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| Thank you to everyone who took time over the weekend to email the chair and vice-chairs of the Ways & Means Committee, urging them to move SB 5850 forward. It is scheduled for executive session today, February 5.
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| February 5, 2024
Updates, News from Our Legislative Consultant Nancy Sapiro, Action Alerts, and More
The first official legislative “cut-off” date has come and gone, and a second one is fast approaching. January 31 was the day by which policy bills had to have passed out of the policy committee. Legislators worked throughout the weekend as fiscal committees considered policy bills that have fiscal implications. The deadline for bills to move out of their fiscal committee is the end of the day today, February 5.
It's not always business in Olympia. A fun event happened on February 1 – Dairy Day. Dairy farmers and representatives held their annual day in the Legislative Building, where they passed out ICE CREAM. These treats were an appreciated pick-me-up for the tired legislators, staff, and advocates walking the marble halls.
The updates below capture where AAUW's priority bills stand as we approach fiscal cutoff and as legislators get ready to turn their attention to floor activity. From February 6-13, legislators will be on the floor full-time. If you want to watch any of the action, you can check out the schedule here.
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Supporting Students Who Are Chronically Absent
SB 5850 / HB 2146
Sponsors: Senator Braun and Rep Rule
The bill seeks to tackle the multi-faceted issues contributing to high absence rates in schools.
Update: The Senate bill passed out of its policy committee, was heard in Ways & Means on January 30, and is scheduled for excecutive session today, February 5.
The companion House bill, unfortunately, did not make it out of its respective policy committee by the cutoff date and is now considered dead.
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School Library Information and Technology Programs
ESSB 5102
Sponsor: Senator Wellman
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.
Update: This bill is in Senate Rules.
Implementing the Since Time Immemorial Curriculum
2SHB 1332
Sponsor: Rep Lekanoff
In 2015 the legislature mandated schools to teach Washington’s tribal history, culture, and government. This legislation would set minimum standards, a deadline for implementation of Since Time Immemorial, and clear the way for state grants to help develop curricula.
Update: The bill passed out of the House on January 31. The bill now moves to Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education.
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Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Task Force
SB 5838 / HB 1934
Sponsors: Senator Nguyen and Rep Couture
Artificial intelligence (AI) is definitely on the minds of legislators in Washington this year, with bills 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.
Update: The Senate bill was heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on January 30. It will be dead if it does not pass out of committee on Monday, February 5. The companion House bill, HB 1934, is scheduled for public hearing in Appropriations on February 3 and for executive action on February 5.
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Flexible Work Hours for Peace Officers
ESSB 5424/ HB 1413
Sponsors: Senator Cleveland and Rep Shavers
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 include alternative shift and work schedules.
Update: SB 5424 passed the Senate unanimously on January 17 and is now in the House. It should be scheduled soon for public hearing in the Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee.
Concerning Paid Sick Leave
SB 5793/ HB 1991
Sponsors: Senator Saldaña and Rep Fosse
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 change was made to the state's PFML program in 2021 and has had no impact on the program. Allowing workers to use sick leave to care for chosen family is especially important to Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, immigrant communities, and the LGBTQ+ community who are more likely to depend on non-biologically related family members for care.
Update: Both the Senate and the House bills are in their respective Rules Committees.
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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.
Keep Our Care Act
SB 5241/ HB 1263
Sponsors: Senator Randall and Rep Simmons
You’ll remember this bill from last year’s weekly updates. SB 5241 would ensure that health entity mergers and acquisitions improve, rather than harm, access to affordable quality care. It would give the AG’s office the tools it needs to ensure that future health system mergers and other transactions improve access to care. Specifically, the bill 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.
Update: Big news! The bill moved out of the Rules Committee on January 30. SB 5241 needs to be brought to the Senate floor for a vote of the body before February 13.
HB 1263, the House companion bill, unfortunately did not make it out of its respective policy committee by the cutoff date and is now considered dead.
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Please reach out to your state senator and ask them to bring KOCA to the floor and to vote YES. Click here to send a message to your senator.
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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.
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