OLYMPIA—As the 2025 legislative session concludes, the Washington State Legislative Black Caucus (LBC) proudly celebrates a historic slate of achievements for Washington — the result of steadfast leadership, community advocacy, and an unrelenting commitment to equity and justice.
Under the leadership of Chair Kristine Reeves, Vice Chair Brandy Donaghy, and Communications Chair Natasha Hill, and the collective power of the Caucus, the LBC delivered landmark investments, systemic reforms, and new opportunities that will shape the future for generations to come.
Major Investments and Systemic Reforms for Black Communities
Covenant Homeownership Expansion with Loan Forgiveness
Building on last year’s historic launch of the Covenant Homeownership Program, the LBC successfully championed program eligibility expansion and loan forgiveness for qualified borrowers. This critical step addresses the ongoing impacts of housing discrimination and the racial wealth gap, making homeownership more accessible for Black families, and all historically excluded ethnic groups, across Washington state. Access to homeownership is a cornerstone of building generational wealth, and this expansion will open doors for so many families who have been shut out of opportunity for far too long.
Parenting Plan Limitations Reform (HB 1620)
The passage of HB 1620, sponsored by Representative Jamila Taylor, updates Washington’s parenting plan laws to better protect children and survivors of abuse. The bill revises and reorganizes the criteria courts use to impose limitations on a parent’s residential time, decision-making authority, and dispute resolution processes — helping ensure the safety and well-being of families navigating separation. These changes reflect a more consistent, clear, and equitable legal framework for judges to follow when abuse or harmful behavior is present. “This legislation is a critical step toward procedural justice. Judicial officers need more specific guidance when exercising their discretion. It is a lifeline for survivors,” said Taylor. “No one should have to fear being re-traumatized by the very systems meant to protect them.”
Protecting Tenants and Advancing Housing Justice (HB 1217)
For the first time, Washington passed statewide rent stabilization — a historic step toward housing justice that puts reasonable limits on rent increases, helping protect tenants from displacement and housing insecurity. During final passage, our three LBC freshman members Reps. Shaun Scott, Brianna Thomas, and Natasha Hill delivered passionate, personal remarks about the disproportionate impact of rising rents and the racial justice this bill reflects. Representative Scott brought powerful historical context to the debate, tying present-day housing injustice to generations of exclusion and dispossession. Representative Thomas, one of the few renters serving, spoke directly for our renter communities in support. Representative Hill called out prior amendments from the Senate that excluded a third of rentals in Spokane — amendments that would have left Spokane behind — that were fixed in conference. HB 1217 marks a turning point in building a fairer, more stable future for all Washington renters.
Transformative Public Safety and Community Investment
Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP) – $110 Million Over Four Years
This session, the LBC helped secure $110 million in the 2025–27 operating budget to fund the Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP). This long-term, four-year investment will rebuild and restore communities most harmed by the War on Drugs — addressing decades of disinvestment and systemic harm through programs in economic development, civil legal aid, violence prevention, reentry services, and more. Restoration is a journey, not a one-time payment, and the LBC prioritized a sustained, generational investment in the communities that have been most harmed by historical injustices in our country.
Public Safety & Community Response (HB 2015)
HB 2015, sponsored by Representative Debra Entenman, was prioritized to put guardrails around the one-time $100 million that Governor Ferguson demanded upon taking office. To ensure Washington looks beyond hiring more law enforcement for public health and safety, the LBC strategized to help create a grant program that requires cities and counties to meet certain criteria and approve a sales tax of one-tenth of one percent for this purpose. The Legislature ensured this bill includes strong guidelines to support a broader, community-centered vision of public safety. Local jurisdictions can invest grant funds and their tax revenues not only in traditional public safety personnel, but also in community response programs, homelessness services, and strategies to combat the fentanyl crisis. This approach reflects a more balanced understanding of what safety means for different communities and demographics — recognizing that policing is limited and biased, and that communities need the tools to address root causes to build lasting solutions.
Groundwork for Future Justice and Equity
Reparations Study – $300,000
For the first time in state history, Washington will formally study the case for reparations for Black Washingtonians. The Legislature allocated $300,000 to establish a task force to examine harms and develop policy recommendations for reparative justice. It is the LBC’s hope that this groundbreaking effort marks the beginning of a new chapter in acknowledging and addressing the legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism.
Social Equity in Cannabis Program Evaluation (HB 1551)
Through the passage of HB 1551, Washington strengthened oversight and evaluation of its Social Equity in Cannabis program. The new reforms require ongoing analysis to ensure that the program achieves its goal of creating equitable opportunities for those disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. The LBC knows that we can’t have equity without accountability. This bill helps ensure our social equity programs are accountable and deliver meaningful results for our communities.
Looking Ahead
The Legislative Black Caucus remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing justice, opportunity, and equity for Black Washingtonians. This session proved that collective action, unapologetic advocacy, and unwavering belief in our communities can deliver real, transformative change.
“This year, we didn’t just push for progress — we made history,” said Chair Reeves. “Our victories are proof that when we lead with courage and community at the center, we can achieve lasting change. We celebrate today — and we rise tomorrow, ready to keep building the future our people deserve.”
The 2025 Washington State Legislative Black Caucus