Dear friends and neighbors, 

We’re almost at the halfway mark in the 2024 legislative session! As we embark on our fifth week, I’m eager to share some updates and helpful information with you. 

FISCAL CUTOFF 

Monday is what’s known as “fiscal cutoff” in the Legislature. This means all bills with a significant fiscal note must move out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee by the end of the day in order to continue moving through the process. It also means we will start spending more of our time on the Senate floor passing the bills still in play.  

The Ways & Means Committee has spent the last several days, including today, hearing dozens of bills and deciding which ones to move forward. You can watch the action at TVW.org.  

ADDRESSING THE OPIOID CRISIS 

I joined Attorney General Bob Ferguson and other state leaders for a news conference about the recent $149.5 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson for the company’s role in fueling the opioid crisis. As part of the agreement, we are required to ensure $123.3 million of it is used to combat the opioid epidemic, including the fentanyl crisis that is devastating Washington communities, especially tribes. Funds will be awarded by the end of this fiscal year, which means the Legislature can earmark the money during our current legislative session. This will enable us to continue to invest in ways that help people recover and focus on prevention. 

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, who represents part of Snohomish County, recently commissioned a report on the opioid crisis in the 2nd Congressional District. Here are a few of the findings: 

  • Between February 2022 and February 2023, Washington state had the largest percentage increase of drug overdose deaths in the United States. 
  • In the five counties in Washington’s 2nd Congressional District — Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan — most overdose deaths can be attributed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. 
  • In 2022, more than 75% of Washington’s overall drug overdose deaths were linked to opioids. Even though the United States saw a 3% decline in overdose deaths overall during this period, deaths in Washington state increased by more than 21%, continuing trends which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I encourage you to read the report (you can find a breakdown of it here). This crisis will not go away overnight, but we are taking proactive steps to ensure we address it head on and provide communities with resources to support all our neighbors, particularly those most in need. 

WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT 

In early 2023, we launched the Working Families Tax Credit. Since then, it has provided over $116 million in refunds to 163,000 Washington households, with an average refund of $714 per household. I am happy to say that 249,000 kids have been positively impacted by this program. 

Applications for the 2024 cycle open on Feb. 1 and are available through the end of the calendar year. To check if you are eligible for the rebate of up to $1,255, click here. 

STAY IN TOUCH 

Our office continues to be as available to you as ever. Send me an email at June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov or give me a call at 360-786-7674.  

I’d love to hear from you and look forward to learning more about your priorities. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates as well.  

 

Sincerely,  

 

June Robinson