Greetings, friends and neighbors, and happy Black History Month! 

We are excited to kick off the first edition of our monthly Black Members Caucus (BMC) newsletter! Here, you will see our members’ primary legislation and stay up-to-date on events, plans, and policies.    

Two years ago, Black lawmakers from the state legislature formed this caucus to not only highlight representation. Only 25 Black people have served in the legislature in its history, including the nine Black lawmakers serving now. We nearly doubled in size in just this past election alone. Washington Black lawmakers have been around since the beginning of our state. We see your excitement in this history-making moment.   

Thanks to your work, we are showing how valuable our voices are and how we are needed at the decision-making table. While Washington has made great strides for its Black constituents, the need to uplift the lives of Black people and other marginalized groups is still critical. The BMC will not only push for equity, inclusion, and justice; but ensure it remains a top priority in our state legislature.  

A message from Rep. Jamila Taylor, Black Members Caucus Chair   

Last year, thousands of historic protests sparked our country, demanding police and justice reform, and addressing systemic racism Black communities face daily. Throughout 2021, we encourage you to continue using your voice and resources to dismantle these systems and overcome barriers. 

Our caucus members are committed to serving their communities and listening to their Black constituents. Your voices inspire us in our work to make changes.  You hold us and other lawmakers accountable. 

As you already know, this work takes a lot of time and can be exhausting, so please remember to put your mental health first. Lean on your community and neighbors for support, and never feel like you are alone in this shared struggle for equity and justice.    

Meet the Members  

Click on their name to head to their legislative website, and click on their picture to head to their legislative Facebook page!  

Caucus Chair – Rep. Jamila Taylor (D-Federal Way) 30th LD 

Rep. Taylor’s Committees 

• Housing, Human Services & Veterans – Vice Chair 
• Community & Economic Development 
• Transportation 

Caucus Vice Chair – Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley (D-Seattle) 37th LD 

Rep. Harris-Talley’s Committees 

• Children, Youth & Families – Vice Chair 
• Environment & Energy 
• Finance 

Rep. April Berg (D-Mill Creek) 44th LD 

Rep. Berg’s Committees 

• Finance – Vice Chair 
• Education 
• Local Government 
• Members of Color Caucus – 2nd Vice Chair 

Rep. Debra Entenman (D-Kent) 47th LD  

Rep. Entenman’s Committees 

• College & Workforce Development – Vice Chair 
• Civil Rights & Judiciary 
• Transportation
• Opportunities for All Caucus – Chair 

Rep. David Hackney (D-Seattle) 11th LD 

• Capital Budget – Vice Chair 
• Public Safety 
• Transportation 

Rep. Jesse Johnson (D-Federal Way) 30th LD 

• Public Safety – Vice Chair 
• Appropriations 
• Community & Economic Development 

Rep. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) 44th LD 

• Community & Economic Development 
• Public Safety 
• Transportation 

Rep. Melanie Morgan (D-Parkland) 29th LD  

Rep. Morgan’s Committees 

• Commerce & Gaming 
• Finance 
• Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources 
• Members of Color Caucus – Chair

Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest) 28th LD  

• Early Learning & K-12 Education – Vice Chair 
• Higher Education & Workforce Development – Vice Chair  
• Transportation  

Caucus Priority Legislation 

In alignment with the House Democratic Caucus priorities, the BMC is focused on the four categories:

• Racial Equity
• COVID-19 Response
• Economic Recovery 
• Environmental Justice

As such, the Legislature is considering bills to establish community oversight boards for police accountability, voting rights restoration and access, addressing housing stability for renters, ensuring the COVID-19 public health response is inclusive and equitable. Also, we are considering a bill to give Juneteenth the recognition it deserves as a legal holiday.  We must recognize that the fight for full control of one’s own labor did not end with the abolition of slavery. 

Our work is unfinished. But with each step toward progress, Ms. Gorman’s words fill me with hope for our future. 

 

BMC is prioritizing the following bills: 

Addressing Racial Justice and Equity 

• HB 1203 – Community Oversight Boards, sponsored by Rep. Johnson
• HB 1088 – Concerning potential impeachment disclosures, sponsored by Rep. Lovick
• HB 1092 – Concerning law enforcement data collection, sponsored by Rep. Lovick / SB 5259 – Concerning law enforcement data collection, sponsored by Sen. Nobles
• HB 1054 –  Establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers, sponsored by Rep. Johnson
• HB 1267 – Independent Investigations, sponsored by Rep. Entenman

• HB 1310 – Concerning permissible uses of force by law enforcement and correctional officers, sponsored by Rep. Johnson
• HB 1507 – Establishing a mechanism for independent prosecutions of criminal conduct arising from police use of force, sponsored by Rep. Entenman
• HB 1344 – Second chance bill, sponsored by Rep. Hackney 
• HB 1307 – Modification of drug sentencing grid, sponsored by Rep. Hackney 
• HB 1413 – Prohibiting use of criminal history points earned as a juvenile in sentencing in adult court, sponsored by Rep. Hackney 
• HB 1156 – Ranked-choice voting and representation in local elections, sponsored by Rep. Harris-Talley 
• HB 1016 – Making Juneteenth a legal holiday, sponsored by Rep. Morgan 

• SB 5183 – Concerning victims of non-fatal strangulation, sponsored by Sen. Nobles
• SB 5321 – Expanding access to the college bound scholarship, sponsored by Sen. Nobles

Addressing COVID-19 Recovery 

• HB 1340 – Pandemic Response Review Board, sponsored by Rep. Lovick

Addressing Economic Recovery 

• HB 1274 – Migration state data and apps to the commercial cloud, sponsored by Rep. Hackney
• HB 1236 – Just Cause eviction, sponsored by Rep. Macri and co-sponsored by Rep. Taylor 
• HB 1297 – Concerning working families tax exemption, sponsored by Rep. Thai  
• HB 1166 – Expanding access to the homeless and foster care college students pilot program, sponsored by Rep. Leavitt
• HB 1303 – Concerning the regulation and taxation of the sale of Washingtonian’s personal information and related data, sponsored by Rep. Kloba
• HB 1304 – Funding rapid rail transit improvements with local dollars, sponsored by Rep. Hackney
• HB 1342 – Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches, sponsored by Rep. Berg
• HB 1460 – Closing the digital divide by establishing excise taxes on telecommunications services to fund the expansion of the universal service programs in Washington, sponsored by Rep. Gregerson

Addressing Environmental Justice 

• HB 1395 – Ensuring equity in farming, sponsored by Rep. Morgan

Additional Police Accountability 

• HB 1140 – Requires law enforcement to provide juveniles with access to an attorney prior to any waiver of the juvenile’s constitutional rights, sponsored by Rep. Johnson 
• HB 1223 – Enacting the uniform electronic recordation of custodial interrogations act, sponsored by Rep. Peterson 
• HB 1089 – Authorizes the State Auditor to audit use of force investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with I-940 rules, sponsored by Rep. Ramos
• HB 1202 – Addressing meaningful civil remedies for persons injured as a result of police misconduct, including by allowing for an award of attorney fees in addition to damages and injunctive and declaratory relief, sponsored by Rep. Thai

Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.  

Be well.  

Black Members Caucus President