{"id":3292,"date":"2026-03-12T17:27:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T00:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/slatter\/?p=3292"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:56:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T17:56:56","slug":"final-day-of-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/slatter\/2026\/03\/12\/final-day-of-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Final day of session"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friends and neighbors,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today is the last day of the 2026 legislative session, and I want to give you a quick update on our progress during these short and intense few months! The Legislature has been working hard to deliver results for Washingtonians, and I\u2019m proud to share that three of my bills have passed and are now heading to the governor\u2019s desk. Here is a snapshot of the legislation I sponsored this session that made it across the finish line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill\u00a0<\/span><\/b>5845<\/span><\/b><\/a> at its core, is a simple idea: hospitals and providers should be paid in a timely and predictable way for the care they deliver. With many providers \u2014 especially in rural and underserved communities \u2014 already stretched thin, this bill helps protect access to care for Washingtonians.<\/p>\n

This bill modernizes and clarifies timely payment requirements for health carriers. Hospitals and health care providers across Washington state are facing severe financial strain due to rising costs and recent federal Medicaid cuts. Currently, health carriers must pay 95% of clean claims within 30 days of receipt to providers. Often the remaining 5% of clean claims are the highest-cost hospital bills. Senate Bill 5845 updates this payment standard by requiring health carriers pay 100% of these claims within 30 days, rather than 95%. It\u2019s critical we ensure hospitals receive payments from health carriers in a timely manner so they can focus on providing care to Washingtonians. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill\u00a0<\/span><\/b>6200<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>will help safeguard tenant safety and\u00a0renters’\u00a0rights\u00a0to keep their homes cool. The 2021 heat dome was one of the deadliest weather events in state history, and rising temperatures and extreme heat are becoming a more frequent public health risk. Portable cooling devices are often the only\u00a0option\u00a0for renters to keep their homes cool during extreme heat events, yet landlords\u00a0are able to\u00a0prohibit these devices.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 6200 will ensure renters are allowed to protect their health using safe, portable air conditioning units, while also guaranteeing property owners are protected from liability.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill\u00a0<\/span><\/b>6246<\/span><\/b><\/a> establishes new reporting requirements for emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) industries so that they can effectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and remain competitive in Washington state. These are some of our biggest industries \u2013 steel, cement, pulp, and paper \u2013 and they are some of our largest emitters. These industries employ many workers and play an important role in our economy. When the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) was negotiated, we recognized that certain industries needed time to develop technologies that would allow them to decarbonize their production processes and that sudden or unpredictable costs could push EITE industries to relocate rather than reduce pollution. That would have undermined climate goals by shifting pollution elsewhere rather than reducing it. Senate Bill 6246 gives us facility-scale information on opportunities and limitations to industrial decarbonization so that we can make sure the state\u2019s emission reduction framework supports our large manufacturers and aligns with the intent of the CCA. This bill balances environmental responsibility with economic competitiveness and job retention.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here is a graph showing the progress of all my bills introduced this session! I focused on issues related to child care, housing, affordability, environmental policy, health care access, and more. I\u2019ll continue to push for these issue areas next session!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investments in the 48th Legislative District<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This session, I worked to secure our fair share of funding for projects at home in the 48th. The capital budget funds local community projects such as parks, housing, and other infrastructure. It is financed through bond sales, dedicated state funds, and federal funds. This session, the capital budget invests over $3 million in the 48th. I\u2019m excited to share that the projects below were included in the final version. I fought to ensure we invested in key projects that support our public spaces, housing, community projects, and more. Here are some highlights.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n