written, the law opens up the possibility of a court determining that the Legislature meant to provide more protections to providers in the context of an unprofessional conduct allegation than in the context of licensure/discipline. This bill is a technical clean-up bill to harmonize the two sections and avoid any future confusion around the law.

Update: The bill passed out of the House on January 25 on a party line vote. The bill was heard in Senate Health Care on February 15 and executive action was taken on HB 1954 on the 16th. Click here to view the hearing.

We welcome your input! Our goals for "This Week in Olympia"? Quick to read and easy to find information of interest to YOU. Email suggestions to communications@aauw-wa.org.

More information about Public Policy is available on our AAUW-WA website. Questions? Contact Sandra Distelhorst, publicpolicy@aauw-wa.org.