IFAD 2025 advocates rally on the capitol steps for our shared values and progressive revenue!

TAKE ACTION BY SIGNING IN FOR BILL HEARINGS

Your support is essential—sign-in PRO to advocate for policies that uplift Washington’s communities! Be sure to sign in at least one hour before the hearing.

SB 5768 / HB 1214 Working Families Tax Credit Expansion: Expanding eligibility for the working families' tax credit to everyone age 18 and older. Sign in Pro Here. 
Sen. Robinson has dropped a different WFTC expansion that would add a $300 boost for renters SB 5771. SB 5771 WFTC Increase/Tenants: Increasing the working families' tax credit to reflect the economic impact of property taxes incorporated into rental amounts charged to residential tenants. Senate Committee on Ways & Means 2/25 at 1:30 PM. Sign in PRO for the renter's credit.

SB 5771 WFTC Increase/Tenants: Increasing the working families' tax credit to reflect the economic impact of property taxes incorporated into rental amounts charged to residential tenants. Senate Committee on Ways & Means 2/25 at 1:30 PM. Sign in Pro Here.

SB 5041 Unemployment insurance/strikes & lockouts. Allows individuals unemployed due to a labor strike or lockout to receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Senate Committee on Ways & Means 2/25 at 1:30 PM. Sign in Pro Here.

Sign in PRO hour before 2/26 @ 1:30 PM for the bills below:

SHB 1432 Improving Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services: Improving access to appropriate mental health and substance use disorder services. House Appropriations at 1:30pm. Sign in Pro Here.

SB 5626 Wage Replacement Bill: Creating a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance. Senate Ways & Means at 1:30pm. Sign in Pro Here.

SB 5066 AG Investigations & Reform: Concerning law enforcement and local corrections agency misconduct through investigations and legal actions. Senate Ways & Means at 1:30pm. Sign in Pro Here. 

Friday was Policy Cutoff in the Washington State Legislature, a critical milestone in the legislative session. The policy cutoff is the deadline by which bills must pass out of their respective policy committees to remain viable for this session. This deadline significantly narrows the field of proposed legislation, effectively determining which bills continue through the legislative process and which are considered "dead" for this session. The focus now moves toward fiscal committees and budget discussions.

What Does This Mean for Bills? 

• Bills That Have Passed Policy Committees: These bills are still alive and will now move on to the next phase, which typically involves review by fiscal committees if they have a financial impact. This is a key step for bills requiring budget allocations, tax changes, or other fiscal considerations. 

• Bills That Did Not Pass Policy Committees: Generally, these bills are considered dead for this session. However, there are exceptions: 
  • "Necessary to Implement the Budget" (NTIB) Bills: Certain bills can be revived if they are deemed NTIB, meaning they are essential to the final budget agreement. This designation often gives leadership the flexibility to bring bills back even after cutoffs. 
  • Possible Reintroduction in the Next Session: Bills that do not make it through this year might be reintroduced in the next legislative  
    session. 
     

What’s Next? Fiscal Cutoff 

The Fiscal Cutoff is the next significant deadline, set for February 28, 2025. By this date, any bill with a budgetary impact must be approved by the fiscal committees (e.g., Appropriations, Ways & Means) to remain in play. Bills without fiscal impacts bypass this step and proceed directly to the Rules Committee or the floor for debate. 

• Impact on Bills: 
  • Bills with Budgetary Implications: Must pass through fiscal committees. Advocates need to focus on demonstrating the financial feasibility and economic impact of these proposals. 
  • Non-Fiscal Bills: These can continue advancing if they’ve already cleared the policy committee hurdle.

TAKE ACTION BY PERSONALIZING AND SIGNING FAN'S NEW LETTER ON PROGRESSIVE REVENUE

Earlier this year, Washingtonians learned that there is a projected $12 billion shortfall in the state budget over the next 4 years. We remember the last budget deficit during the 2008 recession, when legislators balanced the budget by cutting services and programs that were critical for working families and those living on the economic edge. As people of faith and conscience, we want to make sure this approach is not repeated. Instead, we are urging legislators to seek progressive sources of revenue that will help Washington create a sustainable budget, preserve programs that enhance our quality of life, and ensure a more equitable tax code. Let’s fill legislators’ inboxes!

TAKE ACTION ON ANY OF FAN'S BILLS ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BY WRITING YOUR LEGISLATORS. 

Go to our Bill Tracker or our Legislative Agenda and click on a bill you care about. It will take you to the legislative website where you can click "Send a comment on this bill to your legislators."

FAN is committed to advancing policies that promote justice, equity, sustainability and dignity for all Washingtonians. We encourage our network to stay engaged and continue advocating for these important legislative priorities.

Policy Recap

This week, I had the opportunity to testify in support of two critical bills that advance justice and public safety in Washington State. 

