Dear friends and neighbors,

We are back for in Olympia for the 2020 legislative session. During this short 60-day session, I am working on a variety of policies that put the people of Washington first.

Check out some of those priorities below.

Making history: first woman speaker of the House

It’s a new day in the House. History was made last week when Rep. Laurie Jinkins was sworn in as the first woman speaker of the House in Washington state history. Speaker Jinkins is the first new speaker in 20 years and first out lesbian to hold the position in our state. Members of the House wore white in honor of the suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote. I was proud to stand among them.

My 2020 legislative agenda

Affordable Housing & Homelessness

Washington state is in the middle of a housing affordability and homelessness crisis. We simply do not have enough affordable housing options, including on the Eastside. I am working on four pieces of legislation to fix that.

• House Bill 2634 would allow nonprofit organizations that are providing affordable housing to purchase or receive additional property without the burden of paying the real estate excise tax (REET). I believe this bill will encourage nonprofit housing providers to purchase more property and increase the availability of affordable housing options.
• House Bill 2630 would provide a limited property tax exemption for the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) – more commonly known as back yard cottages or “in-law” apartments. This could incentivize homeowners to develop ADUs, creating more housing choices across our state.
• House Bill 2629 would waive utility connection charges for nonprofit organizations or local agencies that provide emergency, transitional, or permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence who have become homeless due to safety concerns at home.
• House Bill 2620 would expand the property tax exemption for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings in urban growth areas, encouraging the development of multi-family housing.

Gun Violence Reduction

Gun violence in the United States is one of our nation’s biggest modern tragedies. In Washington, we have worked hard to put common sense reforms in place to prevent acts of violence. In 2018, the people of Washington passed Initiative 1639 to reduce mass shootings and overall gun violence statewide, but there’s still more work to do to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people.

• House Bill 2623 would prohibit the possession of a firearm for people who have been convicted of unlawful discharge of a firearm or animal cruelty.
• House Bill 2519 would prevent people who already cannot buy firearms from purchasing ammunition. If a person cannot legally have a gun, they should not be able to purchase or possess ammunition.

Supporting Working Families

Economic growth isn’t just about prosperity for the business community. It’s also about building an economic system that works to give everyone fair chance to succeed.

• House Bill 2476 would protect Washingtonians from debt buyers. When people fall into debt, they should have protections that allow them to make progress on paying back their debts without sacrificing basic needs.

Legislative Page Program for teens

Every year, students ages 14 to 16 come from all over the state to serve as legislative pages in the House of Representatives. The Page Program is a great opportunity for youth to learn how our state government works and gain hands-on experience with the legislative process.

Pages are sponsored by members of the Legislature, usually from the district in which they live, and receive a small stipend for their public service. However, requirements like transportation and living expenses for a week in the Capitol can keep students from participating. Fortunately, the Legislature created the Gina Grant Bull Scholarship to help offset those costs. Check out the FAQ page to see if you can apply.  

Your opinion matters to me. I want to know what is important to you. My door is always open and I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have questions, concerns, or ideas please email me at Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov or call my office at (360) 786-7848.

Sincerely,

Representative Amy Walen