Dear friends & neighbors,
We’re over two thirds of the way through the 2024 legislative session! Last week marked house of origin cut off. While lots of great bills didn’t make the cut 😢 there’s still plenty to be excited about 😃. Here are some of my favorite bills moving to the Senate.
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Rep. Berry’s legislative wins
HB 1903: requires lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement within 24-hours after discovering it.
HB 2382: allows surviving family members of rideshare drivers killed on the job access to death benefits so they can make ends meet.
HB 2102: requires healthcare providers to certify a workers’ serious health condition within 7 days to prevent delays in Paid Family & Medical Leave benefits.
HB 2097: studies how to create a wage recovery fund for workers who experience wage theft which is one of the most common crimes committed in the U.S.
HB 1958: allows survivors of sexual assault to be compensated for the real harm that is done to them by “stealthing” or the nonconsensual removal of a sexually protective device. Check out my floor speech on final passage 👇
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House Democrats’ priorities moving forward
I’m proud to be part of a team that puts people first. These bills address some of the biggest challenges facing our state.
Raising the special education enrollment funding cap (HB 2180) Increases the special education cap to help school districts meet that need and address rising costs.
Making subsidized child care more accessible (HB 2111) Streamlines requirements for subsidized child care, removing outdated references and enhancing efficiency.
Bringing fairness to the rental market (HB 2114) Rents are skyrocketing and Washington renters deserve stability now. This will cap rent increases so that renters have predictability and stability.
Building transit-oriented housing (HB 2160) Helps set housing goals around rail and bus rapid transit stops to help develop more density and housing for Washington families.
Improving access to the Working Families Tax Credit (HB 1895) This bill makes it easier to apply and eliminates unnecessary delays so that families get their tax credit faster.
Limiting the cost of EpiPens and inhalers to $35/month (HB 1979) We have lowered the price of insulin to $35/month. Now, we are capping the cost of a 30-day supply of inhaler corticosteroids and two autoinjector EpiPens to $35.
Reducing food waste (HB 2301) Effective waste management is essential for environmental sustainability. This bill creates a program that provides a supply of additional fresh produce in our food banks by purchasing unsold produce from our local farmers, increases composting opportunities for schools, and implements color standards for disposal bins.
Read more about our exciting wins here.
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Victories for working families
As chair of the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards, I’m proud to fight for these policies that uplift working people across our state.
HB 1893: levels the playing field in labor negotiations by granting striking and locked out workers access to Unemployment Insurance benefits for 4 weeks.
HB 2266: removes barriers to well-paying jobs by ensuring employers in the state provide reasonable, sanitary accommodations for workers who menstruate, lactate, or express milk.
HB 2022: updates safety and permitting requirements around the assembly and disassembly of construction cranes. This legislation is in direct response to the tragedy in South Lake Union nearly 5 years ago.
Celebrating the passage of the crane safety bill with sponsor Rep. Julia Reed, Sarah Pantip Wong’s surviving family, and labor stakeholders
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As always, reach out anytime to my Legislative Assistant Sam Tinsley or email me. It’s an honor to serve you in Olympia.
Best wishes,
State Representative Liz Berry
36th Legislative District