Dear friends and neighbors,
With just under 50 days left of this session, there is much to report, especially since we are running against the clock to pass bills over to the other chamber.
At this crucial time in the legislative process, your 38th district delegation has scheduled a telephone town hall next week, on the 20th of March, at 6:30 PM.
We’ll give you an update on the 2025 session and will answer your questions live. You are welcome to send us your questions in advance by clicking here.
The system will dial out to landlines in our district inviting constituents to stay on the line to join the call. If you don’t receive a call but want to join, please use the dial in number and PIN below:
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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
This month we are celebrating and honoring the trailblazing women who have shaped history and continue to break barriers! This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” Let’s move forward together to continue paving the way for our daughters.
In Washington, more women than ever before are serving in the Legislature, and more than half of the House Democratic Caucus are women!
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This year I cosponsored these five bills introduced by women, for women (click on the bill numbers to learn more about each measure):
- Contraceptive coverage: HB 1090
- Health plan coverage of fertility-related services: HB 1129
- Cost sharing for maternity services: HB 1291
- Dignity in pregnancy loss: HB 1333
- Chemicals in personal hygiene products: HB 2008
While I did not cosponsor the next four, I certainly support them!
- IUD pain control options: HB 1077
- Removal of pregnancy exclusion from advance health directives: HB 1215
- Sales tax exemption for children’s diapers: HB 1318
- Access at public higher ed institutions to medication abortion: HB 1677
Some of these bills have gone to the Senate, others are awaiting their turn for a vote on the House floor, and the ones that don’t move this year will be automatically reintroduced next session.
Follow the Washington House Democrats on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to learn more about powerful women in Washington state history, and hear from the strong women in our caucus today.
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NON-STOP FLOOR ACTION
All of last week, as well as the first three days of this week, we’ve been debating and passing bills out of the House, while our Senate colleagues are going through the same process. On Thursday, March 13, we will start hearing Senate bills and they will do the same with our bills.
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I am excited to report that, as of today, five of my bills have passed the House and are now in the Senate for further consideration:
- HB 1069 – Allowing state agencies and employees to negotiate contributions to a union’s supplemental retirement plan, including medical coverage. Read my press release and watch my floor remarks here.
- HB 1105 – Streamlining bargaining for Department of Corrections employees. Read my press release and watch my floor remarks here.
- HB 1185 – Expanding Representation on the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee. Read my press release and watch my floor remarks here.
- HB 1549 – Modifying the responsible bidder criteria for public works projects. We passed this bill yesterday, click here to watch my floor remarks. You’ll find more information on this legislation in my Feb 25 newsletter.
- HB 1644 – Many young people in Washington join the workforce to help support their families, themselves, and to gain valuable experience. In 2024, reports indicated that about one-third of Washington residents aged 16 to 19 held a job. Unfortunately, data also shows that workers’ compensation injury claims from minors increased by 60 percent between 2009 and 2023. Young workers are especially vulnerable to injuries and exploitation, making it crucial to update our laws to better protect them. I sponsored this legislation, dubbed the Child Labor Safety Bill, to increase protections for minor workers and strengthen enforcement measures against businesses that repeatedly violate youth labor laws. This issue is a priority not only for me, but also for my caucus. Sending it to the Senate last night is a step closer to it becoming law, a step closer to making Washington kids safer. Read the press release here and watch my floor remarks below:
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ARE YOU REAL ID READY FOR DOMESTIC TRAVEL? IT STARTS ON MAY 7!
On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.
Click here to see if you’re ready for this change.
While REAL ID is a federal law, Washington state has worked hard to help people get the ID they need to comply and fly.
Of course, you still need a passport to fly overseas. That hasn’t changed. These new requirements are for flying within the U.S.A.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read my newsletter. As always, if you need more information on any of the topics discussed here, or on any legislative matter, please contact my office.
I hope you’ll join our telephone town hall next week!
In solidarity,
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