(Left) FAN Staff Kristin Ang met and celebrated with Ruby Love of Front and Centered and Senator Rebecca Saldaña regarding our progress this legislative session. (Right) A bird’s eye view from a FAN advocate of the District 37 townhall meeting.

Kudos and Gratitude to YOU!

Awesome folks: we so appreciate you! Your voices have helped put progressive revenue on the legislative agenda, and advanced rent stabilization, immigrant and student protections, recycling reform and more. We don’t have a way to track hearing sign-ins or personal emails to your legislators, but we have heard from many of you that you are taking action and we have no doubt our legislators are noting all that civic involvement. We know of several of you who attended legislative Town Halls across the state. Moreover, since the beginning of the legislative session, you have sent 1,586 FAN letters through Action Network in favor of rent stabilization, senior nutrition programs, fully funding immigrant health care in Washington, and preserving funding for vital programs for struggling WA residents through progressive revenue! You also sent 1,108 letters to Congress against funding mass deportations. Thank you so much, and let’s keep the pressure on!

Putting Our Values into Action

Take Action: Sign in PRO for Progressive Revenue Bills!

We have a critical opportunity this week to support progressive revenue solutions that will make Washington’s tax code fairer and fund vital services like public education, housing, and healthcare. FAN and our coalition partners have long advocated for bold, equitable tax reform—and now is the time to act!

Four important bills are scheduled for public hearings this week. Please take a moment to sign in PRO to support a tax system that works for all Washingtonians and helps build the beloved community we envision!

✅ SIGN IN PRO for These Bills:

SB 5797 Financial Intangibles Tax (FIT) – Senate Version

Public Hearing: Sunday, March 31 at 4:00 PM – Senate Ways & Means.

This bill creates a 1% tax on financial assets (stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds) held by the wealthiest 0.1%—those with over $50 million in assets—raising $4 billion/year to fund public education and address inequality.

HB 2046 Financial Intangibles Tax (FIT) – House Version

Public Hearing: Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00 AM – House Finance. 

This House version establishes a similar tax at a slightly lower rate—$8 per $1,000 of financial assets above the $50 million threshold—to ensure the ultra-wealthy contribute fairly to our shared future.

SB 5796 High Earners Payroll Tax on Employers

Public Hearing: Sunday, March 31 at 4:00 PM – Senate Ways & Means.

This bill closes a loophole in the employer payroll tax by applying a 5% tax on wages over $168,600 for employees at large corporations (payrolls over $7M/year). Raises $2.3 billion/year for healthcare, childcare, and education.

HB 2045 Restructure B&O Tax to Invest in Families

Public Hearing: Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00 AM – House Finance.

Reforms our outdated Business & Occupation (B&O) tax by adding a 1% surcharge on corporate profits over $250 million, and increasing the bank surcharge from 1.2% to 1.9% for institutions making more than $1B/year. Raises $2B+/year for essential programs.

Take Action: Oppose Delays in Vital Support for Vulnerable Washingtonians!

Sign in CON for HB 2040 and HB 2039. Faith Action Network is urging our advocates to sign in CON on two harmful bills that would delay justice for low-income families and individuals who rely on critical state assistance programs like TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and ABD (Aged, Blind, and Disabled). Both of these delays were introduced by budget writers and would postpone the implementation of hard-won policies we helped pass in recent years to ensure that vulnerable communities can keep more of the support they need.

❌ HB 2040 – Delay to ABD/SSI Passthrough

Thursday, April 4 at 1:30 PM in House Appropriations. 

This bill would delay until 2028 the implementation of a law that stops the state from taking retroactive SSI payments from individuals who previously received ABD benefits. Many wait years for SSI approval, only to have a portion of it reclaimed by the state—money that is essential for their basic needs and dignity.

❌ HB 2039 – Delay to Child Support Passthrough for TANF Families

Thursday, April 4 at 1:30 PM in House Appropriations.

This bill would delay until 2029 a recently passed law that would end the practice of the state seizing child support payments from TANF families. These payments are meant to support children—not to reimburse the government. Delaying this change would continue to divert crucial support away from families who need it most.

SIGN UP TO TESTIFY ON MONDAY IN SUPPORT OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUE

We are looking for FAN folks willing to testify about particular progressive revenue bills on Monday, 3/31, so the hearings are not dominated by companies and wealthy folks who don’t want to pay more taxes. If you or your faith community are involved in food banks or pantries, senior nutrition, mental health programs, immigrant/refugee support, you probably have an impactful story to share about the needs in our communities and why we need progressive revenue. You can sign up to testify remotely or submit written testimony If you’re new to testifying, we can help you craft your one-minute testimony. Please be in touch asap with Elizabeth Dickinson, dickinson@fanwa.org.

