{"id":3702,"date":"2023-02-13T12:39:16","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T19:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/?p=3702"},"modified":"2026-04-30T13:46:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:46:45","slug":"newsletter-update-on-bills-workforce-childcare-town-hall-in-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/2023\/02\/13\/newsletter-update-on-bills-workforce-childcare-town-hall-in-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter: Update on bills, workforce, childcare, &#038; town hall in march"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">Dear friends and neighbors,<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">The first cutoff of session is this coming Friday. Any bills that do not make it out of policy committees by then will not advance any further, though they will be automatically reintroduced next year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">In my\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhousedemocrats.wa.gov%2Forwall%2F2023%2F01%2F27%2Fnewsletter-bills-video-update-reproductive-rights-a-new-tax-credit%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=HKctOFp9hkiUhPHO3X%2B1Dea7BOBSGSpBxmUYlXvNj%2Fw%3D&amp;reserved=0\">previous newsletter<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0I discussed four of my bills that had been passed out of their policy committees. They are listed below with updated information on where they are as of today.<\/p>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 align=\"left\">Update on my Bills<\/h2>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1006%26Year%3D2023%26Initiative%3Dfalse&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Blu1kbkK9y6jo4rZjb6h1ZOpdrV3RIdUcEM6o3XOwjs%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1006<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Expanding access to drug testing equipment: Passed the House unanimously on February 8 (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FsVcrwtUNPQI&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=JOFH8CfmaoN5701CFXa29UMy8oeh4gDFfPTU4bJeWK4%3D&amp;reserved=0\">watch my Floor remarks here<\/a><\/strong>) and has been referred to the Senate Law &amp; Justice Committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1028%26Year%3D2023%26Initiative%3Dfalse&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fqmLLVt6yBJXYdXwqjhT7ZIKuj3DXLOzx6Tqvn0dr%2Bw%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1028<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses in the legal system: Was heard in the Appropriations Committee on February 6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1165%26Initiative%3Dfalse%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=D0kwJRkpeMPUXBQ%2BJN7trNfAOS9gMCzc0zsrbAmdM9w%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1165<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Concerning civil remedies for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images: Passed the House unanimously on February 2 (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FC-vHPna2jIE&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=w3j9cmGGE7pScCNkS4kbNUkK2NuV5urdV1I2euK0NSw%3D&amp;reserved=0\">watch my Floor remarks here<\/a><\/strong>) and was referred to the Senate Law &amp; Justice Committee.<\/p>\n<table class=\"gd_combo_table\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"govd_template_image\" src=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/WALEGHDC\/2023\/02\/7145131\/4572076\/update-on-my-bills_crop.jpg\" alt=\"UPDATE ON MY BILLS\" width=\"174\" height=\"545\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"7\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1222%26Year%3D2023%26Initiative%3Dfalse&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=qc0IGoXRmb9OED5gQFwzsPBgFDVciYXT1Y4VZ00kXhg%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1222<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Requiring\u00a0<strong>coverage for hearing instruments<\/strong>: Passed the Appropriations Committee on a 29-2 vote on February 8, and this morning it was referred to the Rules Committee (that\u2019s one step from the Floor!).<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">And here are short summaries of other bills I sponsored that have now also made it out of committee:<\/h4>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1089%26Initiative%3Dfalse%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=b8wmu3S2vmfk0LAOJr9WQNT0MzG%2FDmMlDVCKs1Dk%2Fj4%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1089<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Supporting adults with lived experience of sex trafficking<\/strong>: Passed the Human Services, Youth &amp; Early Learning Committee on January 27, and was heard in Appropriations on February 8.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">Last year, the SeaTac Police Department responded to numerous allegations of sex trafficking and was asked to help support victims of these offenses. This bill would help provide this needed assistance by creating a program for healing, support, and transition services for adults with lived experience of sex trafficking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1134%26Initiative%3Dfalse%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=I0vT%2B2SyXC4gefca0kFSEZISHVlH1Laq4qwQbruWGJM%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1134<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013<strong>\u00a0Implementing the 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system<\/strong>: Passed the Health Care &amp; Wellness Committee on February 8 and was referred to Appropriations today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">This bill creates a template for the rapid response teams which are critical to help people experiencing a behavioral health crisis and getting them to the services they need as quickly as possible. This bill lays the groundwork for mobile rapid response units specifically trained to deal with behavioral health crisis de-escalation and care, which mitigates police response and frees up law enforcement officers so they can attend to other needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1300%26Initiative%3Dfalse%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hWMljGkAJGiKBJjR1%2FLTa%2FgRGTBjvccG4b08A3ZoDtc%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1300<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Concerning\u00a0<strong>fraud in assisted reproduction<\/strong>: Passed the Community Safety, Justice &amp; Reentry Committee on February 2 and was referred to Appropriations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">This legislation is an updated version of one I sponsored last year; it adds an important provision for disciplinary actions under the Uniform Disciplinary Act. This year\u2019s bill also creates a work group to look at different examples of fraud in assisted reproduction and consider rules to address such fraud.