Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week was policy cut-off, which means next week my colleagues and I will be debating bills on the House floor until the early hours of the morning. In advance of our busy week, please take note of the information shared below that will help Washingtonians all the way from their golden years to families to those still in childhood.
Support For Older Adults
Rising costs affect everyone, including working families. I am especially concerned about rising costs for older adults dependent on fixed incomes. That’s why last session we introduced and passed House Bill 1431 to remove sales tax on prepared meals for residents of senior living communities.
This year, before session started, House Bill 1985 was introduced by Rep. Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham). It’s a bill to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to retired Washingtonians on Plan 1 of our state’s public employees’ retirement system (commonly known as PERS1) and Plan 1 of the teachers’ retirement system (commonly known as TRS1). By providing a 3 percent increase in monthly benefits for Plan 1 recipients, HB 1985 will help older adults throughout the state keep up with inflation and the rising costs of living and be better equipped to age with dignity.
Earned Income Tax Credit
You may be missing out on money that belongs to you. These aren’t handouts. They’re refunds on taxes you already paid. And that money should go to you and your family. To learn more about the state’s Working Families Tax credit, or to apply—by mail or online—visit workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov/resources. To learn more about the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, visit www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc
Our Kids Deserve Free School Meals
During the pandemic, the federal government provided emergency funding for states to increase access to food for children. Washington state invested heavily in this area and continues to in our most recent budget. But as federal funding has ended, so has the guarantee of a hot meal for many of our public-school children.
That’s why I’m supporting universal school meals for all of our public-school kids, regardless of their ability to pay. House Bill 2058, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) requires public schools to provide breakfast and lunch, without charge, to any student that requests it, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. The state will pay for the meals out of our general fund.
I’ve heard from some people who ask why the state should pay for school meals. The reason is that hungry children don’t learn as well as children who are fed. Studies show that having a meal, and not having the anxiety of wondering where the next meal will come from, allows students to have greater success in the classroom. We don’t make children pay for school bus rides, a necessary component of learning, so why are meals any different? If providing a meal helps improve our school testing scores and gives children the chance to thrive, then it is worth the cost, just like other elements of basic education.
The Imagination Library
In the words of Dolly Parton, “You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.” I’m so excited that we were able to secure funding to continue Dolly’s Imagination Library program in Washington. Every month, the Imagination Library mails books to nearly two million kids worldwide to encourage literacy. I love this program and I’m so glad we can support Dolly’s Imagination Library in Washington! You can learn more about the program here. You can also click here or on the image below for more details on YouTube.
How to Visit the Capitol Campus
Yours sincerely,
Rep. Roger Goodman
Roger Goodman
Representative, 45th District
Washington State Legislature