Dear Neighbors,
The 2020 legislative session continues to be a whirlwind, and last night we wrapped up another phase. Yesterday marked the cutoff deadline for bills to pass out of the chamber where they were introduced. Only these bills will move forward as the session advances.
Below are some of the bills I prime sponsored that passed out of the Senate, as well as bills that passed out of the House of Representatives that were companions to Senate bills I prime sponsored.
Senate Bill 5165 would prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status under the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
Senate Bill 5164 would expand eligibility for state assistance programs for noncitizen victims of human trafficking and other serious crimes.
Senate Bill 5473 would establish a study of the impacts of extending unemployment benefits to workers who must leave their job due to inaccessible care for a child or vulnerable adult, or separation from a minor child.
Senate Bill 6442 would prohibit the Department of Corrections from contracting with out of state private prisons, ensuring that Washington residents are not shipped out of state to private facilities that are more likely to have deplorable conditions.
House Bill 2511 would protect the rights of domestic workers to be free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by their employers, and would establish a stakeholder work group to make recommendations to improve working conditions for domestic workers.
House Bill 2638 would allow tribes to include sports wagering at their gaming facilities.
House Bill 2691 would expand collective bargaining for language access providers who provide services to state agencies, allowing them to bargain regarding health and welfare benefits and other economic matters.
House Bill 2797 would improve rules for local governments’ adoption and implementation of the local sales tax for affordable or supportive housing.
It’s been great working on these notable bills as we continue to build on the many progressive policies the Senate Democrats have passed in recent years. Now it’s time to dig into the next phase of the session—public hearings on House bills that have been passed to the Senate for consideration, and then votes on the ones that pass out of their respective committees!
Don’t forget!
Join me at my town hall on February 29! It will be from noon to 2 pm at New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. S, in Seattle.
Stay tuned for more e-news updates as the session continues. My office will continue to welcome your thoughts and concerns throughout the session, so please let us know what issues are important to you and your community!
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