Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2024 legislative session began on January 8th, and we’re through week two. It’s been a busy couple of weeks with four of my bills receiving public hearings and one of them being voted out of committee. Since this 60-day session is going to go by quickly, I’d like to share some great ways you can engage and follow along this session, visit me in Olympia, and share a little info about each of my bills.
Stay Engaged This Session
Watch — TVW.org broadcasts all debates and votes that happen in the House or Senate, as well as all committee meetings in both chambers.
Testify — Go here for an overview of the process, here for instructions on how to testify remotely, and here to sign in for hearings in the House or Senate.
Research — Look up any bill by number, lawmaker, or topic here. To learn about the entire legislative process, click here. You can search for the daily agenda for each committee here. Just select the committee you’re interested in, and you can find out which members are assigned to that committee, review upcoming agendas and documents, as well as past reports and hearings.
Stay Informed — Visit my website, follow me on Facebook, and sign up for the Hot Sheet, a weekly guide to what the House Democratic Caucus is working on in Olympia. The Hot Sheet compiles many of the legislative priorities scheduled for a hearing or a vote on each day, so it’s a great snapshot of what is happening each week.
Get in Touch — You can always reach my office by email or phone; my contact information is included in the bottom of this email.
Ver: TVW.org transmite todos los debates y votaciones que ocurren en la Cámara o el Senado, así como todas las reuniones de los comités en ambas cámaras.
Testifique: Vaya aquí para obtener una descripción general del proceso, aquí para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo testificar de forma remota y aquí para registrarse para audiencias en la Cámara o el Senado.
Investigación: Busque aquí cualquier proyecto de ley por número, legislador o tema. Para conocer todo el proceso legislativo, haga clic aquí. Puede buscar la agenda diaria de cada comité aquí. Simplemente seleccione el comité que le interesa y podrá averiguar qué miembros están asignados a ese comité, revisar las próximas agendas y documentos, así como informes y audiencias anteriores.
Manténgase informado: visite mi sitio web y suscríbase a la Hot Sheet, una guía semanal sobre las cosas en que los representantes del Caucus Demócrata estaremos trabajando en Olympia. La Hot Sheet recopila muchas de las prioridades legislativas programadas para una audiencia o votación cada día, por lo que es una excelente manera instantánea de ver lo que sucede cada semana.
Póngase en contacto: siempre puede comunicarse con mi oficina por correo electrónico o por teléfono; mi información de contacto está incluida al final de este correo electrónico.
My Bills Are Moving!
From rent stabilization to behavioral health to education funding, my colleagues and I are focused on creative and effective solutions to our most pressing issues. Helping our families, strengthening communities, and putting people first is how we build a brighter future for our state. With less than fifty days remaining this session, I’d like to share some of the legislation I’ve personally introduced this year:
House Bill 1885: Federal law prohibits foreign entities from participating in American elections, yet foreign influenced corporations are pouring money into Washington’s elections and initiatives through dark-money channels year after year. This bill closes a dangerous loophole that allows this practice. Ultimately, it will ensure that the loudest voices in our elections are those of the people we represent. To watch my committee testimony on this bill, click here.
House Bill 1905: In Washington, we recognize that closing the gender wage gap is our responsibility. Just a few years ago, the legislature passed the Equal Pay and Opportunity Act—bolstering our commitment to undoing centuries of inequality. But under this statute, women of intersectional identities will have to try and detangle them to seek remedies for discrimination. By updating the Equal Pay Opportunity Act to include added protections for workers who belong to any protected class, we help workers and advocates champion pay equity and career advancement, and ultimately move us closer to reducing the pay gap. To watch my committee testimony on this bill, click here.
House Bill 2000: 1991 is the last time that Washington updated our International Relations law. Our state–and the world–has evolved at an exponential rate in the last 32 years, and international relations are more important than ever today. This bill takes crucial steps to improve Washington’s partnership with our neighbors, creating new opportunities for collaboration and success. By creating a strategic plan, fostering bi-partisan dialogue, and supporting international engagement, we can build a stronger future for Washington. I’m proud to share this this bill passed committee with a unanimous vote. To watch my committee testimony on this bill, click here.
House Bill 2068: Fast fashion exists at the intersection of multiple issues including workplace safety and unethical labor practices, environmental degradation, and affordability of products for working families. Corporations are often aware of these issues, so it is beyond time for them to be transparent with the public and take action to protect the environment, workers, and consumers. To watch my committee testimony on this bill, click here or on the image below.
House Bill 2070: Last year, per the CCA, the Department of Ecology identified communities most overburdened by air pollution. South and East Tacoma made the list. It’s also been reported by the Tacoma News Tribune that people in Parkland have an average life expectancy that is 10 years less than other residents of Pierce County. Environmental pollution contributes to this outcome and exacerbates existing inequities linked to race and income. This bill would require SEPA lead agencies to take a closer look at projects with potentially significant impacts proposed in communities that rank 7 or higher and would constitute the first time ever that we consider historical environmental injustices and cumulative—or overall—in permit decisions. This is long overdue. To watch my committee testimony on this bill, click here.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. Hearing from you is the most important part of my job. Please do not hesitate to keep reaching out throughout the interim with your thoughts and ideas!
Sincerely,
Sharlett Mena
State Representative
29th District