Dear friends and neighbors, 

We have just two weeks left in the 2024 legislative session! As we conclude week seven, I’m eager to share details with you on my bills and more. 

Sen. Claudia Kauffman with Page Kamiya Jacobs

LEGISLATIVE HAPPENINGS 

Things move very quickly in the Legislature, especially during a short session! My days have been spent in committee meetings, on the Senate floor, meeting with constituents, and much more. Here are some recent happenings I want to highlight: 

  • This week, we were joined by Kamiya, a 9th grader at Auburn Senior High, who participated in the Senate Page Program (see the above photo). It allows young Washingtonians to get a closer look at the civic process and meet other students from across the state. Thank you for your service, Kamiya! 
  • On Wednesday, I spoke in support of a resolution honoring our Sikh communities in Washington. The 47th is truly fortunate to be home to such a vibrant Sikh community, whose contributions enrich both our district and state immensely.

  • I also had the opportunity to meet with the Kent Black Action Commission during their 2024 Black Legislative Day on Monday. 
  • Last week, I met with the Native Action Network’s 2024 Legacy of Leadership cohort. It was so wonderful to speak with such a vibrant group of Native women engaging in state legislation and politics.

CAPITAL BUDGET INVESTMENT 

On Thursday, the Senate passed our 2024 supplemental capital budget. I’m so pleased to see a project that I advocated for included in this proposal: 

  • $258 million for the Auburn Downtown Plaza design and development 

The funding will assist in design and construction of a 4,000-12,000 square foot civic space, serving as a pedestrian connector and event plaza. This is a big win for our community, and I will continue to advocate for its inclusion in the final budget proposal and keep you all updated.  

2024 LEGISLATION 

I’m happy to report of four of my bills are making progress in the House!   

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women 

  • Provides families, communities, and agencies with an additional tool to help identify their missing loved ones, aiding our work to address the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis. (SB 6186) 

Developmental Disabilities 

  • Calls on Congress to fully fund 40% of the costs of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, so we can transform the lives of millions of students with disabilities by ensuring they have access to quality education. (SJM 8007) 
  • Expands the definition of family member to include in-laws as family caregivers, recognizing that the definition of family is different for everyone. (SB 5811) 
  • Ensures records on the historical treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Lakeland Village are preserved, providing families a way to gain closure or learn about their relatives if they ever lived there. (SB 6125) 

You can track all of my legislation here. 

WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT 

In early 2023, we launched the Working Families Tax Credit. Since then, it has provided over $116 million in refunds to 163,000 Washington households, with an average refund of $714 per household. I am happy to say that 249,000 kids have been positively impacted by this program. 

Applications for the 2024 cycle open on Feb. 1 and are available through the end of the calendar year. To check if you are eligible for the rebate of up to $1,255, click here. 

ADDRESSING INEQUITIES IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM 

Right now, 422 Indigenous people incarcerated in Washington’s state prisons are serving longer sentences because they were involved in the juvenile system as children. 

No one should be penalized twice for crimes committed when they were young. Our focus must be on healing and rehabilitation, not punishment. 

The Legislature recognized this in 2023 with the passage of House Bill 1324, ending the automatic use of juvenile points in sentencing, which disproportionately impact our communities of color. However, the bill did not apply retroactively, leaving behind more than 1,000 individuals incarcerated and failing to correct past harms. 

House Bill 2065 would remedy that by giving those people the opportunity to have their sentences recalculated without double-penalizing people for juvenile mistakes. 

The bill had a hearing Thursday in the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and I hope to see it move to the floor soon. 

Read my full op-ed with Rep. Stearns about the bill on Indian Country Today here. 

STAY IN TOUCH 

Our office continues to be as available to you as ever. Send me an email at Claudia.Kauffman@leg.wa.gov or call 360-786-7692. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram (@SenClaudiaKauffman) for regular updates.    

Sincerely,  

Claudia Kauffman