Legislative Update: Week 3

What has the Northwest Harvest Advocacy team been up to in Olympia this week?  

A few quick updates:

• Both of the free school meal bills had hearings last week! Community support for both bills was overwhelmingly in favor, with more than 1300 people and organizations signing in PRO in the legislative record. Senator Nobles had incredible opening remarks at the hearing for SB 5339 – you can watch her introduction on TVW.
• The hunger free campus bill was introduced in the House and the Senate this week (HB 1559/SB 5566). The House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce held a work session on postsecondary basic needs, including a thorough discussion of hunger on college campuses. You can watch it on TV-W.
• Legislation to increase equity and improve Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits for all recipients was introduced this week. HB 1447 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning at 1:30pm on Wednesday, February 1.
• The Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot bill (HB 1045) was voted out of committee, and will be heard in Appropriations. The Equity in Education Coalition prepared this short video that explains the benefits of the pilot program.
• Both Working Families Tax Credit bills (HB 1477 and HB 1075/ SB 5249) will have hearings next Tuesday, January 31 in the House Finance Committee.

Take Action now:

• Sign in “pro” for both of the Working Families Tax Credit bills before 8am next Tuesday, January 31 to show your support (Note: please sign in as an individual unless you are authorized to sign in on behalf of your organization).
  • Sign in PRO: WFTC Age Expansion (HB 1075)
  • Sign In PRO: WFTC Administrative & Technical Bill (HB 1477)
• Register for Hunger Action Day: an important lobbying day for food justice advocates to meet with representatives and encourage them to take meaningful policy action to address the root causes of hunger in Washington state.

Here are the bills we are tracking and what their status is as of now:

House Bills:   

• 1238: Providing free school meals for all. Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Education.
• 1559: Establishing the student basic needs at public postsecondary institutions act. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce.
• 1045: Creating the evergreen basic income pilot program. Referred to Appropriations.
• 1124: Protecting tenants from excessive rent and related fees by providing at least six months’ notice for rent increases over a certain amount, allowing tenants the right to terminate a tenancy without penalty, and limiting late fees. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Housing.
• 1075: Expanding eligibility for the working families’ tax credit to everyone age 18 and older. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Finance.
• 1260: Accelerating stability for people with a work-limiting disability or incapacity. Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning.
• 1388: Protecting tenants by prohibiting predatory residential rent practices and by applying the consumer protection act to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing.
• 1389: Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing.
• 1447: Strengthening the ability of assistance programs to meet foundational needs of children, adults, and families. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning.
• 1477: Making changes to the working families’ tax credit. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Finance.

Senate Bills:  

• 5339: Providing free school meals for all. Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
• 5566: Establishing the student basic needs at public postsecondary institutions act. First reading, referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development.
• 5249: Expanding eligibility for the working families’ tax credit to everyone age 18 and older. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
• 5480: Accelerating stability for people with a work-limiting disability or incapacity. Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Human Services.
• 5435: Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing.