Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This e-newsletter is a quick look at what’s happening in Olympia and how it might affect all our communities. In this issue, I’ll share some exciting events that happened earlier in March, discuss efforts to address homelessness, and provide an update on my bills in the Senate. I hope you will find it useful!
¡Gracias por Asistir a mi Reunión Comunitaria!
Muchas gracias a quienes asistieron a mi reunión comunitaria el 18 de marzo. Fue emocionante ver a tanta gente compartir sus pensamientos y preguntas. Escuchar a los miembros de nuestra comunidad hablar sobre el trabajo que están haciendo es energizante y reconfortante.
Una parte fundamental de mi trabajo es asegurarme de que todos nuestros vecinos en nuestra comunidad puedan conectarse con su gobierno estatal y ayudarnos a entender cómo resolver problemas reales. Después de la sesión, espero organizar más eventos como este en nuestr a comunidad.
Latino Democratic Caucus
Ten years ago, the now Latino Democratic Caucus’ Chair, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, was sworn in as the only Latina in the entire Legislature. That is why I am so excited that this year we are finally able to form the Latino Democratic Caucus. Comprised of eight House members and 3 members of the state Senate, our goal is to uplift Latino families across the state of Washington.
Watch our video here or click here to read about who we are, our mission, and shared goals. We look forward to finding solutions that help Latinos in Washington thrive.
Addressing Homelessness
Much of my work focuses on tackling the root causes of homelessness. My colleagues and I are working toward a shared vision that addresses economic instability caused by both the housing and behavioral health crisis.
House Bill 1326 supports affordable and supportive housing construction by allowing cities and counties the ability to waive utility connection charges. Those savings, which can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, can then be reinvested by providers in establishing vital services for our community. Two weeks ago, the Senate Committee on Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs voted to pass the bill out of committee.
House Bill 1406 supports vulnerable youth in accessing shelter services. It also supports providers in expanding family reconciliation services to bridge the gap in accessing this resource for low-income families. Last week, the Senate Committee on Human Services passed this legislation.
In addition, I am working with budget writers to allocate $200 million in funding from the Department of Commerce for homeless service providers. This will ensure organizations and their staff have the funding they need to serve our community. For more information on this work, click here or on the image above.
Legislative Update
The last time I wrote at the beginning of March, we were approaching a major legislative cutoff where most bills had passed the House or Senate, depending on their chamber of origin. I am proud to share that 5 of my 7 bills survived this cutoff. We are now heading toward the next major cutoff tomorrow, March 29th, which is the last day for House bills to pass out of Senate Committees (excluding bills in fiscal committees). For more of my thoughts on these bills, click here or on the image below.
House Bill 1481 expands the retirement benefit options for tribal law enforcement officers. This will help our tribal partners recruit and retain personnel going forward. The Senate Ways & Means Committee voted to pass this bill unanimously on March 16th.
House Bill 1530 will help alleviate the law enforcement workforce shortages by expanding recruitment opportunities to permanent residents. The Senate Committee on Law & Justice heard this bill earlier in March.
House Bill 1736 provides a better understanding of statewide mileage trends and patterns. It will direct DOL to request odometer information during vehicle registrations and renewals. This is an important step in learning where investments in transit infrastructure and maintenance should be directed. A couple weeks ago, the Senate Committee on Transportation held a public hearing on this bill.
Share Your Thoughts With Me
I’m so excited to welcome constituents back to Olympia! If you come down to Olympia, please schedule a time to meet by emailing our office. My staff and I are also happy to meet remotely if you are not quite comfortable in a public setting or simply don’t have time to make it to Olympia.
It’s an honor to represent the 38th Legislative District. I look forward to hearing your continued advocacy, feedback, and engagement throughout the 2023 Legislative Session.
In Service,
State Representative Julio Cortes
38th Legislative District