Howdy Friends and Neighbors,
I’m back with an update on where we are in the session, the status of some important bills, and a short reflection on what it means to me to celebrate Black History Month as a legislator here. Let’s get into it.
First, I want to make sure you know about our upcoming town hall on Monday, February 23 at 6pm. This will be virtual but the entire 34th LD delegation be there. You can tune in on youTube or Facebook Live. I hope you can join us!
Let’s get nerdy!
Alright so boom. We’ve recently finished a full week of full-time floor action. That means I spent some long days (and some nights!) with my fellow lawmakers debating bills. In my most recent video, I get a little nerdy about the legislative process but it may help explain exactly how we got here and what’s coming next.
If you watched the video, first, a gold star for you! Second, that means you now know the next step in our process which is to send all the bills we passed out of the House over to the Senate, and all the bills that passed out of the Senate will come over to us. Then, we start this party all over again. Make sense?
Speaking of bills that passed, several of my priority policies moved on the next step which is quite exciting.
Bills update
HB 2303: prohibiting employers from microchipping their employees, and HB 2495: allowing vehicles to be impounded without calling law enforcement, were both successfully voted out of the House and are now headed to the Senate for consideration.
I’m especially proud to have gotten HB 2355: the Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights, out of the House as well.
HB 2355 is a policy that has been worked on for many years.
Ensuring these valuable workers have access to safe work environments and wage protections is a top priority for me and many in our caucus. I am proud our body has moved it forward not just because it’s been a long time coming, but also because I know intimately how important these protections are. My mother cleaned houses, and it was my first job. I experienced first-hand what it means to work without these protections. We can do better. You can listen to my remarks on this bill here. I will certainly have more to say if and when this policy is signed into law by the governor.
There are a couple bills coming over from the Senate that I am looking forward to learning more about, including:
- Senate Bill 5855: ‘Unmasking ICE’ bill, banning federal law enforcement from wearing masks when interacting with the public
- Senate Bill 6002: Regulating FLOCK automated license plate readers
- Senate Bill 6346: Implementing a ‘Millionaire’s Tax’
Black History is Now – fighting for our place
Finally, I want to take time to celebrate Black History Month. This year marks the 100th anniversary of recognizing the contributions the Black community has made to our country, our state, and our communities.
While I am proud to be part of the largest Legislative Black Caucus on the West Coast (Woot! Woot!) that doesn’t mean we no longer face barriers and difficulties in the workplace. I want to uplift my colleagues, Rep. Debra Entenman and Sen. T’wina Nobles, who spoke about the continuous feelings of marginalization in the legislature in this article. We still have work to do, but I will never stop bringing my experiences and your voice to these influential halls of power.
If you are also a Black woman who works in the public sector, you have an opportunity to share your experience as well. The Washington State Women’s Commission (WSWC) and Blacks United in Leadership & Diversity (BUILD) are collecting real stories to turn lived experience into practical guidance for change. Share your experiences in this survey by March 15: http://tiny.cc/zxwx001
Check out the 2026 priorities of the Legislative Black Caucus here. Our themes this year include:
- Ensuring we protect Black children and youth;
- Creating opportunities for stability, ownership, and generational wealth;
- And advocating for accountability, equity, and community power
Yes, we celebrate Black History Month, but we work to uplift these issues all year round. I hope you’ll take a moment this month to reflect on how Black History shows up in your life now and throughout the year.
Before I get out of here, I also want to acknowledge an incredible convergence of energetic power happening on top of all this Black History Month greatness: the Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan!
The House adopted Resolution 4682 celebrating Lunar New Year and the Senate has introduced Resolution 8680 to recognize and honor Ramadan. I want to warmly wish everyone who celebrates a joyful new year as we welcome the year of the Fire Horse, and if you observe Ramadan may this time of reflection bring you closer to your community, your loved ones, and yourself.
I know that was a lot, so that’s all for now. Keep an eye out for my next update!
Rep. Thomas out,
Rep. Brianna Thomas