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Dear friends and neighbors,
We adjourned on April 27, with a balanced budget that protects essential services and programs that many working families, as well as our most vulnerable Washingtonians, rely on in their daily lives.
As we have been doing for a few years now, my seatmate, Rep. Strom Peterson and I will send out an e-newsletter focused on the three budgets and the revenue package within the next couple of weeks.
For now, I want to take the opportunity in this newsletter to discuss some of the important bills we passed to continue bringing forth progressive policies that put people first.
However, before we get into that, a word on the tragic demise of Sen. Bill Ramos:
WE WILL MISS YOU, BILL!
On the evening of April 19 we received the heartbreaking news that our colleague and very dear friend, Sen. Bill Ramos, had passed away.
There are truly no words to express the immense sadness that overwhelmed legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle.
The Latino Democratic Caucus released this statement on April 21, and shared a short video as a tribute to our dear friend:
MY BILLS
You can read full descriptions of these bills In my previous newsletter. You may remember that six of my bills went to the Senate and I have good news to report:
Three of them have been signed by Gov. Ferguson:
The three remaining bills are on their way to the governor’s desk:
- HB 1079: Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.
- HB 1232: Private detention facilities.
- HB 1651: Teacher residency and apprenticeship programs. Here’s a short video I shot from the House floor wings right after it passed the Senate:
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT MEASURES PASSED TO KEEP WASHINGTON MOVING FORWARD
Rent Stabilization: HB 1217
Residential and manufactured home renters deserve rent predictability, stability and protection from price gouging. With rent stabilization we are protecting families and low-income individuals, as well as senior citizens by combating corporate price gouging in the rental market and creating stability in communities. This measure caps yearly rent increases on existing residential tenants at 7% + inflation or a flat 10% – whichever is lower; caps annual rent increases at 5% for existing tenants of manufactured home parks; and gives renters 12-months of predictable rents.
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Concerning the health and safety of working minors: HB 1644
This establishes higher minimum penalties for violations governing the employment of minors in Washington state. Employers who regularly violate these laws, or when there is serious harm to or the death of a young person on their job site, lose their ability to employ working minors. When young people have a job, the intention is to help them learn skills that will set them up for success later in life, not burden them with lasting injuries or emotional trauma.
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Promoting a safe and supportive public education system: HB 1296
This bill brings the parental bill of rights initiative language into alignment with other parts of state law, expanding parental rights established by the initiative, while protecting student safety and privacy. All students have the right to receive a public education free from discrimination. HB 1296 ensures our public schools don’t discriminate based on ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizen status, or neurodivergence.
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Keeping our families safe from sodium nitrite: HB 1209
This bill, known as Tyler’s Law, restricts the sale of highly concentrated sodium nitrite—a substance linked to multiple youth suicides nationwide. It establishes critical accountability measures to protect the public and prevent future tragedies. The law prohibits the sale or transfer of sodium nitrite above 10% concentration to anyone other than verified businesses or institutions with a legitimate need. It also requires warning labels and record-keeping, and imposes civil penalties for violations.
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Enhancing requirements relating to the purchase, transfer, and possession of firearms (Permit to Purchase): HB 1163
This bill keeps guns out of the hands of those who may use them to harm themselves or others by establishing a coordinated system to check eligibility of firearm permit-holders. It requires an individual to apply for and obtain a permit before purchasing a firearm—with certain conditions including participating in live fire safety training and undergoing existing background checks.
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Sexual assault that results in pregnancy: HB 1484
Pregnancy resulting from rape or sexual assault is traumatic and has a lasting impact on the survivor regardless of how old they are and should be considered as a factor in all cases. This bill expands an aggravating factor in sentencing to include pregnancies resulting from rape, whether the victim is a minor, as is current law, or an adult. It gives courts the authority to impose stronger sentences in all rape-related pregnancies.
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Prosthetic limb and custom orthotic brace coverage: HB 1669 Currently, insurance coverage for prosthetics is limited to one limb or brace. Prosthetic limbs are usually specialized, with different ones used for walking, running, or other types of activities. This limit is an obstacle for those who want to be more active, including folks who still need PE, and children who just want to run and play. HB 1669 requires group health plans, except for those offered to public employees, to provide expanded coverage for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic devices.
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Blocking unauthorized militias from entering Washington: HB 1321
This proactive bill reinforces Washington’s authority over military presence within its borders by prohibiting military forces from other states, territories, or districts from entering Washington without prior approval from the Governor or the President. This bill ensures that other states cannot attempt to enforce federal or immigration law within our borders without our consent. This bill will not restrict the National Guard from supporting disaster response or recovery efforts. Similar laws are in effect in other states, including Texas and Montana.
HONORING PHYLLIS GUTIERREZ KENNEY
On April 10, the Senate adopted a resolution to recognize and celebrate former Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney’s incredible legacy.
Phyllis has been a trailblazer, mentor, and fierce advocate for equity and opportunity in Washington state. As one of the first Latinas to serve in the Legislature, she broke down barriers and opened doors for future generations of leaders, including myself. Her legacy is a reminder of what’s possible when we lead with heart and purpose. I am fortunate to have her in my life and consider her a very dear friend.
LAWMAKER TO LAWMAKER
March was Women’s History Month and several of the women legislators who serve in the House Democratic Caucus participated in a video series to honor and celebrate how far we’ve come and how much more there is still ahead.
I hope that our conversations, which were always honest and sometimes funny, will inspire women of all ages and all walks of life to take hold of their strength and reach for their goals.
I was honored to sit with Rep. Mia Gregerson (33rd District, SeaTac) for a few minutes to learn a bit about each other. Click here or on the image below to watch the video.
For other videos in the series, go to the House Democrats YouTube channel and, in the search box, type lawmaker to lawmaker.
As always, I thank you for reading my newsletter. I truly appreciate your interest and I take your feedback into account. Please continue sending me your thoughts and concerns. Keep an eye out for the budgets newsletter coming soon!
Sincerely,
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