Dear friends and neighbors,
As hard as it is to believe, we’re already about a third of the way through this legislative session! I’ve had the privilege of testifying in support of a number of my top priority bills in the last few weeks, and I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to share your stories with us during our committee hearings. In fact, three of my bills (House Bills 1759, 1803 and 1834) were approved by the House Education Committee today!
If you want to get caught up on any hearings you might’ve missed, TVW.org has archived videos of every committee meeting and House Floor session. And if you’d like to testify in the future, you can learn more or register by clicking here.
In this newsletter, you’ll find legislative updates on some top community priorities, information about the legislative calendar, and tips for finding free COVID tests.
Supporting Adult Family Home Providers
Our adult family home providers rarely get the recognition or appreciation they deserve for the work they do to care for the members of our communities with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Over the interim, Rep Bill Ramos and I worked closely with Life Enrichment Options (LEO) here in Issaquah on solutions to ensure our adult family home providers received the support they need to continue serving our family members, friends, and neighbors. Earlier this year, we introduced House Bill 1789 to establish a property tax exemption for adult family homes to keep these facilities open to Washington residents. And, I’m proud to say this bill was approved by the House Finance Committee earlier this week!
Helping Small Businesses Rebuild
Local small businesses have been battered over the last year from unprecedented wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters. House Bill 1957 would create the Small Business Disaster Recovery Financial Assistance Program to help small businesses rebuild if they’ve sustained physical damage or economic losses due to these devastating events. It’s important for us to look at all the ways we can keep our local small businesses on their feet now and long into the future.
Cracking Down on Catalytic Converter Thefts
Many of our communities here in Washington and throughout the nation are facing a recent surge in catalytic converter thefts. Not only do these thefts cost families hundreds or thousands of dollars in replacing the stolen parts, but it can also have a significant impact on residents who rely on their car to get them to work, school, or to pick up groceries. House Bill 1815, introduced by my colleague Rep. Cindy Ryu, offers several ways that we can deter these thefts going forward.
The Problem with PFAS
PFAS, short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are a collection of toxic man-made chemicals that are used in many water & stain-resistant products like non-stick cookware, clothing, carpeting, cosmetics and more. We also call them “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally in the environment.
Over time, toxic PFAS chemicals build up in our water, soil, plants, animals and even our own bodies — they can even enter our bloodstream and the breastmilk of new mothers. Studies show that PFAS may lead to increased risk of kidney & testicular cancer, increased blood pressure & cholesterol, decreased infant birth weights, and even decreased vaccine response in children.
In recent years, the Legislature has taken steps to eliminate toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam and food packaging, but we can do more. I’m proud to co-sponsor House Bill 1694, introduced by Rep. Liz Berry, to empower Washington’s Dept. of Ecology to eliminate PFAS contamination from all its sources and keep our families safe.
Restoring Washington’s Kelp Forests
Kelp plays a critical role in our fragile marine ecosystems, serving as both food and shelter to a wide variety of marine life that help support Washington’s salmon and orcas. In recent years, however, we’ve seen kelp in decline throughout the Salish Sea — creating a threat to local ecosystems and economies. I co-sponsored House Bill 1661, introduced by Rep. Sharon Shewmake, to conserve, protect, and restore these essential kelp forests.
Caring for Our Family & Friends with Dementia
Over 100,000 people in Washington state are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia today, and that number is expected to nearly double by 2040. If you’ve ever had family or friends experiencing dementia, you know how devastating this condition can be for everyone. It’s essential for us to ensure we have the services and resources necessary to support all of our residents experiencing dementia and their families. I was proud to co-sponsor House Bill 1646 to continue the good work of Washington’s Dementia Action Collaborative so that our families & friends get the support they need when and where they need it.
Upcoming Legislative Cutoffs
Since the beginning of the legislative biennium in 2021, over 2,000 bills have been introduced in the House and nearly 1,000 more in the Senate. There’s never a shortage of work for the Legislature to do, but we also want to make sure that any bills we pass are given the attention and careful consideration they deserve — that’s where legislative cutoffs come into play.
Legislative cutoffs are milestones bills need to reach by certain dates in order to receive further consideration. Any bills that don’t make it to these milestones will need to wait until the next legislative session to continue the process or be reintroduced at the start of a new biennium.
Because this is a short, 60-day session, the first set of cutoff dates are quickly approaching. House bills that are not approved by House policy committees by Feb. 3 (or Feb. 7 for fiscal committees) will need to be reintroduced next year. Any House bills that fail to be approved by a vote on the House Floor by Feb. 15, will also need to be reintroduced.
As strongly as we may feel about passing our top priorities, we always want to make sure that we’re making good policy — even if that means we have to continue the fight into the next session.
Help Shape Washington’s Tax Code
Want to play a role in shaping Washington’s tax code? Now’s your chance! The Legislature’s Tax Structure Work Group wants to hear your thoughts on making our state’s tax code fairer and more transparent.
They’ve created two versions of their survey, a shorter one focused mostly on personal taxes (5-10 mins) and a longer one with more in-depth questions about both personal and business taxes (30-45 mins). Feel free to fill out the survey that works best for you.
Both surveys are available in several languages here → taxworkgroup.org/survey. Responses are due Jan. 31.
Free COVID Tests
If you or someone in your family is looking for a COVID test, there are several options available on the Washington Dept. of Health’s website:
- Visit sayyescovidhometest.org or call 1-800-525-0127 and press # (supplies limited, but will restock as they become available).
- Order a free testing kit from the Federal program at COVIDtests.gov.
- Purchase an at-home test at local retailers and pharmacies.
- If you have health insurance, most insurers will now pay you back for up to 8 at-home tests per month, for each person on your plan. Click here for more information.
- Get a test at a testing location near you.
With gratitude,
Rep. Lisa Callan