2024 Legislative Session WEEK 2
The week began with resolutions honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
On Monday the House Community Safety, Justice & Reentry committee heard HB 1325 Reevaluating Sentencing for Emerging Adults. This bill addresses a vital intersection of justice, morality, and science. It proposes adjusting sentencing considerations for young adults up to age 25, aligning with contemporary understanding of brain development and recognizing that young people, especially those in vulnerable positions, are still maturing and capable of tremendous growth and change. HB 1325 acknowledges that our current system disproportionately impacts communities of color and offers a chance for review.
Tuesday was a bustling day at the Capitol with members of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility dressed in orange ready to witness and testify on public safety bills in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. These bills included: Require a Permit to Purchase Firearms (HB 1902/SB 6004); Dealer Responsibility (HB 2118); and Restricting Bulk Firearm Purchases (HB 2054). FAN continues our long-standing commitment to increase gun responsibility and public safety.
The Legislature also heard both the Senate and House bills on Gift Card Consumer Protection (SB 5987) and Gift Cards Unclaimed Property (HB 2095). FAN testified on HB 2095 before the House Committee on Finance. The bill proposes to redirect unspent gift card funds to public services, like free school meals for children, support for food banks and public health initiatives. HB 2095 only applies to companies with revenues $100 million and above. Currently, large corporations in Washington retain millions in unspent gift card funds. These funds, often forgotten in wallets and drawers, amount to significant sums – unclaimed wealth that could be serving the public good. Starbucks alone reported $215 million in unspent gift cards in 2023. HB 2095 seeks to close this loophole; by transferring unspent gift card balances to the state after three years, we can create a new revenue stream for vital public services. This is not a novel idea; more than 70% of Fortune 500 companies already transfer unspent gift card funds to state unclaimed property programs. This bill brings Washington in line with common practices, promoting fairness and corporate accountability.
FAN also testified in support of HB 2030 Free the Vote Act before the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations. HB 2030 would allow incarcerated individuals to be able to vote. The bill would limit the revocation of voting rights, and support societal reintegration, recognizing the transformative potential of individuals and the importance of their participation in the democratic process.
House Committee on Environment & Energy heard HB 2070 CURB Pollution Act which would integrate environmental justice in the permitting process. The bill would help address the long-standing issue of disproportionate pollution impact on low-income, communities of color, and Indigenous peoples in Washington. The CURB Pollution Act would elevate the voices of frontline communities in environmental decision-making, as well as require monitoring and reducing previously unaddressed health-impacting pollutants. This embodies our moral responsibility to heal and safeguard both our environment and our communities.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology heard SB 6052 Holding Oil Companies Accountable, prime sponsored by the Chair of Environment Sen. Joe Nguyen on behalf of the Governor. The bill’s goals are to shed light on the mechanisms influencing fuel prices in Washington, to ensure that our residents are not subjected to unfair practices and to guarantee transparent and justifiable changes in gas prices.
FAN testified on Thursday in support of HB 2276 Affordable Homes Act (REET 2.0) which would increase the supply of affordable and workforce housing, homelessness services, and supportive housing for people with disabilities by increasing the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) for properties sold for over $3 million, and exempt property sales of $1 million and below. FAN noted that faith communities are active participants in addressing the housing crisis. We encounter the struggles for affordable housing firsthand and respond with action. For example, Columbia City Church of Hope is collaborating with El Centro de la Raza in Seattle in creating 87 units of low-income housing, and Shiloh Baptist Church is in partnership with the Tacoma Housing Authority to provide homes for veterans.
FAN testified in support of SB 5427 Biased Incidents Hotline, alongside other organizations. The FBI's statistics on hate crimes show a concerning trend of increasing incidents in recent years. These crimes were primarily driven by biases based on race, religion and LGBTQ identity. SB 5427 proposes a centralized system in the Attorney General’s office for reporting and tracking hate crimes and biased incidents, thereby facilitating data collection and pattern recognition to understand the scale and nature of the problem we are facing. The bill also provides victims with immediate access to resources and support, ranging from counseling to legal assistance.
On Friday, the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness heard HB 1859 Eviction Protection for Long Term Care Residents. HB 1859, championed by Rep. Tara Simmons, represents a significant advancement in ensuring fair and just treatment for residents of long-term care facilities in Washington. This bill seeks to rectify a glaring disparity in our legal system, where residents in assisted living and other long-term care settings lack the same rights to appeal evictions as those in nursing homes. Recognizing the vulnerability and the need for equitable treatment of all individuals in long-term care, HB 1859 proposes to extend the right to a legal review and fair hearing to all residents.
Executive Session actions to celebrate:
HB 2114 Improving Housing Stability for Tenants passed out of the Housing Committee.
HB 2058 Free School Meals passed unanimously from House Education Committee.
HB 2049 ReWrap Act passed out of House Environment committee by a vote of 8-7
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