Dear friends and neighbors,
As this year’s 105-day Legislative Session is winding down (as of this writing, just six days to go until sine die), I’m so humbled and honored to tell you that five of the seven bills I introduced this Legislative Session are either on their way to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk to become law or still alive in the legislative process! The following is a run-down of where things stand.
Bills Passed in the House and Senate
My first bill to pass both chambers was House Bill 1792, which pertains to water rights adjudication in the Nooksack watershed. It cleared the House unanimously (97-0) on Feb. 28 and cleared the Senate unanimously (46-0) on April 6.
A few years ago, the Washington State Department of Ecology was directed by the Legislature to assess watersheds in the state that would benefit most from a water rights adjudication process. The resulting report showed two locations—the Nooksack watershed, known as Water Resource Inventory Area 1, in Whatcom County, as well as an area around Lake Roosevelt in eastern Washington.
HB 1792 concerns the water rights adjudication process in the Nooksack River basin only and will provide clarity and transparency for people filing water rights claims in the event that adjudication moves forward. Click here to learn more should this be an issue you anticipate having to navigate in the future.
Establishing a State Emergency Medical Corps
When devastating flooding ripped through Whatcom County in November 2021, so many folks in communities impacted by the floods stepped up to help others in need, but the need was more than we could face alone. That’s why I introduced House Bill 1452 to establish a state emergency medical reserve corps. I even wrote an op-ed about why I felt so strongly about this bill for the Cascadia Daily News that you can read here or by clicking the image above.
In a nutshell, HB 1452 will create a state emergency medical reserve corps that is managed and run by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). DOH will register and train reserve corps members—doctors, veterinarians, mental health counselors, and others—and the Secretary of Health will activate them based on their unique expertise and local needs. Click here to learn more.
Two Education-Related Bills
Education has played an important role throughout my life. I am a product of Washington state public schools and I started my career working as a preschool teacher and later worked in administration at Western Washington University, where I advocated on behalf of the university and its students in Olympia before becoming a legislator. We owe it to our students and parents to provide a high quality education, and I will continue to do everything I can to represent the needs of each and every student while I’m representing you!
My first education bill, House Bill 1536, passed out of the House on Feb. 27 with a bipartisan vote of 74-21. On April 11, it cleared the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 28-21, and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for his signature!
HB 1536 will restrict the ability of school districts to withhold high school diplomas from students with small amounts of debt (under $1,000). It also addresses equity and workforce issues in our state. How so? Click here to learn more.
My second education bill, House Bill 1823, passed out of the House on March 2 with strong bipartisan support (67-29). On April 12, it had strong bipartisan support in the Senate as well, passing with a vote of 36-13. This bill was amended slightly in the Senate, which means it now goes to concurrence and comes back to the House for review before ultimately going on to the governor’s desk for his signature.
HB 1823 builds upon previous work in the Legislature to create a low-interest student loan program. This bill improves the program by targeting fields of study that are in high demand and address Washington’s workforce shortage, such as healthcare, behavioral and mental health, educators, law enforcement, and public safety professionals. By specifically targeting graduate school study for students with 100 percent or less of the state’s median family income, this bill also helps fill a gap in Washington’s financial aid landscape and builds upon the work the state does to improve access to all levels of postsecondary education.
Bill Necessary to Implement the Budget
Last but certainly not least, I’m happy to report that House Bill 1431 is also still alive this legislative session. It passed the House unanimously (96-0) on March 16 and is considered Necessary to Implement the Budget, and just got placed on the Senate’s floor calendar, it can still make it across the line before sine dine.
HB 1431 provides a sales tax exemption on prepared meals for residents of senior living communities. Our seniors deserve to age with dignity and comfort and to socialize during mealtime with those around them. This bill will help provide peace of mind to those on fixed incomes, which is especially timely as costs are rising. Click here to read a release once this bill passed off the House floor.
Keep your eyes peeled on my website and legislative Facebook page for the latest updates regarding this bill as session wraps up. These are also the best sources to look at when you want to know any of my latest news!
Video Update
In my latest episode of Ask Joe, I answer constituent emails. This segment includes information on the PERS 1 and TRS1 retirement accounts, and House Bill 1240, establishing an assault weapons ban. Tune in by clicking here or on the image above.
Keep in Touch!
While I will be sending you a comprehensive update once this year’s Legislative Session wraps up, please know that I will provide periodic updates and can be reached during interim as well!
If you ever have questions about any of the bills I’ve described or any other work I’m doing in the Legislature, I encourage you to reach out to me or to my legislative assistant, Hayden Jenkins, at any point.
Best wishes,
