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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2021 Senate Democrats pass capital gains excise tax Legislation to establish a state capital gains tax on the sale of stocks and bonds passed out of the Senate on a 25-24 vote yesterday afternoon. Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett), the sponsor of the bill, acknowledged the extensive input and collaboration that has shaped this policy over the course of a decade in her remarks during yesterday’s floor debate. She also underscored the importance of this bill as a tool for rebuilding Washington State’s regressive tax code. “When we vote to pass this bill, we’re voting to speed ...

  OLYMPIA – Sweeping legislation passed today by the Senate would address one of the leading challenges for Washington households by dramatically increasing the accessibility and affordability of childcare while stabilizing and expanding an industry in crisis. “Childcare tops the list of concerns for the vast majority of our households,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the bill’s sponsor. “This bill will help kids across our state and it will help parents keep their jobs and the salaries they need to take care of their families.” Pre-pandemic, the Child Care Collaborative Task Force reported that the childcare crisis was costing ...

A bill that would create a public financial cooperative in Washington state was approved by the Senate on Friday. The new public cooperative created by SB 5188, sponsored by Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), would provide alternatives for local and tribal governments to fund critical infrastructure and economic development needs.

  OLYMPIA – Today the Senate passed legislation that would improve public safety by ensuring access to services for formerly incarcerated or confined individuals reentering the community. SB 5304, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, would provide a “warm handoff” when someone leaves custody and rejoins their community by allowing them to be covered by Medicaid upon their release from incarceration or confinement. It would also ensure that their managed care provider is notified of their release and provided the necessary information to initiate their benefits. Healthcare coverage during this transition will give people access to services they need to ...

OLYMPIA – A bill that would create new eviction protections for renters and expand programs to help landlords recover losses from unpaid rent as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis was approved by the Senate by a vote of 29-20 on Thursday. [TVW Link] Senate Bill 5160, sponsored by Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), aims to significantly reduce the number of immediate evictions that are expected if the governor’s moratorium is lifted without legislative action. The current eviction moratorium is scheduled to expire on March 31.

OLYMPIA - Families that rely on Washington’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program could see an additional boost in benefits along with clarified expectations under legislation passed today by the Senate. Senate Bill 5214, sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen (D-West Seattle), would allow more families to continue using the vital social program during times of high statewide unemployment. The bill passed on a 29-19 vote and would allow for hardship extensions beyond the 60-month lifetime TANF limit if state unemployment is at or above 7 percent. “Even before the public health crisis we are currently in, it was ...

A bill aimed at expanding community-based support systems for Washingtonians living with mental illnesses passed the Washington State Senate today. Engrossed Senate Bill 5328, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), would make funding available to establish Clubhouse services statewide. Clubhouses are voluntary programs that enable those struggling with mental illnesses to focus on their strengths in a collaborative setting. The program provides an opportunity for people in similar situations to recover and improve their lives through friendship, shared work, education and employment. The bill would also require the Department of Health to review and redesign the licensure and ...

OLYMPIA – A bill to better protect workers during a public health crisis was approved by the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 40-7 on Tuesday. SB 5254, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline), would bar employers from prohibiting employees from wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when a public health state of emergency is declared because of an infectious disease.

  OLYMPIA – Legislation passed today by the Senate would reduce environmental health disparities in Washington state and improve the health of all people in Washington using principles of environmental justice. Senate Bill 5141, also known as the HEAL Act, would address the disproportionate exposure of Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, along with low-income communities to environmental hazards in neighborhoods across Washington state. Due to this exposure, there is a higher risk of adverse health outcomes for those communities, which is further amplified for communities with pre-existing economic barriers and environmental risks. The HEAL Act, sponsored ...