Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Legislature is now in full swing down here at the Capitol in Olympia. We will devote one more week to public hearings and votes on bills in policy committees, and after that “cutoff” we will spend countless hours on the House Floor to debate and vote on bills that have been heard and passed by policy and fiscal committees. Read on to learn about some of the bills that have already been approved by policy committees and are waiting to be debated on the House floor.
Victim-Centered, Trauma-Informed Responses for Crime Victims
One of the first bills that I heard and passed out of my committee, the Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee, focused on ways we could make our criminal justice system work better for victims and witnesses of crime. By promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses in the legal system we can make ensure that the process of getting justice does not cause additional harms. HB 1028 will help us do this by:
- Outlining specific timelines for investigating both backlogged and current sexual assault kits to prevent more backlog.
- Providing avenues for victims to receive reimbursements for any costs from out of state hospitals or other facilities.
- Increasing the statute of limitations for suspect identification from DNA from two to four years.
- Prioritizing training for law enforcement around gender-based violence, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
This bipartisan bill was worked on extensively with survivors of sexual assault and victims of crime. It is the result of years of work and will standardize best practices across our state and make Washington a leader in victim-centered, trauma-informed responses to crime.
Health Coverage for Hearing Aids & Devices
I was shocked to learn that many hearing aid devices are not covered by health insurance. They are expensive and, as Gus testifies to above, not optional.
The House Health Care and Wellness Committee recently passed HB 1222 to add hearing instrument coverage to the essential health plan benefits and provide hearing instruments, assessments, fitting, and auditory training for children and adults under group health plans. This will close this major gap in our insurance coverage and ensure kids like Gus and their families can thrive.
Getting Toxic Chemicals Out of Cosmetics
You shouldn’t have to be a toxicologist to shop for your cosmetics. When we go to the store we assume that a product on the shelf is safe, but that isn’t always the truth. A recent study by the Washington Department of Ecology found that many cosmetics, especially those marketed to women of color, contain dangerous toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, lead, arsenic, and PFAS also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ These chemicals have been linked to cancer, brain damage, kidney damage, decreased lung function, and nervous system damage. That is why I am supporting legislation to ban the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.
HB 1047, will ensure that the products on the shelf in Washington are safe to use. It was passed by the House Environment & Energy Committee and will now be considered by the full House. You can read more about the bill and Ecology report in The Seattle Times.
As always, please reach out if you have questions, comments, or ideas. Look forward to another legislative update from me soon.
All best wishes,
Roger Goodman
Representative, 45th District
Washington State Legislature