\u00a0<strong>Watch my video update in the next section<\/strong>\u00a0below for more information on this bill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1349%26Initiative%3Dfalse%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195683986798%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=wjQxjqIBDQ24m%2Bhe6TjnqOEmgQkYTBuG0oIcpfimDxY%3D&amp;reserved=0\">HB 1349<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Concerning\u00a0<strong>foreclosure protections<\/strong>: Passed the Housing Committee on February 2 and was referred to the Rules Committee on February 6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">This measure extends timeframe to refer homeowners to mediation in the case of a default; removes the requirement that successors occupy a home to be referred to mediation; extends lookback window exemptions on mediation and remittance through 2023; and adds new language that will delay the trustee sale of a house for the homeowners to access the Homeowner Assistance Funds. These changes will do a lot to help and add clarity for homeowners and trustees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/billsummary?BillNumber=1637&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HB 1637<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Concerning\u00a0<strong>foreclosure surplus funds<\/strong>: Passed the Civil Rights &amp; Judiciary Committee on February 10.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">This measure prohibits excessive fees for locating or recovering foreclosure surplus funds and other unclaimed property. I also<strong>\u00a0discuss this bill in my video update below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">Video Update<\/h2>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">In this video update I talk about\u00a0<strong>HB 1637<\/strong>, focused on protecting homeowners at risk of foreclosure from companies preying on the surplus funds of their homes, and about\u00a0<strong>HB 1300<\/strong>\u00a0aimed at protecting people from assisted reproduction fraud and holding physicians who commit such fraud accountable.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/dv3sEQWgweI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"govd_template_image aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/WALEGHDC\/2023\/02\/7145195\/orwall-vid-update-scarf-1_original.png\" alt=\"orwall vid up scarf\" width=\"499\" height=\"285\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">Addressing Workforce Shortages<\/h2>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">As our economy fully recovers from the pandemic, we are working on ways to address workforce shortages and create future economic resiliency. One strategy involves streamlining licensing and certification for in demand professions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">We are considering bills that remove barriers of entry into the workforce and increase access to applied degrees across the state. Examples are\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1009%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195684142990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=pKpTSIbsIxoE65Exni4x%2F9ZDxmZqIeNtTGKwiwPg24Q%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HB 1009<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1030%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195684142990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fCMJvIqwKxBH8tTWBO9LWeyy%2BknvbAkPBrPADO0sTnA%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HB 1030<\/a><\/strong>, as well as two measures in which I am one of the sponsors:\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1069%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195684142990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=B5iqj43T9%2FFKlqusNPLV31Kn0KWcT%2BFpSDcWtuPQ7y8%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HB 1069<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2Fbillsummary%3FBillNumber%3D1001%26Year%3D2023&amp;data=05%7C01%7CLilia.Nieto%40leg.wa.gov%7C716ef04f14784913b81208db0e070d76%7C848b0e6c94894d83b31e4fde99732b09%7C0%7C0%7C638119195684142990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Vybkd0a6UFyc%2BXJ9BBwv81BMoUfnJ%2BTJfFhTjrHelCU%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HB 1001<\/a><\/strong>. In combination, these bills will make is easier for military spouses to pursue new employment opportunities, allow regional universities to offer applied doctoral degrees to train the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow, and streamline certification of mental health counselors, speech therapists and audiologists in Washington.<\/p>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 align=\"left\">Childcare and ECEAP Expansion<\/h2>\n<p align=\"left\">The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is a Washington State funded, comprehensive preschool program that provides free services and support to eligible children and their families.