Dear Friends and Neighbors,   

With changing colors and crisp air, we have arrived at the beginning of autumn. I hope you and your family are staying healthy and doing as well as possible. I am writing to share an update about the projects I’ve been working on in preparation for the next legislative session.

Interim Update

Here are a few highlights of my legislative work the past few months:

Long Term Care Act

Throughout the interim, I have heard from many of you about your concerns with the Long Term Care Act. The Long Term Services and Supports Trust Commission has asked for feedback from legislators and I have submitted a number of concerns that we intend to address in the upcoming legislative session. These concerns include exempting military families who move frequently and the many people who work in our state on limited visas and exempting those that are nearing retirement age who will never vest in the program. Last but not least, is addressing the short timeline for the rollout and one chance to opt-out. As a result of the short rollout, the long-term care insurance market was unable to adjust and has stopped offering private plans to Washingtonians. I understand this is a serious concern and I agree that this should be changed.

Tour of Climate Pledge Arena

This summer, I had the opportunity to tour Climate Pledge Arena. The arena was built without the use of fossil fuels and there will be no single-use plastics or waste produced. This world-class arena will bring the best music artists to Seattle along with our new hockey team, the Seattle Kraken, and our women’s basketball team, the Seattle Storm. I am so excited about the economic growth this arena will bring to our region!

Lost and Stolen Firearms

Gun theft is a growing problem. Although the majority of firearms owners safely store their firearms, the failure to report lost or stolen firearms has led to firearms being diverted to the illegal gun market where they are used in crimes across the country. Requiring firearm owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm can reduce gun trafficking and prevent gun violence by helping local law enforcement recover and return lost or stolen guns to their owners, and most importantly, keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people. This is a principle I agree with and I also believe that those who do not report their lost or stolen firearms should be responsible for the damage they cause in the community. I support responsible gun owners and think that a part of that responsibility involves reporting if/when your firearm is lost or stolen. 

David Brink Park Shoreline Renovation

(Rendering of shoreline improvements at David Brink Park. Photo credit: City of Kirkland)

You may have noticed changes at one of the lakefront parks in Kirkland. The City of Kirkland has begun renovating the shoreline at David Brink Park this month. The City is removing the concrete bulkheads to improve the shoreline for both salmon habitat and public access. The project will also add pocket beaches for non-motorized boat access. The state contributed $500,000 for this project through the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account and I was proud to support this funding request.
To learn more about the project and why softening our shorelines improves salmon habitat visit: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/David-Brink-Park-Shoreline-Renovation

Child Support

Last session, I introduced a bill that requires insurers to share insurance claim payment information to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for the purpose of intercepting claims and collecting past-due child support. Unpaid child support has consequences for life, not only for the children involved, but also for the custodial parent or caregiver who financially supports the child or children with what might otherwise be their retirement savings or money that could have been used to improve their quality of life. This interim, we worked in cooperation with the insurance industry to clarify a few questions that had been raised since the passage of the bill. Through rulemaking, we are clarifying that life insurance includes annuities, and in addition to interception, life insurance proceeds are now subject to reporting requirements. I’d like to continue to improve legislation around collecting child support. What can we do to improve child support collection in our state?

Animal Welfare: Cruelty-Free Cosmetics and Ending Fur Farming 

Next session I plan to sponsor two bills that support the humane treatment of animals: a bill that ends fur farming in our state and a bill that bans the sale of new cosmetics that have been newly tested on animals.

Did you know that there are mink farms in our state that raise mink for their fur? The practice of skinning an animal for its fur is cruel and gruesome. There are no federal humane slaughter laws that protect animals on fur farms, which is why I believe Washington should lead the nation by banning fur farming. Not only does fur farming cause suffering and death to animals, but it also contributes to climate change and is hazardous to the environment. 

As a small business owner, I am very concerned about the impacts of government on business. I do not believe that the government should take away anyone’s livelihood without good reason. With that being said, I believe it is time to shift to farming practices that are humane and sustainable. 

The second animal welfare bill that I plan to sponsor would prohibit 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. 

HOPE NOW: Housing Opportunities Providing Equity 

I am excited to be sponsoring a sustainable, equitable, affordable housing bill next session! The intention of this bill is to provide a solution for the housing and climate emergency occurring in our state. The bill is a work in progress and because there are several components to the proposal, the bill may be divided into multiple bills. 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 for area-wide State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review around these corridors, allowing for more efficient development of housing while still protecting the environment 
• providing density bonuses for passive housing, which is an energy-efficient building standard that does not have an active heating system. To be designated as a Passive House, the home must adhere to a specific design standard and use 90% less energy than conventional buildings. 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. Passive housing costs less over a lifetime because it requires significantly less energy use. These sustainable actions also reduce the size and amount of capital improvements such as water and sewer lines, eliminating the need for new treatment plants, and allow for the divestment from coal and natural gas. Further, affordable housing infrastructure creates diverse and vibrant local communities and greatly reduces traffic impacts. The fabric of our local communities is greatly enhanced when people live and work in the same community. This is a bold proposal that will need a lot of work to progress, and I am committed to working on this issue.

Biomarker Testing for People with Cancer

A genetic form of breast cancer has affected women in my family, including myself. Next session I will be co-sponsoring a bill with my Republican colleagues that 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. The specialized treatment and biomarker testing is currently subject to prior authorization by health insurers. 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.

Office of Public Defense Advisory Committee

I was recently appointed to the Public Defense Advisory Committee. I am looking forward to ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens have access to justice in our state. To learn more about this committee, visit our website.

Update on Insurance Rates