On Monday, February 17, I testified in support of SB 5714, which aims to limit bail bond agents' role in immigration enforcement. This important bill would stop bail bond agents (“bounty hunters”) from acting as de facto immigration enforcers, reinforcing the separation between civil and immigration enforcement. SB 5714 also includes a confidentiality provision that prohibits bail bond recovery agents from disclosing a defendant's immigration status to individuals or entities outside their agency's operations. This measure aims to protect the privacy of defendants and prevent unauthorized sharing of sensitive information.

The Capitol campus was abuzz on Presidents’ Day, hosting parallel displays of civic engagement. On one front, hundreds of students, parents, and educators convened to advocate for an extra $2 billion in the state’s next budget for special education, student transportation, and overall school operations. Simultaneously, the Olympia Capitol played host to the “Not My President Day” rally, part of the 50501 movement, where thousands of demonstrators voiced their opposition to current federal policies and leadership. 

On Wednesday, February 19, I testified in support of HB 1232, which seeks to strengthen oversight of private detention facilities, particularly the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC)in Tacoma. The bill expands regulatory authority, enhances detainee protections, and mandates unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. HB 1232 is vital for promoting transparency, accountability, and humane treatment within private detention centers, aligning with our commitment to justice and human rights.

On Friday, February 21, the Senate Environmental Committee heard SB 5380 CURB Pollution Act. This legislation aims to integrate environmental justice into the permitting process, by reducing harmful emissions and give voice to those most impacted by pollution. 

As advocacy efforts continue to shape the public discourse, attention now turns to the fiscal committees. With a deadline of February 28th to advance pivotal budget bills, extended hearings in the Transportation, Ways and Means, Finance, and Appropriations Committees are scheduled for this week. While some proposals may be shelved, additional tax and revenue measures are expected to surface as budget debates intensify. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council is slated to release its next revenue forecast on March 18th, soon followed by budget proposals from the House and Senate. 

Recap: 2025 Interfaith Advocacy Day in Olympia

On February 20, 2025, over 200 passionate advocates gathered at the Washington State Capitol for Interfaith Advocacy Day (IFAD). The day was filled with inspiration, learning, and powerful advocacy as participants roamed the Capitol halls, attending legislative meetings and connecting with one another to amplify their collective voices.

The day began at United Churches of Olympia with a warm welcome by FAN’s new executive director Dr. Joyce del Rosario setting the tone for a day rooted in community and action. Attendees participated in policy workshops led by experts and advocates on key issues such as economic justice, food security, immigrant rights, health care, housing, environment, incarceration reform, police accountability, and civil rights. FAN's Policy Director, Kristin Ang, emphasized the critical need to advocate for the state budget, highlighting the importance of building a resilient Washington that prioritizes everyday Washingtonians and our most vulnerable communities.

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, a long-time champion of labor and immigrant rights, inspired the crowd with her address, reinforcing the power of advocacy and solidarity. She was joined by rising star, Rep. Osman Salahuddin, the youngest and only Muslim member of the Washington State House of Representatives, who offered hope and vision for the future.

Advocates engaged in legislative district planning sessions, followed by a group photo on the Capitol steps, proudly displaying signs and messages of hope. In the afternoon, participants met with state legislators to discuss policy priorities, share personal stories, and advocate for a fair and just Washington. The day concluded with debrief sessions where advocates reflected on their experiences and shared insights with FAN staff.

IFAD highlighted the strength of interfaith collaboration and the enduring commitment to justice and equity. As the legislative session continues, FAN encourages everyone to stay engaged, advocate on the budget, and support policies that uplift communities and protect vital services. 

Friday, March 14, 10:00am-4:00pm, in-person. WLIHA Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. Register here.

Saturday, March 1, 9:00-3:00pm, Yakima Advocacy Day, in-person. Central Lutheran Church 1604 W Yakima Avenue. Join fellow advocates for Yakima Advocacy Day as we build momentum for the common good.  Sponsored by Between the Ridges: Alliance for the Common Good, NAACP, WA Conservation Action, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and Poder Latinx.  The day includes sessions on power building and how to take effective action together, workshops on Immigration, Environmental Justice, Mental Health, overview of status of bills in Olympia, policy priorities at the local, state and federal level, resource tables from a diversity of community partners.  Let us know if you'd like a table.  Lunch is provided.  Interpretation Services available. Register here or email betweentheridges@gmail.com.

Sunday, March 9, 2025, 12:30-1:45pm, Lunch & Learn: Climate Safe Investing Pt. 1, in-person and online. First United Methodist Church, 180 Denny Way Seattle. Join to learn from Michael Richardson, co-facilitator of Third Act Upstate New York and seasoned source of knowledge and support on green investments, will present an overview of climate safe investing, ranging from the selection of personal investments to shareholder advocacy. You will also learn from Anne Shields, a Third Act Washington activist, who will present about the Costco Climate Shareholders Club, a group of U.S. investors concerned about Costco’s credit card partnership with Citibank, one of the biggest global funders of the oil, gas, and coal industries contributing to climate change. Anne will also share other ways for investors and other shareholders to use their proxy votes to address climate change. To register, visit this link.  After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link.

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