E-Newsletter: Top Ten Highlights from a Landmark Legislative Session

Dear Friends and Neighbors,   

The legislative session has ended and there is so much to report. This is the first in a series of e-newsletters to share a summary of what we have accomplished and to address the issues you have been advocating for.  

This e-newsletter is a list of the top ten highlights from the legislative session. My next e-newsletter will focus on the budgets that we passed and projects that were funded in our district. You can also look for a joint e-newsletter coming from me and my seatmates, Senator Patty Kuderer and Representative Vandana Slatter in the next few weeks.  

This session we focused on four priorities: COVID-19 response, economic recovery, advancing racial equity, and addressing climate change. I am proud that many of the measures passed this session received bipartisan support. When we bring our unique life experiences to our work as legislators, and really listen to each other and work together, we end up with stronger polices that move our whole state forward.

The expansion and funding of the Working Families Tax Exemption will put more money in the pockets of low-income workers and families. The state tax exemption was created in 2008 but has never been funded until now. Over 400,000 low-income families in Washington will receive a larger tax refund by returning some of what they pay in sales taxes. Individuals without children will be able to receive up to $300 a year and families with three or more children will be able to receive up to $1,200 a year, depending on their income level.

3 – Capital Gains Tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passing the capital gains tax was a critical part of restructuring our regressive tax system that unfairly burdens working families and small businesses. Senate Bill 5096 enacts a 7% tax on capital gains (profit) that exceed $250,000 per year. Exemptions include retirement accounts, real estate, livestock, agricultural land, or a qualified family-owned small business.  We worked hard to craft a policy that protects our natural resource and agriculture economy, as well as small business owners and start-up entrepreneurs whose only retirement is their business.

This legislation will help support working families across our state. The capital gains tax will generate approximately $500 million per year and impacts only 7,000 people, or 0.2% of taxpayers. Revenue generated will fund the expansion and affordability of childcare, early learning, and public education.

4 – Police Accountability

Police accountability was a top priority this session and we successfully passed several bills that make progress on police reform.

HB 1054 sets a standard policy for police tactics that currently vary widely between different jurisdictions and limits dangerous and unacceptable police tactics that lead to loss of life.  The bill bans no-knock warrants, chokeholds, neck restraints, and certain military equipment. It also establishes restrictions on tear gas. HB 1267 establishes a new Office of Independent Investigations to investigate all police uses of deadly force.

Additional police reforms measures passed this year including setting new standards for police use of force that include de-escalation and using less lethal options when possible, and requiring officers to intervene when they witness other officers using excessive force.  These bills are the result of significant discussion and negotiation between families of victims of police violence, police reform advocates, and law enforcement. We know that the vast majority of law enforcement officers are people of integrity doing an incredibly difficult job. We also know that we need real accountability for bad actors.

5 – Suicide Prevention and Crisis Response

House Bill 1477 improves the state’s suicide and behavioral health crisis response system by implementing the National Suicide Hotline. 988 is the new hotline number designated for suicide prevention and mental health crisis. This number will be available starting in July 2022.

The only emergency number most people know to call is 911. However, when you call 911, an officer may arrive at your door. Our police are public servants, but they are not social workers or mental health counselors. Many police officers do not have the training to respond to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

This bill will save lives. We have lost over 5,000 people to suicide in our state in the last five years. Starting in July 2022, when you call 988 you will be connected to behavioral health services immediately.

6 – Climate

We passed landmark climate legislation this year! The cap-and-trade program sets a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and the low carbon fuel standard requires cleaner fuels for vehicles, to reduce carbon emissions from transportation. In a previous e-newsletter I shared my reasoning for initially voting against the low carbon fuel standard. I was able to vote in favor of the low carbon fuel standard since it was considered in context of the transportation package.  I wanted to know all of the proposed increases in fuel costs before voting on this policy. I am proud that Washington is leading the way in the fight against climate change. These measures will only go into effect if lawmakers approve a 5 cent increase on gas tax that will fund major infrastructure improvements. We know that we are facing unprecedented growth on the Eastside, and we need more than maintenance. We need capacity.

7 – Changing the Laws on Drug Possession and Supporting Pathways to Recovery

In February the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the previous law on drug possession was unconstitutional. This left the legislature scrambling to address the state’s approach to drug possession. In the final days of the legislative session, we passed SB 5476 which reclassifies possession of controlled substances as a misdemeanor. This penalty is in place for only two years, during which an advisory group will review how the legal system handles drug offenses and make recommendations to the legislature. The bill also expands addiction treatment services and requires police to divert an individual to treatment for their first two offenses. This is the first step in decriminalizing drugs and preparing a treatment-centered approach to substance abuse problems.

8 – Banning Open Cary Guns at Protests

My seatmate Senator Patty Kuderer brought forward an important measure, SB 5038, which bans the open carry of weapons during protests. This bill upholds our commitment to democracy and peace and protects one of our most precious freedoms, the right to speak our minds without intimidation or fear of violence.

9 – Racial Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

We are serious about racial equity in our state and we looked at every policy we passed through the lens of racial equity. This session we passed HB 1016 which recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday. June 19, 1865 is the day when the last enslaved African Americans in our country learned that they were free.  We also passed the HEAL Act, which will reduce environmental health disparities and improve the health of all people in Washington using principles of environmental justice. In addition, the criminal justice bills described below were also priority legislation for the Member of Color Caucus and Black Caucus.

10 – Criminal Justice Reform

I believe in honoring second chances and treating all people with dignity. We passed HB 1078 which automatically restores voting rights to persons who have been released from full incarceration by the Department of Corrections. Among other criminal justice reform bills passed that address racial inequities was SB 5226 which ends the suspension of driver’s licenses for traffic infractions and SB 5164 which resentences as many as 114 people serving life without parole in part because of a second-degree robbery conviction. Second-degree robbery generally is a crime that involves no weapon or physical injury. Each of these bills promotes racial justice and enables people to fully participate in society without further punishment.