Dear friends and neighbors,
Embarking on the 2024 legislative session, my overarching commitment is to champion initiatives that resonate with the core values of our diverse constituency.
My focus remains steadfast on fostering accessible and affordable higher education for all college students, ensuring that the pathways to knowledge are open and inclusive. This year, I also aim to enhance accessibility to low-cost driver’s licenses, recognizing the importance of this initiative in our community. Additionally, I’ve reintroduced The Fair Housing Act (HB 1507) to promote equality and eradicate discrimination, and rent stabilization is at the top of our agenda.
Your ongoing engagement is instrumental as we navigate these critical legislative endeavors, striving to build a future that encapsulates the ideals and aspirations of our vibrant community.
Read on to learn more about honoring Dr. King on the House floor, a glimpse into my bills and priorities this session, and a guide about how to get involved!
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Honoring Dr. King
It was a privilege to reflect upon the profound life and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., addressing my colleagues on the House floor.
In the halls of our legislature, I emphasized that, even amid the ebb and flow of progress, there are moments when it seems we take steps backward. Yet, it is incumbent upon us, as a community, to persist in the unyielding pursuit of equality under the law and the safeguarding of our fundamental rights. Among these rights, the sacred act of voting stands paramount.
In the spirit of Dr. King’s dream, let us unite in the cause of upholding the principles that define us as a democratic society. Each of us holds the power to make a difference, to contribute to the ongoing narrative of progress.
Let us, with grace and determination, continue the march towards a future where the ideals championed by Dr. King are not just celebrated on this day but woven into the very fabric of our collective existence.
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Here’s a look at my bills this session:
Improving Access to Licensing Documents (HB 1953): This legislation centers on providing alternatives for the description of a responsible adult within the Department of Licensing (DOL) documents. The bill focuses on simplifying procedures and improving accessibility, with a special emphasis on individuals receiving public assistance grants. Its comprehensive approach, which involves conducting a feasibility study on reduced-fee identicards, reflects a commitment to removing obstacles and ensuring that essential identification documents are easily accessible to all members of the community.
Strengthening Law Enforcement Oversight (HB 2086): This bill primarily focuses on bolstering the Office of Independent Investigations (OII) to align its operations with contemporary practices. It introduces transparency measures, such as an Advisory Board and annual data reporting, to actively promote accountability and fairness in law enforcement practices. By enhancing visibility into investigation processes, it aims to build trust and confidence in the integrity of the law enforcement oversight system.
Promoting Fair Housing Practices (HB 1507): This bill is important because it makes sure that people on condo or homeowners’ association boards get training on fair housing laws to prevent housing discrimination, and to create fair and inclusive housing practices in our community.
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Predictability and stability for renters
In the urgent pursuit of affordable housing solutions, we need rent stabilization in Washington. Shockingly, as of 2019, nearly half of the state’s renters allocate 30% or more of their income to housing, with over 20% grappling with the burden of dedicating half or more of their income to housing costs. This alarming reality extends to both residential and manufactured home renters who face unpredictable increases, forcing them into untenable choices.
Last year, we make significant strides to increase housing supply, but this alone does not address the immediate challenges faced by tenants. The trajectory of increased housing supply is a long-term solution, taking years or even decades to materialize and provide tangible relief to today’s renters: we must enact measures that offer swift assistance to tenants in the form of rent stabilization.
This year, my colleagues have introduced House Bill 2114 to bring hope to renters seeking predictability and stability akin to homeowners with mortgages. The disproportionate impact of rising rental costs, with a 9% increase in homelessness rates for every $100 surge in rent, underscores the urgency of implementing rent stabilization. Particularly affecting families with low incomes, individuals on fixed incomes, seniors, and communities of color, the current trajectory demands immediate action.
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A quick guide to getting informed and involved
We’ve made it easier than ever to learn about proposed laws, share your comments, and watch any part of the process from committee hearings to debates on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Watch — TVW.org broadcasts all debates and votes that happen in the House or Senate, as well as all committee meetings in both chambers.
Testify — Go here for an overview of the process, here for instructions on how to testify remotely, and here to sign in for hearings in the House or Senate.
Research — Look up any bill by number, lawmaker, or topic here. To learn about the entire legislative process, click here. You can search for the daily agenda for each committee here. Just select the committee you’re interested in, and you can find out which members are assigned to that committee, review upcoming agendas and documents, as well as past reports and hearings.
Stay Informed — Visit my website and sign up for the Hot Sheet, a weekly guide to what the House Democratic Caucus is working on in Olympia. The Hot Sheet compiles many of the legislative priorities scheduled for a hearing or a vote on each day, so it’s a great snapshot of what is happening each week.
Get in Touch — You can always reach my office by email or phone; you can reach me at Debra.Entenman@leg.wa.gov, or at (360) 786-7918.
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Thank you so much for reading—I appreciate your role in our community, your engagement, and your support.
Sincerely,
