Dear neighbors,
As we approach the halfway point of this legislative session, with only thirty-six days remaining, I wanted to provide an update on my work advocating for our community in Olympia.
Video Update
Watch my latest video update where I discuss two important pieces of legislation I’m sponsoring:
- HB 2084 – Paving the Way for Success After Incarceration: This bill creates an oversight committee to improve construction-related training and pathways to state registered apprenticeships in state correctional facilities, giving them a second chance upon release.
- HB 1940 – Protecting Workers’ Rights: This bill protects workers’ right to choose not to participate in forced meetings in the workplace about political, religious, or anti-union agendas irrelevant to their job duties, ensuring they feel safe and respected without fear of retaliation.
I believe both bills are essential for creating a fairer and more just society. I’m committed to working hard to see them passed into law. Learn more by clicking here on the image above.
What I’m Working On
HB 1307 – Interest Arbitration for Resident and Fellow Physicians: This bill seeks fairer contract negotiations for medical school residents and fellows, many of whom are underpaid compared to the cost of living.
HB 1976 – Boosting Incentives for Building Retrofits: This bill, now passed out of committee, increases incentive payments for costly retrofits in large buildings under the State Energy Performance Standard (SEPS), helping us combat climate change. To learn more, click here or watch my full testimony by clicking on the image below:
HB 2082 – Studying our Electrical Transmission Workforce: This important bill, passed out of committee, directs the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of the employment and workforce education needs of the electrical transmission industry in our state. Adequate transmission capacity is needed to connect the new clean energy projects we have created and bring the state’s clean energy goals to fruition. We need to ensure our workforce is prepared and supported to take on this challenge and this bill will allow us to be responsive to the findings and recommendations on next steps. You can learn more by clicking here to watch the committee testimony.
HB 2466 – Addressing ambulance wait times: Unfortunately, emergency medical transport units often face delays when attempting to transfer patients into hospital care. These delays, sometimes stretching to hours, force publicly funded Fire Department and EMS transport units to remain out of service, unable to respond to emergencies within their jurisdictions. This bill will also help patients receive faster, more efficient care, minimizing potential complications from prolonged wait times. By requiring hospitals to accept ambulance patients within 30 minutes, this bill will benefit patients, EMS crews, and hospitals alike, as EMS crews will be freed up to respond to new emergencies sooner, reducing community wait times. You can learn more by clicking here to watch the committee testimony.
Visit Olympia
If you’re in Olympia, please schedule a meeting to share your priorities. I’m also happy to meet remotely.
Upcoming Town Hall
For those who would like to meet in district, please consider joining me and my colleagues, Representative Cortes and Senator Robinson, on February 16th at 5:30 PM, at the Snohomish County Labor Council building in Everett. The exact address is 2810 Lombard Ave, Everett, WA 98201. I hope to see you there!
Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any comments, questions, or ideas!
In Service,
State Representative Mary Fosse