Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2022 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, to support working families and small businesses, to create affordable housing options on the Eastside creating a complete community, and ending preventable gun violence. In the wake of COVID-19, my priorities have not changed. However, some matters have become urgent.
It is crucial that the legislature continue to prioritize racial justice and police accountability. We need to clarify the language for law enforcement about what they can and cannot do in protecting us. In addition, we need to address the actions of the Insurance Commissioner to ensure our families and seniors can afford the insurance coverage they need, and we need to address problems with the Long Term Care program.
Update: Delaying the Long Term Care Act Premium Assessment
As you may have heard, the Governor has heard our concerns, and has decided to delay the implementation of the Washington Cares Fund premium assessment. The long-term care bill was set to begin collecting premiums for this program from employers in January. Several lawmakers have filed bills with the goal of changing, pausing, or repealing the state’s new long term care act. While legislation is under consideration to pause the withholding of LTC fees, employers will not be subject to penalties and interest for not withholding fees from employees’ wages during this transition.
The goal of the bill was to help provide much-needed care and coverage for Washingtonians as they age. However, I have heard from many of you about areas that need adjustments and I agree. Delaying the collection of this payroll tax will give legislators the opportunity to make improvements so that the program can better serve disabled veterans, military spouses, non-residents, and near retirees. This pause will also give the Long Term Care Commission the ability to study and make recommendations about residents who move out of Washington to retire and assure that those who have opted out of the program maintain their private insurance policies.
The reality is that many of us are not prepared financially for long-term care we may need later in life, and we pay for this as a state, out of general fund dollars. This program ensures that the cost of coverage for long-term care will be shared by the community and ideally reduce the demand for funding from other taxes.
2022 Legislative Priorities
I am sponsoring several bills this session, focusing on four core values: supporting working families and small businesses, providing more affordable housing options on the Eastside, advocating for the humane treatment of animals, and addressing gun violence.
Property Tax Exemption for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Used for Affordable Housing
HB 1841 provides a property tax exemption if you rent your ADU to a low-income family or community member. This encourages the use of ADUs as an additional affordability tool, giving homeowner’s a real way to make a positive impact in their communities. Providing an incentive for ADU’s as low-income housing not only increases density but it also increases the options for affordable housing in our neighborhoods. For example, this could enable seniors to downsize without having to leave the neighborhood they love. It also encourages racial and socioeconomic diversity, allowing low-income individuals or families to live in a desirable residential neighborhood (which is often unattainable as a renter).
HOPE Housing
This holistic housing bill has several components focused on creating sustainable, equitable, and affordable housing. The intention of this bill is to provide a solution for the housing and climate emergency occurring in our state. Here are the main concepts in the bill:
- requiring upzoning around transit corridors we have committed to, including light rail stations and major transit hubs
- providing density bonuses for passive housing, which is an energy-efficient building standard that does not have an active heating system. To learn more about Passive Housing and why these principles are the future of home building, please visit the Passive House Institute U.S.
- providing a tax incentive for the development of passive housing along transit lines
What we are doing to address housing isn’t working. By reducing the cost and impact of housing, these changes improve the lives of all Washingtonians by creating the opportunity to achieve real equity. This is a bold big-picture proposal that will need a lot of work to progress, and I am committed to working on this issue.
Biomarker Testing for Late-Stage Cancers
HB 1689 allows biomarker testing without prior authorization by health insurers for people with late-stage cancer. Biomarker testing for people with cancer can provide information to doctors about the best treatment options available for their type of cancer. Patients with late-stage cancer don’t have weeks or months to wait to receive prior authorization from their health insurance. This legislation will remove a significant barrier for late-stage cancer patients in accessing genetic testing to help inform their treatment to expedite care.
Ending Active Shooter Drills at Schools
I have heard from many parents over the years about how traumatizing active shooter drills are for their children. School shootings are relatively rare, and we should not prepare our children to be anxious and afraid at school. There is almost no research affirming the value of active shooter drills for preventing school shootings or protecting the school community when shootings do occur. What is evident is that active shooter drills are associated with increases in depression, anxiety, and fears about death among children as young as five years old to high schoolers, their parents, and teachers. It’s time to rethink reactive school safety strategies. HB 1941 specifies that required school safety-related drills (shelter-in-place, lockdown, and evacuation) and any other safety-related drills conducted by schools may not be based on active shooter scenarios.
Ending Cosmetics Testing on Animals
HB 1615 prohibits the sale of cosmetics that have been newly tested on animals. I hope that Washington will soon join the seven states that have already enacted this legislation. We can and should stop testing cosmetics on animals.
Prohibiting Fur Farming
HB 1718 prohibits the production and manufacturing of fur products. There are no federal humane slaughter laws that protect animals on fur farms, which is why I believe Washington should lead the nation by becoming the first state to ban fur farming, to increase humane treatment of animals and decrease environmental impact of this activity. As a small business owner, I am very concerned about the impacts of government on business. I’m working with the industry to transition other kinds of farming through a grant program.
Freight Transporters
HB 1783 clarifies that the broker is not responsible for workers compensation premiums, each individual driver is responsible for their own. In this time of supply chain disruption, we want to protect the essential businesses of getting goods and services to our community and support critical freight movers in our district.
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! You can submit written testimony or sign up to testify remotely on any bill.
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