Greetings friends and neighbors,
The work we accomplished this past legislative session was historic. We passed 304 bills, with a focus on four areas: COVID-19 response, economic recovery, racial equity and justice, and climate change. In fact, more than 70 bills that made it over the finish line specifically addressed racial equity.
But our work is far from over. We all know people who are still struggling as we navigate this stage of the pandemic. We’re working hard to connect people with existing resources, ensure bills are implemented the way they were intended to be and develop strategies for the next session.
BMC members’ statutory appointments
Each year, the Legislature creates new task forces, work groups and boards to develop budget solutions, bills and policies for the next session. The leadership of each Caucus appoints members to these groups that have been created in state statute. I’m proud to say that Black Members Caucus lawmakers have been appointed to a range of groups that will help to elevate our voices in a variety of policy areas. Here’s a closer look:
Rep. April Berg
• Annual School Safety Summit
• Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
Rep. Debra Entenman
• Children’s Behavioral Health Policy Prenatal to 5 Relational Health Subgroup
Rep. David Hackney
• Technology Services Board
Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley
• Joint Administrative Rules Committee
• Joint Legislative Task Force on Jail Standards
Rep. Jesse Johnson
• Juvenile Justice Partnership Council, Re-entry Subcommittee Co-Chair
Rep. John Lovick
• Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs
• Taskforce for After Action Review of the Statewide Pandemic Response and Recovery
Rep. Melanie Morgan
• Capitol Furnishings Preservation Committee
Sen. T’wina Nobles
• Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs
Rep. Jamila Taylor
• Women’s Commission
• Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee
You may have seen that KUOW published a story with interviews from each of the members of the Black Members Caucus that illustrates our priorities in Olympia. Each of us brings a distinct and important perspective to the Legislature, and we’re proud to work together for the well-being of all communities in our state. I hope you’ll give the story a read and share it with your network.
As you’ll read in the story, our priorities span a wide swatch of policy in order to improve the lives of our constituents at every turn. Our efforts are focused around the general themes of criminal justice reform, housing justice, health equity and economic recovery.
Let’s connect
We can’t do our work alone. We need your voice and advocacy to help us pass legislation that uplifts the people.
We want to learn more about how you’re serving the community and get your insights as we continue to develop legislation. For Black-led organizations serving the Black community in Washington state that are interested in being involved in developing legislation at the state level, please fill out this survey to plug into our efforts.
Statement on use of force bill
Reps. Jesse Johnson and Roger Goodman released a statement on the police use of force bill that passed last session. Here’s a snapshot of what they said:
“We know it will take time for law enforcement to adjust, but these changes were made for a reason. The level of excessive force used by some police officers, especially in Black and Brown communities, is unacceptable. Washingtonians have demanded action, and HB 1310 aims to transform how police show up in our communities. The vast majority of officers are already abiding by the standards codified in this new law. HB 1310 holds all officers to that same high standard of conduct.”
You can read the full statement here. And for more information about what the legislation does and doesn’t do, check out this Crosscut story.
Teaching and training on anti-racism
Laws banning the teaching of critical race theory have been passed in four states and introduced in 15 — which is likely to have a chilling effect on educators’ ability to honestly and accurately teach about American history, like the Civil War, Jim Crow, the treatment of Native Americans and many, many other issues. Luckily, that’s not the case in Washington state.
This year, we passed four bills to help meet the needs of today’s students — nearly half of which are students of color, as noted in a recent resolution passed by the state Board of Education. We shouldn’t shy away from teaching and training on anti-racism. And despite what right-wing politicians and pundits say, none of these laws reference, much less mandate, critical race theory. The Legislature didn’t prescribe any specific curriculum.
Moreover, there is a difference between CRT — an academic theory mostly confined to high-level university classes — and equity and diversity training, which is now either required or voluntarily undertaken in many schools and workplaces in order to build a positive climate for students and employees of color.
Unfortunately, this is the latest scapegoat for people looking to divide us. Opponents of progress always find a buzzword to ridicule because ridicule is easier than having the difficult discussions we need to have. As history and civics teachers say, we can’t ignore the problems or our history. We must examine them honestly and meet them bravely so we can dismantle the hurdles put in front of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. Otherwise, we’ll never realize our dream of leaving a better country for all kids.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Stay well,
Jamila Taylor
Chair, Black Members Caucus