PRIORITIES OF THE 2023 LGBTQ CAUCUS

To promote greater health in our communities, the caucus supported the following bills:

• House Bill 1089/Senate Bill 5114 creates a program for healing, support and transition services for adults with lived experience of sex trafficking.
• 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 1155/Senate Bill 5351 establishes consumer rights with regard to consumer health data and defines obligations of regulated entities that collect, process, share, and sell consumer health data.
• 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 1408/Senate Bill 5142 creates an account for pharmaceutical rebate revenue generated by the purchase of HIV medications.
• House Bill 1469/Senate Bill 5489 protects access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Washington state.

To promote protections for our communities, the caucus advocated for the following bills:

• 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 5028 updates rules for legal name changes, strengthening safety and privacy protections for trans and nonbinary people, refugees and survivors of domestic violence.
• Senate Bill 5186 requires every state contract for public works and goods or services to contain nondiscrimination clauses.
• 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.
• Senate Bill 5230 extends foster care services to provide a financial subsidy for youth and young adults ages 21 through 25 who were in out-of-home care on their 18th birthday.
• Senate Bill 5355 requires school districts to provide instruction on sex trafficking prevention and identification at least once between grades 7 and 12 beginning no later than the 2024-25 school year.
• Senate Bill 5441 promotes and supports school districts to develop and adopt curricula that is diverse, equitable and inclusive.
• 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.
• Senate Bill 5599 protects transgender youth who are not supported at home and seeking gender-affirming care by providing them safe accommodations.

Finally, the caucus is championing funding for the following item, which will provide essential support for the LGBTQ community:

• $1 million — Lambert House facility updates
• $350,000 — Lavender Rights Project
• $9.5 million — Trans-serving organizations statewide