Legislative Update: Week 9

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

A few quick updates:

• HB 1784 (emergency hunger relief bill) has been scheduled for public a hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 4:00pm on Monday, March 13. Please sign in PRO by 3:00pm on 3/13.
• HB 1477 (WFTC technical fix bill) is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 4:00pm on Monday, March 13. Please sign in PRO by 3:00pm on 3/13.
• HB 1238 (school meals bill) has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee next Thursday, March 16 at 1:30pm. Please sign in PRO by 12:30pm on 3/16.
• SB 5486 (wealth tax) had a public hearing this week in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The Washington State Budget and Policy Center prepared a helpful one-pager that outlines some potential sources of revenue, including the wealth tax proposed in SB 5486, for lawmakers for funding community priorities, such as HB 1238 (school meals bill) that was amended due to limitations on funding.
• Lots of media coverage in the last few weeks on the hunger cliff and potential solutions in the short-term and long-term future:
  • This Seattle Times Editorial Board piece from March 6: “Food insecurity is not just a Washington issue but is national in scope. HB 1784 passed the House and will likely advance out of the Senate. But a long-term strategy to address food insecurity needs a national response, one that is informed with data and real-life experiences of our most vulnerable populations.”
  • This KUOW piece from March 8 on the hunger cliff, HB 1784, and unique challenges of solving for rural hunger.
  • The News Tribune Editorial Board piece from March 3 about HB 1238 and funding school meals for all students in WA.
  • This KIMA coverage from March 2 of the hunger cliff and the opening of the Fruitvale Community Market (a free grocery store in Yakima).

Take Action Now!

• Sign in PRO for HB 1784 by 3:00pm on 3/13.
• Sign in PRO for HB 1477 by 3:00pm on 3/13.
• Sign in PRO by HB 1238 by 12:30pm on 3/16.
• Send a message to Appropriations and Ways & Means fiscal committees to advocate for health care access for ALL Washington state residents! Currently, tens of thousands of Washingtonians who are income eligible for Medicaid, are unable to enroll in health insurance programs due to their immigration status. Washington state lawmakers have an opportunity to fully fund a Medicaid-like program to ensure 73,000 undocumented Washingtonians have access to the healthcare they deserve as humans. Click here to send a message now!