Dear Friends,
Welcome to the ninth week of the legislative session.
We have officially passed the halfway point in the 2021 legislative session! Both chambers were mostly on the floor last week debating and voting on bills that are in their house of origin. They were on the floor late into the night on some days; both chambers were on the floor on Saturday and the House convened on Sunday as well. All bills must pass off the floor of the chamber in which they were originally introduced by 5pm on Tuesday, March 9th or they will be considered dead. This means House bills must pass off the House floor and Senate bills off the Senate floor. Bills that pass off the floor in their house of origin will then flip sides and go through the same process they’ve been through in their house of origin.
During the lead up to every floor cutoff, there is speculation as to what will be the “5:00 bill.” This term refers to the rule that if debate starts on a bill prior to 5:00 p.m., the debate can continue for as long as it takes. Sometimes the 5:00 bill is one that is controversial, so having it be the 5:00 bill allows that bill to be considered and debated on without taking up precious floor time leading up to cutoff. Other times the 5:00 bill might be one to honor a particular member or a significant issue.
After Tuesday’s house of origin cutoff, hearings will resume again as policy committees consider bills that have been sent over from the opposite house. Bills have until March 26th to pass out of their opposite house policy committee.
There is a lot of reflection happening this week as we approach the year anniversary of when things started to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A year ago this coming week was when the legislature adjourned the 2020 session amid rising cases and increased talk of potential stay at home requirements. Looking back, it would have been impossible to predict where things have ended up and that we would be doing session virtually.
The Washington State Department of Health announced our state passed a somber milestone, since the first COVID-related death here on February 29, 2020, over 5,000 Washingtonians have died from the virus.
Following a directive from President Biden on Tuesday, March 2nd that all pre-k-12 educators, school staff and childcare workers were to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Jay Inslee announced their immediate eligibility that afternoon. “The president has directed us to add pre-K-12 educators, school staff and licensed childcare workers to our current vaccine prioritization. This directive will be carried out through existing providers and the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which operates through national pharmacies and independent pharmacy chains. Therefore, we are adding educators and licensed childcare workers to Washington’s Phase 1B-1 immediately.”
On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state's projected timeline for making the next prioritized populations eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. On the state's current trajectory, it is expected that on March 22, a little over two weeks from now, those in the second tier of Phase 1B will be eligible for the vaccine. This applies to all critical workers who work in certain congregate settings. They will be eligible that day, assuming supply continues to increase. This includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, fire fighters, law enforcement, as well as workers in corrections, prisons, jails, or detention centers. More people were added to this tier as well on Tuesday. People over 16 years old who are pregnant or who have a disability that puts them at high-risk will also be eligible.
This week in Inside Olympia, host Austin Jenkins interviewed the Washington State Department of Health’s new Secretary, Dr. Umair Shah. Dr. Shah shares his thoughts about when he believes the “average Washingtonian” will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, what measures we should take when we do receive one, and health disparities in this interesting interview.
Last week it was a privilege to participate in the 2021 virtual Washington State Public Health Association’s Legislative Day. Although it would have been better to be in person with my friends and colleagues, the event was informative and energizing. Over 135 participants heard from legislators Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-27th), Senator June Robinson (D-38th), Representative John Lovick (D-44th), Representative Marcus Riccelli (D-3rd), Senator Mona Das (D-47th), and Representative Strom Peterson (D-21st). There were also speakers that included Dr. Meghan Mott (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee) Margaret Babayan and Tracy Yeung (Washington Budget and Policy Center), Ryan Black (Washington State Department of Health), and lobbyists Amy Brackenbury, Brynn Brady, and Katie Kolan. These speakers addressed topics ranging from health equity to tax reform, federal legislation, effective meetings with legislators, and of course, public health funding. The Seattle Times published an article (paywall) that highlighted the years of underfunding Washington State’s public health system and its impact on the COVID-19 response.
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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,
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Julie Peterson, Executive Director
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2021 virtual WSPHA Legislative Day was a success!
Photo Credit: Jeff Ketchel, WSPHA Managing Director and Jack of all Trades
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Please note, this status is as of Saturday, March 6th. Please check www.leg.wa.gov for further status updates. Check for new bill additions each week.
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Clinical & Community Linkages
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“Creating the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy.”
HB 1086
Sponsor: Simmons
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health & Long Term Care
“Expanding accessible, affordable childcare and early childhood development programs.”
HB 1213 & SB 5237
Sponsor: Senn
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House 2nd Reading
Status: Senate Passed 3rd
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 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
Mar 10: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM
Mar 11: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 10:00 AM
“Concerning health equity continuing education for health care professionals.”
SB 5229
Sponsor: Randall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House 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 Rules 2
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 Ways & Means
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“Supporting measures to create comprehensive public health districts.”
HB 1152 & SB 5173
Sponsor: Riccelli
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House 2nd Reading & Senate Health
“Concerning the regulation of products sold to adults age 21 and over.”
HB 1345 & SB 5266
Sponsor: Pollett
Sponsor: Kuderer
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House Commerce & Labor Senate Labor
“Developing comprehensive school counseling programs.”
SB 5030
Sponsor: Mullet
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
Mar 11: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM
"Implementing the national 988 system to enhance and expand behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services."
HB 1477
Sponsor: Orwall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House 2nd Reading
“Concerning school-based health centers.”
HB 1225
Sponsor: Stonier
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care & Long-Term Care
“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
“Increasing affordability of standardized plans on the individual market.”
SB 5377
Sponsor: Frockt
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
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Social & Economic Conditions
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“Providing for an additional revenue source for eviction prevention and housing stability services.”
HB 1277
Sponsor: Ormsby
Healthy Gen’s position: support
Status: House Appropriations
“Concerning methods to prevent nicotine addiction.”
HB 1550
Sponsor: Pollet
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House Finance
“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: House Education
Mar 11: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM
“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 Second Reading
“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: House Civil Rights & Judiciary
“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 Rules Review
“Concerning the restoration of the right to possess a firearm.”
HB 1026
Sponsor: Walen
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights
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“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: Senate Law & Justice 2nd Reading & Senate Law & Justice
“Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches.”
HB 1342
Sponsor: Berg
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate EL-K-12
Mar 10: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM
Mar 12: Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM
“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 Appropriations & Senate Housing
"Funding public health services and health equity initiatives through a statewide sweetened beverage tax.
SB 5371
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care
“Concerning foster care and childcare licensing by the department of children, youth, and families.”
SB 5151
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Children, Youth & Families
Mar 11: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Children, Youth & Families at 10:00 AM
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“Improving the state's climate response through updates to the state's comprehensive planning framework.”
HB 1099
Sponsor: Duerr
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Passed 3rd
Click here for a one-pager from Futurewise.
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“Concerning long-term forest health and the reduction of wildfire dangers.”
HB 1168
Sponsor: Springer
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House 2nd Reading
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