2024 LGBTQ Priorities

PRIORITIES OF THE 2024 LGBTQ CAUCUS

Healthy Communities

  • House Bill 1151/Senate Bill 5204 requires large group health plans to cover the diagnosis of infertility, treatment for infertility, and standard fertility preservation services.
  • House Bill 1263/Senate Bill 5241 regulates health entity mergers and consolidations to protect patients’ interests and access to comprehensive medical services, including reproductive, gender-affirming and end-of-life care.
  • House Bill 1954 harmonizes language relating to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment.
  • Senate Bill 6127 increases access to human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis drugs or therapies.

Community Protections

  • House Bill 2014/Senate Bill 5871 expands veterans’ eligibility for purposes of state benefits and services, including for any veteran who was separated solely as a result of anti-LGBTQ policies.
  • House Bill 1905/Senate Bill 5894 expands the workplace rights and protections in the Washington Equal Pay and Advancement Opportunities Act to include protected classes beyond gender, such as age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability.
  • House Bill 2076/Senate Bill 6057 addresses crimes involving human trafficking or sexual exploitation.
  • House Bill 1541/Senate Bill 5616 establishes certain membership requirements for task forces, work groups, and advisory committees that report to the Legislature on issues directly and tangibly affecting underrepresented populations.
  • House Bill 1991/Senate Bill 5793 expands the definition of “family member” in Washington’s Paid Sick Leave Law.
  • House Bill 2036 establishes workplace safety and operational standards for adult entertainment establishments.
  • Senate Bill 6105 creates safer working conditions in adult entertainment establishments.
  • Senate Bill 5917 establishes criminal penalties for bias-motivated defacement of private or public property.
  • Senate Bill 5427 establishes a hate crimes hotline to provide support to victims.
  • Senate Bill 6006 provides support for victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

Supporting Youth

  • House Bill 1239 directs the design and establishment of a simple, uniform, and easily accessible state-level process for the receipt and classification of complaints involving the elementary and secondary education system.
  • Senate Bill 5237 establishes procedures to investigate and address complaints alleging noncompliance with state laws concerning civil rights; harassment, intimidation, and bullying; certain curriculum requirements; the use of restraint or isolation on a student; and student discipline.
  • House Bill 2218/Senate Bill 5908 provides extended foster care services to youth ages 18 to 21.
  • Senate Bill 5462 requires school districts to adopt inclusive curricula and select inclusive, age-appropriate instructional materials that include the histories, contributions, and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.
  • House Bill 2331/Senate Bill 6208 prohibits the banning of books or other instructional materials simply because they are related to the contributions of individuals or groups that are part of a protected class.

Securing Funding

  • Capacity building for LGBTQ organizations in Snohomish County
  • LGBTQ business designation
  • Study of youth intersex care