Legislative Updates Legislative Update: Week 4 February 3, 2023 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email What has the Northwest Harvest Advocacy team been up to in Olympia this week? A few quick updates: HB 1238 (free school meals) was scheduled for a committee vote on 2/2, but is delayed until Tuesday, 2/7. You can send an email to the committee members voicing your support for HB 1238 at the bottom of this blog post. SB 5339 (free school meals) was passed out of committee and has been referred to Ways and Means to schedule a hearing. HB 1559 (hunger free campus bill) had a hearing in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee this week. Joel Anderson, student lobbyist for the UW’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate, gave a great summary of the need for this legislation. You can watch his testimony on TVW. SB 5566 (hunger free campus bill) is scheduled for a hearing next week and you can sign in PRO without testifying to have your support for the bill noted in the record. Sign in PRO before 9:30am on Friday, 2/10. Both Working Families Tax Credit bills (HB 1477 and HB 1075/ SB 5249) had hearings this week. Christina Wong, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Northwest Harvest provided testimony in support of HB 1075 at the House Finance committee hearing. Watch her remarks on TVW. The Working Families Tax Credit was launched this week and has already received over 10,000 applications! To learn more about how you can apply, visit this Seattle Times article. HB 1447 (TANF omnibus bill) had a hearing in House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning this week. Senight Zahilay, Public Benefits Outreach Specialist at Northwest Harvest, provided testimony in support of this legislation. Kevin, one of our Community Advisory Network members, also provided testimony in support of HB 1447. HB 1678, one of our support agenda items that would increase access to dental care for marginalized communities, is scheduled for a hearing in House Health Care & Wellness next week. Please sign in PRO without testifying to have your support for the bill noted in the record before Tuesday, 2/7 at 12:30pm. Take Action now: Sign in PRO for SB 5566 before 9:30am on Friday, 2/10. Sign in PRO for HB 1678 before 12:30pm on Tuesday, 2/7. Send an email to the committee members voicing your support for HB 1238. See below.
