The short session is here!
Last week kicked off the Legislature’s second session of the biennium. This session is only 60 days compared to the 100 days that we spent in Olympia last year. The session is shorter is because we passed the state’s main budgets for the biennium last year. The Legislature passed an operating budget which funds state agencies, a capital budget which funds construction of new buildings and facilities, and a transportation budget which funds transportation projects during the long session which ended last April. This year we will pass much smaller supplemental budgets designed to fix mistakes or provide for unexpected expenses. Because of this it is unlikely that any programs or changes that require major funding will be passed. However, the work of improving our democracy is never over and we will continue to work towards building a more perfect state.
Welcome to the new speaker!
Last Monday, history was made when the first woman Speaker of the House was sworn in! Representative Laurie Jinkins from Tacoma is the first new Speaker of the House in 21 years. Speaker Jinkins is also the first out lesbian to serve as speaker. Speaker Jinkins has spent the last few months traveling around the state and meeting with lawmakers from both parties. I am confident that Speaker Jinkins will lead the House into this new decade with wisdom, fairness, vision, and humor.
Vice Chair of Commerce and Gaming Committee
I have been appointed to serve as the vice chair of the House Commerce & Gaming Committee. Having served on the committee for the past four years, I am excited to continue serving in a leadership role. Throughout my time in the Legislature, I have taken a lead role in crafting gambling policy. I serve on the problem gambling task force and also as an ex-officio member of the Washington State Gambling Commission. Last year I passed legislation that creates a program allowing people who experience problem gambling to self-exclude themselves from gambling. This offers people a way to take proactive steps to combat their addiction.
The Commerce & Gaming Committee also creates the laws that govern our state’s cannabis industry. Over the years, I have worked hard to ensure that youth access is prevented, patients are better protected, and that businesses in the cannabis industry have clear guidelines for operating.
Consumer data privacy
A recent report by the Pew Research Center reveals that roughly eight-in-ten U.S. adults say they have very little or no control over the data that government (84%) or companies (81%) collect about them. I am the primary sponsor of the House companion to SB 6281 (HB 2742) which would protect personal data and establish a set of consumer rights concerning the processing of personal information. In this age of big data and a surveillance economy, I believe it is important that we set some rules of the road for what companies can do with our data. We should have the right to know what data companies are collecting about us, who they are sharing it with, and how it is used. I believe that we should also have the right to ask companies to restrict their use of our data as well as delete the data they have collected on and from us.
I am prime sponsor of second bill in this area, HB 2485, which relates specifically to direct-to-consumer genetic testing. It prohibits these companies from sharing your data with employers, health insurance, or life insurance companies. Additionally, it requires express consent for collection, use, and sharing of your genetic data and gives consumers the right to request that the sample be destroyed, and data and account deleted if they so choose.
For too long, companies have had free reign to harvest and use our personal data as they see fit. These bills will put the ball back in the consumer’s court and give each person the right to decide how, when, and why their personal data gets used.
I have been hosting a series of community coffees on consumer data privacy to gain more perspective into what my constituents think the limits on data collection should be. I have found that most people are in support of greater regulation of personal data, but I still want to hear from you. Please continue to share your thoughts and concerns regarding data privacy with me. I have spoken with the large tech companies about this bill, but your voice is the one that is most important.
Thank You
Thank you all for taking to the time to read this week’s newsletter and for taking an interest in our progress in the House of Representatives. If you have any questions, inquiries, or concerns please feel free to contact me with the info below.
Sincerely,
Shelley Kloba
Representative, 1st Legislative District
Washington State Legislature