This session, I was honored to have been re-appointed by my colleagues to chair the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans committee. I have invested considerable time and effort over the last few years to understand the variety of opinions stakeholders have on the subject matters under consideration by this committee. Here are some of the highlights from our work over this session – all these bills are headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law:  

HB 1009 helps military spouses by making it easier for them to get professional licenses when they move to a new state due to their service member spouse’s duty assignment. This can be a big challenge for military families, and this bill aims to reduce some of the barriers they face. It also allows military spouses to end work contracts without being penalized when their service member spouse gets new orders to move. Overall, this bill shows support for military families and helps make their lives a little bit easier while addressing some of our workforce shortage issues. 

HB 1728 requires the Emergency Management Division (EMD) within the Military Department to develop and run a program to increase disaster resilience. The program aims to coordinate state and local disaster response efforts, ensure collaboration between agencies, and identify and mitigate all types of natural and human-caused hazards. The program will promote collaboration between agencies to advance statewide climate resilience activities, identify opportunities to leverage funding, and improve the resilience of communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. By increasing disaster resilience, the bill aims to help communities withstand and recover from adverse events in a fair and equitable manner.  

HB 1783 is a bipartisan bill to help associate development organizations by establishing a grant program that will support them in recruiting, hiring, and retaining grant writers. By doing so, these organizations will be better equipped to secure funding through grant applications, which will ultimately help them better serve their communities and achieve their goals. 

SB 5268 establishes a small works roster that requires contractors to indicate if they are a women and minority-owned business, veteran-owned business, or small business. By requiring contractors to indicate their status and establishing a statewide roster with filters, these businesses will have greater visibility and access to small public works projects. The elimination of the retainage or performance bonds requirement for small public works contracts under $5,000 will also make it easier and less costly for small businesses to participate in these projects. Overall, this bill seeks to support and promote the growth and success of small businesses, which are essential to the state’s economy and local communities. 

SB 5269, the Washington Clean Manufacturing Leadership Act, directs the Department of Commerce to conduct an independent assessment to identify opportunities for new and emerging industries while strengthening the existing manufacturing base. The assessment will evaluate the impacts of transitioning to net-zero emissions, identify needs of existing manufacturers, and support minority and women-owned businesses. The bill aims to promote economic development and environmental sustainability, both reflecting the values of Washingtonians. 

SB 5323 creates a director of nursing services position at each state veterans’ home, requires the director to be a licensed registered nurse in Washington, and allows the WDVA to exempt certain veteran discharge papers from public disclosure under specific circumstances. It also repeals outdated statutory references to the Soldiers’ Colony and fundraising for the eastern Washington veterans’ home, as well as a requirement to provide domiciliary and medical care. 

SB 5358 updates and expands the Veteran Peer-to-Peer Program and the Veteran Service Officer Program. The updates include extending due dates for reports and evaluations, analyzing areas lacking veteran support services, and increasing state appropriations and grants for these programs. The goal of the bill is to improve and expand support services for Washington’s large population of veterans and their families. 

SB 5324 supports communities adjacent to military installations in Washington State by updating the Defense Community Compatibility Account (DCCA). The bill demonstrates a commitment to supporting veterans and maintaining strong military infrastructure in our state. Projects under the DCCA are vetted and can leverage federal funding, bringing additional money into Washington. The clarification that funds can be matched by any nonstate source will improve adjacent cities’ competitiveness in the next grant cycle for compatibility-enhancing investments and to ensure that federal money is not left on the table.