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"govd_template_image aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/WALEGHDC\/2023\/02\/7145223\/eceap1_original.png\" alt=\"eceap1\" width=\"535\" height=\"264\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"xparagraph\" align=\"left\"><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">ECEAP provides early\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\">child<\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">hood care and enrichment to three- and four-year olds from families with an income at or below 36% of the state median income (SMI), or tribal\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\">child<\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">ren from a family with income at or below 100% SMI. The program delivers kindergarten readiness outcomes for low-income\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\">child<\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">ren\u2014and provides vital\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\">child<\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">care to meet the needs of working families. Currently, this program serves about 11,000\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\">child<\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">ren\u2014and we\u2019re working on expanding funding and eligibility.\u00a0<strong>ECEAP is the state\u2019s highest quality early learning program but costs the least in terms of \u2018per\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\"><strong>child<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\"><strong>\u2019 spending.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xeop\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"xparagraph\" align=\"left\"><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">However, despite increasing enrollment, there are more\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\">child<\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\">ren eligible for ECEAP than we have slots for\u2014and a low slot rate leaves ECEAP providers susceptible to staff turnover and workforce shortage, reducing support and increasing costs.\u00a0<strong>This year, we\u2019re focused on expanding access to ECEAP, creating innovative\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"xfindhit\"><strong>child<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"xnormaltextrun\"><strong>care workforce solutions, and exploring other ways to assist more families struggling with the high cost of childcare.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">In-Person Town Hall coming up in March<\/h2>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"govd_template_image aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/WALEGHDC\/2023\/02\/7145262\/save-the-date-star-gif_original.gif\" alt=\"Save the date\" width=\"411\" height=\"412\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">Your 33<sup>rd<\/sup>\u00a0Legislative District delegation,\u00a0<strong>Sen. Karen Keiser, Rep. Mia Gregerson, and I<\/strong>\u00a0will host an in-person town hall on March 18. All the information and details will be announced soon, and a link will also be provided so you can submit questions in advance, but for now, mark it on your calendar!<\/p>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">As always, thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. If you need additional information, have any feedback, or just want to say hello, please give me a call or send me an email.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xmsonormal\" align=\"left\">Sincerely,<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"govd_template_image alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/attachments\/fancy_images\/WALEGHDC\/2019\/02\/2381297\/4572119\/orwall-sig2_crop.png\" alt=\"Tina signature\" width=\"189\" height=\"51\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"govd_hr\">\n<div class=\"govd_hr_inner\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear friends and neighbors, The first cutoff of session is this coming Friday. Any bills that do not make it out of policy committees by then will not advance any further, though they will be automatically reintroduced next year. In my\u00a0previous newsletter\u00a0I discussed four of my bills that had been passed out of their policy committees. They are listed below with updated information on where they are as of today. Update on my Bills HB 1006\u00a0\u2013 Expanding access to drug testing equipment: Passed the House unanimously on February 8 (watch my Floor remarks here) and has been referred to the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":3903,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Newsletter: Update on bills, workforce, childcare, &amp; town hall in march - Sen. Tina Orwall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The first cutoff of session is this coming Friday. Any bills that do not make it out of policy committees by then will not advance any further, though they will be automatically reintroduced next year.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/2023\/02\/13\/newsletter-update-on-bills-workforce-childcare-town-hall-in-march\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Newsletter: Update on bills, workforce, childcare, &amp; town hall in march - Sen. Tina Orwall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The first cutoff of session is this coming Friday. Any bills that do not make it out of policy committees by then will not advance any further, though they will be automatically reintroduced next year.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/2023\/02\/13\/newsletter-update-on-bills-workforce-childcare-town-hall-in-march\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sen. Tina Orwall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-13T19:39:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-30T20:46:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2023\/02\/20230119_104855ly-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"msari\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"msari\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/2023\/02\/13\/newsletter-update-on-bills-workforce-childcare-town-hall-in-march\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/orwall\/2023\/02\/13\/newsletter-update-on-bills-workforce-childcare-town-hall-in-march\/\",\"name\":\"Newsletter: Update on bills, workforce, childcare, & town hall in march - Sen. 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