Dear friends and neighbors,<\/p>\n
Our state has taken a multi-pronged approach to resisting the constant chaos and confusion created by the Trump administration\u2019s harmful actions: deportations without due process, federal layoffs, cuts to education and health care, and relentless attempts to undermine the U.S. Constitution with illegal executive orders.<\/p>\n
This session the Legislature worked to pass important policy safeguards and ensure the state Attorney General\u2019s Office has the necessary budget resources to pursue justice on behalf of all Washingtonians. AG Nick Brown has already filed several major lawsuits against the Trump administration, spanning immigration<\/a>, healthcare<\/a>, public safety<\/a>, federal funding<\/a>, LGBTQ+ youth<\/a>, critical research<\/a>, education<\/a>, environment<\/a>, infrastructure<\/a>, and elections<\/a>. You can read more about the state\u2019s latest resistance efforts at the AG\u2019s website<\/a>. Gov. Bob Ferguson also recently took action to fight the illegal, arbitrary tariffs<\/a> that could cause serious harm to our state\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n Over the last several years, including during President Trump\u2019s first term, the Legislature has passed dozens of bills to protect the progress we have made here in Washington on a wide range of issues. Below are some highlights of this work. I will continue to fight every day to protect Washingtonians from the reckless and cruel federal administration, and we will return to this work when the legislature reconvenes in January 2026.<\/p>\n Protected access to reproductive services and gender-affirming treatment (2018 SB 6219<\/strong><\/a>; 2021 SB 5313<\/strong><\/a>; 2023 HB 1469<\/strong><\/a>, SB 5768<\/strong><\/a>, SB 5242<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5599<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 HB 1971<\/strong><\/a>, SB 5498<\/strong><\/a>, SB 5557<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5632<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Increased access to HIV and AIDS prevention medications (2023 SB 5142<\/strong><\/a>; 2024 SB 6127<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5983<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 SB 5577<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Protected private, personal health data (2023 HB 1155<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Ensured access to vaccines (2024 SB 5982<\/strong><\/a> and SB 6095<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 HB 1531<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Protected providers performing abortion and gender-affirming care (2022 HB 1851<\/strong><\/a>; 2023 HB 1340<\/strong><\/a>; 2024 HB 1954<\/strong><\/a> and HB 2115<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 SB 5632<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Codified Affordable Care Act (ACA) protections in state law (2018 HB 1523<\/strong><\/a>; 2024 HB 1957<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Invested state-only funds in health coverage for residents without a federally recognized immigration status.<\/p>\n Banned discrimination by most health providers based on a person\u2019s gender identity or expression (2019 SB 5602<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Dramatically reduced barriers to voting access by implementing and enhancing automatic (2018 HB 2595<\/strong><\/a>; 2023 SB 5112<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 SB 5077<\/strong><\/a>) and same-day voter registration (2018 SB 6021<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Provided a state-level alternative to federal voting rights litigation (2018 SB 6002<\/strong><\/a>; 2023 SB 1048<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Enhanced protections for voting systems to repel cyber and other threats (2021 HB 1068<\/strong><\/a>; 2024 SB 5843<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Protected election staff from threats (2024 HB 1241<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Enacted \u201cKeep Washington Working\u201d to ensure agencies limit information shared with federal immigration enforcement (2019 SB 5497<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Strengthened protections against hate crimes (2019 HB 1732<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5689<\/strong><\/a>; 2020 HB 1687<\/strong><\/a>; 2024 SB 5427<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5917<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 SB 5101<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Prohibited bans of books due to the contributions of individuals from protected classes (2024 HB 2331<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Allowed for the use of civil legal aid funds to assist people present in Washington without legal status (2021 HB 1072<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Expanded civil service eligibility for noncitizens (2018 SB 6145<\/strong><\/a>; 2024 SB 6157<\/strong><\/a> and HB 1530<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Expanded eligibility for the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status program to protect vulnerable youth facing abuse from deportation (2017 HB 1988<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Banned discrimination by most health providers based on a person\u2019s gender identity or expression (2019 SB 5602<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Created a new low-interest loan program for undocumented students allowing the state to match private donations (2020 SB 6561<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Expanded financial aid for DREAMers (2018 HB 1488<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5074<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Created an LGBTQ veteran\u2019s coordinator to help LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans receive the honor and support they earned but may not be receiving due to the archaic legacy of \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d (2020 SB 5900<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Created sentence review to prevent deportation (2025 HB 1131<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Prevented workplace coercion based on immigration status (2025 SB 5104<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Reduced greenhouse gas emissions among large polluters with passage of the \u201cClimate Commitment Act” (2021 SB 5126<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Reduced the carbon intensity of transportation fuels with passage of the \u201cClean Fuel Standard” (2021 HB 1091<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 HB 1409<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Set energy performance standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings (Clean Buildings Act and Reducing Buildings Emissions) (2019 HB 1257<\/strong><\/a>; 2022 SB 5722<\/strong><\/a>; 2025 HB 1543<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Supported investments in local renewable energy projects by creating new pathways to meet clean energy goals (2025 SB 5445<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Extended access to Working Connections Child Care regardless of immigration status (2023 SB 5225<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Prohibited school bans of books written by individuals from protected classes (2024 HB 2331<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Required school districts to have a gender-inclusive schools policy that protects students from discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression (2019 SB 5689<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Required all school directors and educational staff have training in cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion (2021 SB 5044<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Ensured instructional materials used in schools are inclusive and include the histories, contributions and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (2024 SB 5462<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Expanded financial aid opportunities for DREAMers (2018 HB 1488<\/strong><\/a> and SB 5074<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Supported the rights of students, teachers, and their families to create a safe, healthy learning environment for all students (2025 HB 1296<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you missed my newsletters on public education<\/a>, housing<\/a>, community projects<\/a>, transportation<\/a>, environmental protections<\/a>, LGBTQ rights<\/a>, public safety<\/a>, worker protections<\/a>, consumer protections<\/a>, progressive revenue<\/a>, or health care<\/a>, they are available on my website<\/a>.<\/p>\nReproductive rights and health care<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Election security and voting rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Immigrants, people of color and LGBTQ+ rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Kids and education<\/strong><\/h2>\n