Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Great to see those of you who came out to the 29th District Town Hall last Saturday! Hearing directly from you allows me to bring your concerns and priorities to the work in Olympia. If you were unable to make it to my town hall with my seatmate Rep. Melanie Morgan, you can still join me for a town hall with my other seatmate, Sen. Steve Conway, this weekend! It will be held at Tacoma Firefighters’ Hall #31 at 10 AM this Saturday.
Join me and Sen. Steve Conway on Saturday, March 18th for a 29th District Town Hall.
What: 29th District Town Hall
When: Saturday, March 18th from 10:00 AM to Noon.
Where: Tacoma Firefighters Hall #31
1109 S 50th St. Tacoma, WA 98408
Bills Alive!
Last Wednesday was the ‘House of Origin’ cutoff, the mid-point of the legislative session and the end of full time floor action. Any House bills that were not voted out of the House before Wednesday are dead for this year. Though not all of my bills made it, I am very proud that six of my bills passed the House. As a chamber we passed a record 331 bills and resolutions, with 196 being voted out unanimously and 257 getting 80 or more votes. This means a vast majority of the bills we moved are bipartisan. The bills we voted on will improve government, protect our reproductive rights, save lives, and make progress toward a Washington where everyone has the opportunity to prosper. Read on to learn about the six bills that I passed out of the House!
HB 1048: The Washington Voting Rights Act 2.0
In 2018, the Legislature passed the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) to assist cities, counties, school boards and other local elected bodies in voluntarily adopting changes to create fair elections and improve representation. Prior to the passage of the WVRA, state law only allowed at-large election structures for most Washington cities. At large election structures can drown out the voices of communities already on the margins. When it does, it is called voter dilution. Prior to passage of the WVRA, there was no recourse for changing to fair election structures outside the court room. In 2012, the ACLU sued the city of Yakima under the federal Voting Rights Act because despite being 40% Latino, Yakima had never had a Latino elected official. We now have the WVRA which allows cities to voluntarily reform their election systems.
My bill, the WVRA 2.0, lowers the barrier for communities to access the promise of the WVRA in their local jurisdictions. It does this by allowing organizations to represent individual voters and by allowing individuals and organizations to recover the cost of creating changes in elections, within modest limits. This is because bringing notice to a political jurisdiction requires costly research and attorneys. Communities already disenfranchised should not have to bear the cost for their local jurisdiction to comply with the law. Nor should they bear the burden of changing an unjust system to ensure their votes matter. We created the WVRA to ensure that every vote matters, the WVRA 2.0 makes sure that every Washington voter can unlock its promise.
HB 1329: Preventing Utility Shutoffs During Extreme Heat
During a heat wave, access to electricity and water can mean the difference between life and death. No one should die because they can’t afford to pay the utility bill. HB 1329 will ensure that people do not have their utilities cutoff during an extreme heat event. Washington law already prevents utility companies from terminating services during cold winter months. Extreme weather events disproportionately impact people with disabilities, seniors, people who work outside, and those with disabilities. Power and water are essential, whether you can afford them or not.
HB 1047: Banning Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetic Products
When we go to a store, we assume the products on the shelf are safe, but this isn’t always true. A new report by the Washington Departments of Ecology and Health found formaldehyde in 26 of the 30 cosmetics tested, and lead in some. These chemicals are linked to cancer and brain damage. Under current law, the burden is on the consumer to navigate labels and find safe alternatives. You shouldn’t have to be a toxicologist to shop for shampoo. The report also found some of the most harmful chemicals in products marketed to women of color. The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act would ban dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, PFAS, lead, phthalates, and mercury from personal care products. If passed, this bill will be the strongest law on toxics in cosmetics in the nation.
HB 1085: Reducing Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution and micro plastics are harming our environment, our marine wildlife, and bodies. For context, since 1983, we’ve generated 85 billion metric tons of plastic waste. This bill helps us chip away at plastic pollution in three simple ways. First, it bans polystyrene from being used for a dock unless it is encased to prevent it from decaying. Second, it requires that new water fountains include a bottle filling station to cut down on plastic water bottles. And finally, it phases out mini plastic bottles of shampoo from hotels. This bill will help prevent those little microplastics from getting into the water, protecting our salmon, and our way of life in the Pacific Northwest.
HB 1533: Protecting the Privacy of Public Employees who are Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, or Harassment
The Public Records Act was made to shine a light on the inner workings of government, not to be used as a tool for stalkers and domestic abusers. HB 1533 allows a government employee who is a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, or harassment the ability to prevent information that could be used to track them from being released.
HB 1758 – Streamlining Permitting for Hatchery Maintenance
The Shoreline Management Act requires that most projects adjacent to water receive a ‘substantial development permit.’ This act was designed to protect our shoreline and ensure that the character of development fits with a local shoreline master plan. However, the act is slowing down vital maintenance at fish hatcheries. This bill exempts fish hatcheries from going through the permitting process for maintenance projects. It is a major priority for the Puyallup Tribe.
Latino Democratic Caucus
Latinos are a steadily growing population in Washington. In the 29th District, Latinos makeup a significant part of our community. According to the Office of Financial Management, the Latino population statewide topped over 1 million in 2020. This year, Latino representation in the Legislature also reached an all-time high.
I am excited to share that this year we formed Washington’s first-ever Latino Democratic Caucus. Our goal is to uplift Latino families across the state of Washington. Watch our video below to see the ways that we hope to help Latinos in Washington thrive.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. Hearing from you is the most important part of my job. Please do not hesitate to reach out with your thoughts and ideas.
Sincerely,
Sharlett Mena
State Representative
29th District