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Legislative Session 2021

Dear Friends,

Welcome back! We are entering the fourth week of the legislative session. Here is the 2021 Legislative Session Calendar so you can track where we are in the session. 

Monday, the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee heard a message of introduction by new Secretary of Health Umar Shah, M.D., MPH. The committee also heard a vaccine update from Michele Roberts, Acting Assistant Secretary, Prevention and Community Health Division, Department of Health regarding vaccine distribution. The state’s goal is to administer 45,000 of 1st and 2nd doses of vaccine a day. Vaccine supply is the number one limiting factor in meeting the set goal. The state is currently receiving 100,000 new doses of vaccine per week. The state has a new vaccine dashboard for the public to track vaccine data. As of Monday, Washington officially passed 500,000 vaccine doses administered and reported. 

Those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine currently include groups in Phase 1 Tier 1A, 2A, and 1B. Washington is currently in Phase 1B of vaccine distribution. There are an estimated 1.7 million in Washington residents in Phase 1B. It may take several weeks to move to the next phase when 50% of this tier has been vaccinated. 

The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee heard HB 1264-Establishing an equity impact statement for legislative proposals on Monday. Racial and Ethnic Impact Statements (REISs) are a tool sometimes used by policymakers to evaluate potential disproportional racial and ethnic impacts of proposed legislation or other proposals prior to adoption and implementation. They may include statistical analyses of the impact of proposed legislation on certain populations, and other information. The proposed bill directs the Office of Financial Management to:
  • By November 15, 2021, establish procedures, guidelines, and content and format requirements for the Equity Impact Statement (EIS).
  • By January 1, 2022, provide an EIS on certain legislative proposals that create or amend housing or health care policies.
  • By January 1, 2024, provide an EIS on certain legislative proposals in six additional policy areas. 
  • By January 1, 2025, provide an EIS on any legislative proposal on which a fiscal note is requested or at the request of a legislator.
View the committee hearing and action here.

Thursday, Governor Inslee announced several changes to Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery. The plan will be changed in two ways; first, the evaluation criteria for regions to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, and the timeframe in which regions can progress. Regions moving to Phase 2 are:
  • West (Grays Harbor, Pacific, Thurston, Lewis)
  • Puget Sound (Snohomish, King, Pierce)
These two regions cover half of our state’s population. Once again, indoor dining will be available at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 6 people per table. For more details about the changes, watch Governor Inslee’s press conference.

‘Get Ready’ plan was announced Friday by State Schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal and Kaiser Permanente Washington president Susan Mullaney. The plan is designed to be launch-ready when K-12 personnel become eligible under Washington state’s vaccination protocols and will focus on supporting a safe return to school for communities across the state. The plan will include dedicated vaccine resources and space provided by Kaiser Permanente at its owned and operated clinics as well as K-12 school locations for both member and non-member school employees. 

In Inside Olympia this week, Austin Jenkins interviews State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, on reopening schools during COVID-19 and education policy in the 2021 Legislature. Senator Lynda Wilson (R-17th), the Senate Republican’s new lead on the Senate Ways & Means Committee offers her thoughts and perspective on the state budget and the 2021 Legislative Session. 

Are you planning to testify before the legislature this year? Use these handy step by step instructions so you are ready to go!

It is imperative for legislators to hear from their constituents about the bills that are being considered In Olympia. There are many ways YOU can weigh in on a bill. Click here to learn about your options to use your voice. Advocacy works!

We will continue to keep you updated with future status updates. If you have bill or policy questions, please feel free to direct them to Julie Peterson at juliep@healthygen.org or my Twitter handle, @HealthyGenJulie.

Ever forward,
Julie Peterson
Julie Peterson, Executive Director
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Bills We're Watching
BY TOPIC:  Clinical & Community Linkages | Social & Economic Conditions | Physical Environment
Please note, this status is as of Saturday, January 30th. Please check www.leg.wa.gov for further status updates. Check for new bill additions each week.

Clinical & Community Linkages

 

“Creating the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy.”
HB1086
Sponsor: Simmons
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
Jan 29: Referred to Appropriations.


