Dear friends and neighbors,

I included a survey to learn about your priorities in my first e-newsletter a couple of weeks ago. Many of you took it and I want to thank you so much for participating! It really does make a difference to hear from you and learn what you are most concerned about.

I’d like to share the survey results in the graphic below. Your top five priorities are affordable housing, community safety, K-12 education, environmental protection, and reducing gun violence. These, among others, are also priorities for me and I can assure you I will be supporting legislation that tackles these challenges.

A QUICK GLANCE AT MY BILLS

I’d like to share a bit of information on some of my bills that have already been heard in committee. Clicking on the bill numbers will take you to the bill history page for each one:

House Bill 1244 – Driver training as an alternative to driver license suspension

This bill is a Department of Licensing (DOL) request. Currently, DOL is required to suspend (for 60 days) the licenses of drivers who commit three or more moving violations in one year, or four or more within two years. This suspension can be very disruptive to the lives of people who need a vehicle to get to work or school, or those who have medical needs. My bill would create an alternative by allowing drivers to complete a DOL approved safe driving course to have their licenses reinstated early. This alternative would only be granted once every five years. Twenty-five states already have programs like this one in place. It’s important to note that this would not apply for high-level offenses, such as DUIs. This is for things like failing to signal when changing lanes, or slightly surpassing the speed limit without being reckless. The goal is to minimize the impact of not having a car for two months for drivers who are not habitual offenders. Watch my testimony here.

HB 1251– Improving the timeliness and accuracy of the issuance of a report of death

When a person dies, a number of things must happen before the body can be released, including the issuance of a death certificate by a physician and other paperwork that must be completed and filed with a local registrar. If any of those things is not done or gets delayed, those human remains are held indefinitely. A system with so many moving pieces could use some fixing because it can be complicated and overwhelming for family members who are already distressed from having lost a loved one. My bill would improve, streamline and expedite the process so the remains are released without delay, thus helping alleviate the ordeal of a grieving family. Watch my testimony here.

I discuss this legislation in my video update. Click here or on the image below to watch it:

HB 1341 – Medical cannabis authorization database for tax exemptions

Last year I sponsored HB 1453, which made a long overdue change to Washington’s law to give qualifying patients who need cannabis products as part of their medical protocol, a tax break when purchasing them. Our state does not tax medicines, so it didn’t make sense to not include medical cannabis with all the other drugs patients need for their treatments. We heard concerns about people, especially non-patients, potentially abusing the tax break, which is why I introduced HB 1341 this session. It’s a technical fix that will allow the Liquor Control Board and the Department of Health to share data and ensure that the incentives in last year’s bill are working as intended and only for patients who need medical cannabis. Watch my testimony here.

SUPPORTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

The news coming out of the other Washington is troubling. For immigrant and refugee communities in our district and across the state, they are worrying and deeply frightening. These are hardworking people just trying to make an honest living, like you and me. And they are our friends, neighbors, maybe even family members.

We are not going to let fear define our state. Instead, we will continue to lead with compassion, action, and a commitment to justice.

I want to share a couple of statements that address these issues released last week by my colleagues, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, Speaker of the House, and Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, our caucus chair and also chair of the Latino Democratic Caucus:

Statement from Speaker Laurie Jinkins on Federal Executive Orders Threatening Washington Residents

Latino Democratic Caucus Chair Ortiz-Self Responds to Undocumented Immigrant Safety Concerns

If you know someone impacted by immigration policy changes, please share this link to a rapid response hub put together by the Commission on Hispanic Affairs that provides essential legal, financial, and social service information to help families navigate these uncertain times.

THANKS AND STAY IN TOUCH!

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. I hope you found its contents useful and, if you need more information on any of the topics discussed here, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,