Legislative Session Wrap-Up

The 2019 Legislative Session ended on time this Sunday with the passage of a final state budget. Relying on $460 million in new revenue that includes an increase of the business and occupation taxes on large banks, the two-year budget boosts spending in mental health and housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness while making some modest investments for basic needs services.

We applaud the final budget for the investments that will help increase access to nutritious food for struggling households, including:

• $2.5 million to fund the state fruit and vegetable incentives program, established by 1587. This will help Washington continue to provide prescription vouchers and matching dollars when SNAP is used to buy fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets and grocery stores.
• $1.5 million to create an emergency basic needs grant for community and technical colleges to help low-income students so they can focus on their studies instead of financial emergencies.
• $126,000 to fund a study so that schools can figure out the right policies and procedures they need to have in place for students to have enough time to eat a nutritious lunch.
• Sustainable and ongoing state funding for our state’s Regional Markets Team at the Washington State Department of Agriculture. This team helps our growers connect with opportunities to sell their products directly to institutions like schools, hospitals, restaurants, and child care centers, so that they can grow their businesses.

With deep appreciation, we also thank the Legislature for passing sound policies that will provide additional resources so struggling households can afford more of their basic needs, including:

• Legislation that will help more eligible college students apply for SNAP to help them buy nutritious food;
• Reforms to reverse harmful policy changes made to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program so that more eligible families with children that live in deepest poverty will be able to access these services that help with workforce training, child care, and cash assistance for basic needs; and
• Tenant protections including extending the amount of time a tenant has to pay the rent or vacate after receiving an eviction notice and allowing judges to consider extenuating circumstances such as recent job loss or hospitalization–important reforms that could help prevent homelessness.

Northwest Harvest thanks all of you for your emails, phone calls, and participation in Hunger Action Day–all the ways you helped amplify our messages this session! These victories are our victories, made possible by your speaking up. Please join us in thanking lawmakers for these investments and policy changes that will help grow healthier, stronger communities!