Editor’s Note: The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Washington uploaded this legislative newsletter to their website on Mar. 19, 2023. Our mission at the Voter Interests Project is to monitor elected officials and ballot measures; we generally do not report on the activities of non-profit organizations. However, the LWV Whidbey Island chapter conducts candidate forums during most election cycles, and are therefore of particular interest to voters. The LWV of Washington’s website states, “The League is a Nonpartisan Source You Can Trust”; however, the LWV does take positions on public policy. Our observation is that their policy positions inform their management of voter forums. Therefore, we believe it to be of interest to our readers to know the positions for which the LWV advocates.

Action Alerts

Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can “take action” on these most pressing bills by following the links below.

Act NOW to Support Dental Therapy

HB 1678 (Establishing and authorizing the profession of Dental Therapy) will define the profession of dental therapy and how it will fit within the dental team to improve access, oral health and equity. This is a bill long supported by the League as it promises to improve access to dental care for underserved pockets of the broader community. It’s an important first step! Tell your legislators you support this bill!

Click here to sign in PRO on HB 1678

This Week in the Legislature

HEARINGS, CUTOFFS, EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, BUDGETS! HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS!

This is the point in the legislative session when action picks up because there is overlap between committee hearings on policy bills and release of budget proposals, with public hearings in very short order thereafter. Hence, the week ahead promises to be very exciting.

In addition to the standard schedule of committee meetings that include both public hearings and executive sessions on bills passed in the opposite chamber, the Senate is expected to release its capital budget on Monday and will have a public hearing that afternoon. Additionally, the Senate proposed operating budget will be announced toward the end of next week and we believe will have a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on the afternoon of Friday, March 24.

We also are anticipating the House budget to be released early the week of March 27 with a public hearing shortly thereafter.

The cutoff for bills to pass out of policy committees is March 29, the week after next; and the cutoff for bills with fiscal implications to pass out of committee is April 4. That leaves the remaining period of the legislative session for floor action on bills and adoption of the budget.

The League’s Lobby Team will be very busy interpreting choices made in the proposed budgets and advocating for the issues and expenditures we support. Readers can assist by continuing to sign in PRO on bills we support. Thank you for your help throughout this session.

There are several other ways you can follow the hearings and legislative process:

• Via TVW (Washington State’s public affairs TV network), and
• On the Washington State Legislature website.

Check out the weekly updates for each issue (below) for information on how to testify, and how to sign on PRO or CON to proposed legislation.

The 2023 Legislative Issues

LWVWA Legislative Issues From the 2023 Washington State Legislative Session

Click on an issue to learn more about session results on bills the League supported and “This Week’s Updates” to read the issue chair’s report on this past week.

Democracy

Elections | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Money in Politics | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Education | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Redistricting | Issue Overview | New task force underway – see updates

Environment

Climate Crisis and Energy | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Forests | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Growth Management | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Solid Waste Management | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Transportation | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Social and Economic Policy

Housing and Homelessness | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Health Care | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Behavioral Health | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Children’s Services | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Early Care and Education of Young Children | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Criminal Justice | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Revenue | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update

Gun Safety | Issue Overview | Read this week’s update