“Expanding accessible, affordable childcare and early childhood development programs.”
HB 1213 & SB 5237
Sponsor: Senn
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Children, Youth and Families
Status: Senate Early Learning & K-12
Feb 3: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Children, Youth & Families at 8:00 AM 
Feb 4: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Children, Youth & Families at 10:00 AM 
Feb 3: Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM

Click here for the Fair Start Act Summary 

“Concerning working connections childcare eligibility and unemployment benefits.”
SB 5023
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Early Learning & K-12
Jan 28: Referred to Ways & Means.


“Improving maternal health outcomes by extending coverage during the postpartum period.”
SB 5068
Sponsor: Stonier
Sponsor: Randall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Health Care
Jan 27: Referred to Ways & Means.


“Ensuring equity in health coverage.”
HB 1191
Sponsor: Thai
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care


“Concerning health equity continuing education for health care professionals.”
SB 5229
Sponsor: Randall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care

 

“Concerning the possession of vapor, vapor products, tobacco, and tobacco products by minors.”
SB 5129
Sponsor: Saldana
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Human Services
Jan 29: Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation at 10:30 AM. (Committee Materials)
HSRR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

See one-pager from Healthy King County Coalition here.

“Funding foundational public health services.”
HB 1201 & SB 5149
Sponsor: Riccelli
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Finance & Senate Health 


“Supporting measures to create comprehensive public health districts.”
HB 1152 & SB 5173
Sponsor: Riccelli
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House Health Finance & Senate Health


“Concerning the regulation of products sold to adults age 21 and over.”
HB 1345SB 5266
Sponsor: Pollett
Sponsor: Kuderer
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Commerce & Labor Senate Labor
Feb 2: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Commerce & Gaming at 8:00 AM


“Developing comprehensive school counseling programs.”
SB 5030
Sponsor: Mullet
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Rules 2


“Enhancing and expanding behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis response services.”
HB 1182 & SB 5209
Sponsor: Orwall
Sponsor: Dhingra
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Behavioral Health
Feb 3: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM

Social & Economic Conditions

 

“Concerning professional learning, equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism in the public school system.”
SB 5044
Sponsor: Das
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Passed 3rd


“Prohibiting the use of credit scores to determine rates for personal lines of insurance.”
SB 5010
Sponsor: Das
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Business & Finance


“Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety.”
HB 1164 & SB 5078
Sponsor: Valdez
Sponsor: Liias
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights & Senate Rules 2 


“Prohibiting weapons in state capitol buildings and grounds and certain other governmental buildings and facilities.”
HB 1234
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights


“Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol.”
SB 5038
Sponsor: Kuderer
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Rules 2


“Including the open carry or display of weapons within the offense of criminal mischief.”
HB 1283
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights
Feb 2: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:00 AM 
Feb 5: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM

“Concerning the restoration of the right to possess a firearm.”
HB 1026
Sponsor: Walen
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights


“Modernizing, harmonizing, and improving the efficacy and accessibility of laws concerning civil protection orders.”
HB 1320 & SB 5297
Sponsor: Goodman
Sponsor: Dhingra
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights & Senate Law & Justice


“Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches.”
HB 1342
Sponsor: Berg
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations
Feb 2: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 3:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee Materials)
Feb 4: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Appropriations at 3:30 PM 


“Providing for an additional revenue source for eviction prevention and housing stability services.”
HB 1277 & SB 5279
Sponsor: Ormsby
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Housing Do Pass & Senate Housing


“Concerning foster care and childcare licensing by the department of children, youth, and families.”
SB 5151
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Early Learning & K-12
Jan 27: Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM

Physical Environment

 

“Improving the state's climate response through updates to the state's comprehensive planning framework.”
HB 1099
Sponsor: Duerr
Status: House Environment & Energy 
Healthy Gen’s position: Support

Click here for a one-pager from Futurewise.

“Concerning long-term forest health and the reduction of wildfire dangers.”
HB 1168 
Sponsor: Springer
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Rural Development Do Pass
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