Dear neighbors,

When I hear from constituents, it’s most often about the issues that affect people’s daily lives—the cost of living, prescription drugs, safety on the job, and, in the long run, having the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their children.

Those are the issues I’m focused on in Olympia. The bills I’m sponsoring to tackle them are moving along and are on track to pass before the legislative session ends on March 10. Here are some of the highlights.

Tax relief

One of the most effective levers we have to help families and local businesses during a tough time like we are in now is tax relief. I’m sponsoring two bills this year that would make a real difference.

SB 5873 would provide $214 million in unemployment insurance tax relief to businesses across Washington this year, with no use of state funds. Surging demand for unemployment benefits during the pandemic led unemployment insurance premiums to spike. This bill will prevent a significant portion of those increases for all employers, and especially for small businesses.

SB 5004 would make medical marijuana more affordable for the thousands of Washingtonians who use it to alleviate symptoms of disease. Right now, medical marijuana products are subject to a 37% excise tax, when there is no comparable tax on any other pharmaceuticals or medical devices. That tax is keeping an effective treatment unaffordable for many who are suffering. My bill would remove the excise tax on medical marijuana products that are certified by the state Department of Health so that people can afford these vital medications. Both of these bills have passed out of committee in the House.

Bringing down prescription drug prices

Helping people afford the prescription drugs they need is one of the most important things I’m working on this session. It’s no secret that prescription prices are out of control. And the data shows that when drug prices go up, people’s health goes down. When people can’t afford their prescriptions, they cut back, or skip doses, or cut pills in two, and that leads to more suffering and even more death. But prices have been going up relentlessly and outrageously, even for drugs that have been on the market for decades.

That’s why I’m sponsoring SB 5532, which would establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to help reign in extraordinary, unjustified price increases. Another bill of mine, SB 5546, would limit patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for insulin to $35 per month. And a third, SB 5507 (HB 1675), would make dialysis more affordable. Together, those bills would make a huge difference every day in the lives of people who are struggling to pay for their medications. All of these bills are on track to pass this session.

Workers deserve privacy

Employee-assistance programs are an important avenue for workers to go for help with work and life concerns. They can be a lifeline for people who are suffering from depression, stress, addiction, parenting, grief and loss. Employee participation in these programs, and the information disclosed, should not be grist for employers’ decisions about promotion, discipline or other employment rights. That’s why I am sponsoring SB 5564, which would prevent employers from penalizing employees who participate in employee-assistance programs. It has passed out of committee in the House and could be voted on any day.

Expanding apprenticeships

You often hear that a college degree is the only path to secure high-wage, high-skill employment. But that’s not how it has to be. In fact, more than 20,000 Washingtonians are enrolled in registered state apprenticeships.

This year, we are working on a major expansion of apprenticeship opportunities. SB 5600 and SB 5764, two bills sponsored by Sen. Emily Randall and me, would establish new apprenticeship programs in growing fields, reinvigorate support for existing apprenticeships, and significantly increase state funding for apprentices at public colleges. Both bills have hearings scheduled in the House Appropriations Committee and are well on their way to passing. You can read more here and in our Seattle Times op-ed.

Stay in touch

If you’d like to follow what I’m working on, you can like my official legislative Facebook page here.

Please don’t hesitate to stay in touch. Stay safe and take care.

Always,

Senator Karen Keiser
Chair, Senate Labor & Commerce Committee
Senate President Pro Tempore