Dear friends and neighbors,
As the end of the year approaches, I am simultaneously grateful for the time I have had representing you in the House and I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving you in a new capacity as your next State Senator. I am concerned about federal changes that are coming and I am confident that we as a state will continue to embrace progress and make life better for all Washingtonians. Finally, I’m looking forward to our work to address the affordable housing crisis and provide equitable access to healthcare.
Tackling the affordable housing crisis in our state has been a top priority for me since my first day in office, and I’m honored to have been selected to chair the Senate Housing Committee ahead of the 2025 legislative session that starts on January 13.
I’m proud of the work my colleagues and I accomplished in the House these past four years. We worked together both as Democrats and across the aisle to pass bills that tackle the affordable housing crisis from multiple angles, from increasing the supply and support for affordable housing, to stabilizing people’s futures in their homes. There is no one answer, and finding holistic approaches to the current crisis will continue to be one of my top priorities.
Here’s a few of the bills I’ve sponsored or collaborated on over the last few years that we passed in the House:
Housing
In 2023 we passed HB 1110 to increase our middle housing supply. This bill made it easier for us to build more homes of all shapes and sizes in more of our communities. Modest middle housing options like duplexes and triplexes provide more affordable options for Washington’s working families while also slowing suburban sprawl, preventing deforestation, reducing pollution-causing traffic, and protecting our watersheds.
That same year the House passed HB 1337, easing barriers to building accessory dwelling units (ADUs). ADUs are some of the most affordable options to rapidly build up our supply of housing here in Washington. This bill made it easier to bring these housing options to more of our communities allowing seniors to age in place, supporting the ability to form multigenerational households and provide more affordable housing options for more of our neighbors.
In 2024 we passed HB 2321, a bill that makes technical changes to last year’s affordable housing legislation so that cities can better understand the requirements and stay in compliance with the Growth Management Act.
We also passed a bill to legalize co-living (HB 1998), and created incentives to convert existing commercial structures into residential housing (SB 6175).
These bills and many others have given our cities and state important tools to mitigate the affordable housing crisis, but there is still a lot of work ahead to make sure all Washington families can find and afford housing.
Healthcare & Abortion Access
Healthcare, including behavioral health and abortion access, is right up there with affordable housing as a top issue for Washingtonians. Access to healthcare isn’t just about making sure services are accessible, we also need providers in our state to ensure consistent care.
That’s why I sponsored policies to accelerate behavioral health workforce growth (HB 1724) by creating an associate level license for psychologists (HB 2247) to allow them to train in state and get into the field quicker.
Healthcare isn’t accessible if it isn’t affordable.
I was proud to champion SB 5581 in the House to direct the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to work with our health insurance carriers to find ways to reduce or eliminate deductibles and other cost-sharing requirements for maternity care services—including prenatal care, delivery and post-partum care.
In 2023 we also passed SB 5242, the Senate companion to my bill to prohibit cost-sharing for abortions in Washington. No one’s access to reproductive care should be dependent on their ability to pay.
One of the first bills I sponsored as newly elected legislator in 2021 was HB 1218 to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for residents in long-term care facilities, and to bring peace of mind to families who want the best care for their loved ones.
This last session we passed a bill to continue the hospital at home program (HB 2295) that was implemented during the pandemic. For many folks this was a game changer, allowing patients to receive care from a certified healthcare professional without leaving the comfort of their home.
Looking Ahead
There are so many more bills that passed through the House over the last few sessions, and I would love to highlight every single one of them, but I know you have other things to do. Instead let me say that it has been an honor to serve the people of the 22nd LD as a State Representative, and I will continue working to make Washington a state where everyone can thrive.
Keep an eye on my website for updated contact information as we get closer to session. My office location and phone number will change but you can always reach me at Jessica.Bateman@leg.wa.gov.
Best,
Jess Bateman