Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Before I get into the latest on what’s happening at the legislature, I want to invite you to the 44th Legislative District Town Hall happening on Saturday, March 22nd. There will be two opportunities to connect:
- Town Hall #1: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm at Heatherwood Middle School in the cafeteria
- Town Hall #2: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm at Snohomish High School in the Commons
This will be live and in-person so it’s a great opportunity to share more about what’s happening down in Olympia. I look forward to hearing directly from you about what concerns you have. I hope to see you there!
This week, we’ve been on the House floor non-stop debating bills and passing legislation out of the House. So far, I’ve already passed several bills off the House floor including HB 1080 to prevent surprise hotel stay fees and taxes, and HB 1081 to ensure transparency in solicited real estate. These bills and others are now off to the Senate.
Our Senate colleagues are going through a similar process. Any bill that passes out of the House goes over to the Senate for consideration and the Senate will send us their bills. Then we’ll start the process of committee review and debate all over again. We have about 50 days left in the session to not only pass legislation, but we also have to pass the state’s budgets. Things will move quickly – you can stay informed by tracking bills and by tuning in to TVW to watch the action live.
New Website Reveals Impact of Budget Cuts
Speaking of the budget – I’m sure you’ve been hearing a lot about our state’s budget challenges. You should know that I am working hard to ensure that working families are at the center of any budget decisions we make. Here’s what’s happening.
Washington state is facing a major budget deficit due to rising needs, inflation, and slowing revenue growth. To help our community understand the potential impact of an all-cuts budget, we’ve launched WA Budget Cuts, a new website that breaks down the devastating reductions proposed in the “Book 1” budget—an example budget that former Governor Jay Inslee was required to prepare without any new revenue.
This “No Revenue” budget would slash $3.5 billion from healthcare and public health over the next four years, threatening Medicaid pharmacy coverage, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and state-funded family planning services. Long-term care and developmental disabilities programs could lose $1.5 billion, severely impacting seniors and people with disabilities. Higher education, human services, early learning, and behavioral health programs would also see massive cuts.
As lawmakers, we are carefully considering these proposed cuts while also exploring revenue options to protect Washington’s social safety net. Since 75-80% of the state budget is protected by constitutional or federal obligations, these cuts would fall entirely on just 20-25% of our budget—making their impact even more severe.
Learn more about what’s at stake and how these cuts could affect you, your family, and your community.
The Working Families Tax Credit could add more than $1,000 to your refund
In 2023, less than half of Washington residents who were eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit claimed it. There’s no downside to checking to see if you’re eligible and the upside could be great! You could receive a refund up to $1,290 depending on income level and the number of qualifying children your household. Here’s how:
- Do you have a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number?
- Did you live in Washington for at least 183 days in 2024?
- Are you between 25 and 65 years old or do you have a qualifying child?
- Did you file a federal tax return for 2024?
If your answers are YES, you may qualify to receive the Washington Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC)!
Since it was first launched, in 2023, the WFTC has provided over 359,000 refunds totaling more than $263.4 million. This is real money that can make a real difference for many working families across our state. Check your eligibility now!
Protecting Washington Consumers
Finally, in my latest video I provide an update on how the legislature is protecting Washington residents by regulating the sale of dangerous chemicals online, stopping surprise fees when booking a hotel stay, and ensuring people who are asked to sell their homes have access to the information they need to be able to make their best decision. Check it out!
That’s all for now. Please keep an eye out for my next legislative update. And, don’t forget, I hope to see you at our upcoming town hall!
Sincerely,
Rep. Brandy Donaghy