The 2021 legislative session has begun, and I am honored to represent you in Olympia. Please know that whether or not we agree on every issue, I am here to represent you. Our office is always available to advocate for you, to listen to your concerns, and to carry messages if we are not the ones who can affect change.
My priorities are as always, restructuring our regressive tax code to support working families and small businesses, creating affordable housing options on the Eastside, and ending preventable gun violence.
In the wake of COVID-19, my priorities have not changed. However, some matters have become urgent.
First, it is crucial that the legislature address racial justice and police accountability. This commitment comes after a year of racial equity protests across the country following the brutal killing of George Floyd at the hands of police and the many marginalized communities who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During my time as Mayor of Kirkland, I worked closely with the Kirkland Police Department for many years. Our law enforcement partners want tools to address bad actors just as our community does.
2021 Legislative Priorities
I am sponsoring several bills this session, focusing on four core values: restructuring our regressive tax code, supporting working families and small businesses, providing more affordable housing options on the Eastside, and ending preventable gun violence.
Restructuring our Regressive Tax Code and Supporting Small Businesses
I am proud to prime sponsor HB 1095 which clarifies that qualifying grants for COVID relief for businesses are not subject to Business & Occupation tax. This bill passed off the House floor unanimously and is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
I am also supportive of several policies to increase progressive revenue including closing the tax break on capital gains, creating a wealth tax, and enacting a state recovery rebate through the Working Families Tax Credit.
Support for Working Families
I am always focused on legislation that supports working families. This session, I am prime sponsoring four bills to protect and support those who need it most.
Wage Garnishment: HB 1447 protects $1000 in Washington consumers’ bank accounts from garnishment for the next four years, following the COVID-19 economic crisis. It is imperative that families have a minimum amount of resources for housing, food and essential needs during the pandemic and throughout recovery.
Humane Pet Sales: HB 1424 This bill intends to end the puppy mill to pet store pipeline. Puppies are coming in from outside of our state and being sold at retail stores. Most pet stores choose not to sell puppies and instead help their customers find reputable breeders to buy from or help them look at adoption options. However, there are a few stores in Washington that do sell puppies and unfortunately most of them do so using predatory financing programs and with a lack of transparency about the health history of the puppies and where the puppies were born and transported from. Inhumane breeding practices are known to cause health and behavioral issues. Consumers deserve to know under what conditions puppies are born.
Child Support: HB 1171 amends child support income withholding provisions to comply with federal child support program requirements and HB 1416 proposes to intercept certain insurance proceeds to recover child support due.
Ending Preventable Gun Violence
I am prime sponsoring two bills to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people. HB 1038 makes it unlawful to possess a firearm if the person has previously been convicted of unlawful discharge of a firearm or animal cruelty in the second degree. HB 1026 strengthens the requirements for persons convicted to obtain restoration of their firearm rights to ensure that convicted felons who petition to have their firearm rights restored do not have any outstanding protection orders, including for domestic violence or sexual assault.
Affordable Housing Options
I am deeply concerned about the lack of affordable housing in many of our communities. SB 5287 expands the Multi-Family Property Tax Exemption (MFTE) and increases affordability requirements. The bill is a work in progress, but this program has been effective in creating housing for working families and it should be expanded and improved. This legislation is the product of the hard work of a bipartisan group of legislators and a broad group of stakeholders including home builders, cities, counties, and tenant advocates.
I will continue to advocate for funding for the Housing Trust Fund, and am working on policies that will provide a glide path out of the eviction moratorium that protects tenants and housing providers.
Bills Brought Forward By Constituents
I am introducing two bills brought to me by concerned constituents. HB 1031 allows a person who gives birth to a stillborn baby to request and receive a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. Several women provided touching testimony at the public hearing explaining that being able to receive a certificate of stillbirth is a small yet meaningful way to acknowledge that they lost their child and to help heal from trauma.
Due to the recent outbreaks of COVID-19 at mink farms in nine countries and four states, including Oregon, I am sponsoring HB 1375 to prohibit the production and manufacturing of fur products in Washington state. The Center for Disease Control has found that mink are highly susceptible to COVID which may provide a major virus exposure to people working with mink.
Together we can make a difference and I’m grateful to the constituents who have shared their personal stories and trusted me with shepherding their policy ideas through the legislative process. We have a lot of work ahead of us and I appreciate the opportunity to serve you.
Guide to Navigating Virtual Session
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not safe to hold a normal in-person legislative session. We are conducting our legislative work virtually (including committee meetings, floor session, and constituent conversations) to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy.
You are able to watch all public meetings online and participate in the legislative process through remote testimony. Here are four ways to get involved and stay informed from the safety of your home.
Learn—The whole legislative process, from start to finish, is explained at leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx
Watch—Go to TVW.org for broadcasts of debates, votes, committee meetings, and other events in the House and Senate. There’s also an extensive archive of past events, if you aren’t able to watch it live.
Research—To look up legislation by lawmaker or topic, visit app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
Testify—Make your voice heard! We have a brand new system for you to submit remote testimony on any bill, this includes submitting written testimony or testifying virtually.
Telephone Town Hall
Join your 48th District legislators for a telephone town hall on Thursday, February 4th at 6:00 pm. We will answer your questions and provide an update on how the legislative session is going. Sign up for the event at this link. We’ll also post the link to join in the discussion tab of this Facebook event.
You can submit questions ahead of time: surveymonkey.com/r/2D8Y3BD or call in during the live event to submit a question.
Let Me Know What is Important to You
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. Your opinion matters to me and I want to know what is important to you.
I encourage you to get involved and stay informed by using the tools outlined in this newsletter. Although we are not able to meet in person during this remote session, Michelle, my legislative assistant and I are continuing to read your emails and receive your calls.
As always, if you have questions, concerns, or ideas please email me at amy.walen@leg.wa.gov or call my office at 425-883-3366.
Sincerely,
State Representative Amy Walen