TAKE ACTION BY PERSONALIZING AND SIGNING OUR ADVOCACY LETTERS

Updated Letter on Rent Stabilization

This critical bill for Washingtonians facing rising rents and falling income supports has been passed in the House and sent to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. We are so glad it is still moving forward, but the Senate is our hardest sell. Even if your Senator is not on the Ways & Means Committee, they need to hear from us!

Preserve Vital Funding for Struggling Washingtonians

Fully Fund Immigrant Healthcare in Washington State

The House and Senate recently released their proposed budgets and FAN and our Health Equity for Immigrant Coalition (HEIC) partners are urging lawmakers to choose the House version of Apple Health Expansion ($152 Million) in order to maintain enough funding to cover the current 12,000 people with Managed Care rather than a fee-for-services structure. Please use this updated letter to urge legislators to choose the House’s proposed budget for Apple Health Expansion. You can also find a helpful one-pager of HEIC testimony in our Take Action page to share with your legislator as well.

Sign on to our Senior Nutrition Funding Letter

TAKE ACTION: CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE BILL AND SPEAK UP BEFORE MARCH 31 @ NOON!

Help us reach passage for our priority bills! Please call the legislative hotline (1-800-562-6000) to send a message to Committees who will be voting on the fate of three priority bills by Monday, March 31 at noon. Please also send a comment to your own legislators on one or more of these critical bills before Monday noon.

Your message can be short, something like: “Bill SB 5284, the Solid Waste/Recycling Reform Act, will bring consistent recycling services across the State of Washington, which will make a big difference for our community. Please encourage its passage in the House Environment and Energy and Rules Committees and vote “YES” on the floor.”

  • Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284): Scheduled for executive session in the House Environment & Energy Committee on 3-31 at 1:30.
  • Private Detention Facilities Accountability and Transparency (HB 1232):Scheduled for executive session in Senate Committee on Human Services on 3/31 at 1:30.
  • Prohibiting Interference with Access to a Place of Worship (SB 5436): Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Community Safety on 3-31 at 1:30.

Photo Credit: Farm Worker Ministry Northwest

Stand With Our Labor Partners This Week

FAN has endorsed the United Farm Workers’ boycott against Windmill Farms mushrooms.

We invite you to join in solidarity with these mushroom workers from Yakima Valley who are seeking a union contract and fighting against unfair working conditions.

  • Don’t buy Windmill Mushrooms or any mushrooms from Sunnyside, Washington.
  • Go one step further by asking your local Safeway manager not to buy mushrooms from Windmill Farms.
  • Show up for the UFW action in Tacoma on March 31st, 12 pm at the Safeway, 2411 N. Proctor Street.

Windmill Mushroom Products is owned by private equity firm Instar Investments and continues to unjustly fire workers and maintain unfair working conditions. The boycott aims to pressure the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the UFW and its workers without fear of retaliation.

Workers began seeking a union contract in the summer of 2022 in response to widespread firings and ongoing concerns over safety, discrimination, and retaliation. Over a hundred women were fired when they reported harassment to HR; they were rehired after a successful lawsuit but harassment and poor treatment from management continued.

Learn more here: https://www.fwm-nw.org/

We encourage you to join UFCW 3000 this coming week on Thursday, April 3rd, to support there contract fight for grocery workers all across locations in Western Washington. From UFCW, “…grocery workers are holding an informational picket to raise awareness about the challenges we face—short staffing, job insecurity, and low wages—while CEOs continue to rake in billions. Workers across the country are standing up for fair treatment, and we’re ready to do the same here in Washington.” Pickets will be held at four locations at different times.

We invite you to Join APRI, MLK Labor, next Saturday April 5th, at noon in Seatac to protest ICE, advocate for public schools, Support Immigrant and Trans Students and defend public workers and services.

Rally at Angle Park, 19408 International Blvd, SeaTac

March to Federal Detention Center 2425 S. 200 Street, SeaTac

Find out more information by e-mailing contact@apriseattle.com about the rally and march below. Contact Faith and Labor Roundtable FAN rep Blake Alford to connect to a FAN staff member at the event, alford@fanwa.org.

Kristin’s Policy Updates

FAN Legislative Session Update: Week of March 25, 2025

“Showing Up for Justice, Standing with Communities, and Speaking Truth to Power”

This past week was pivotal in Washington’s legislative session, marked by budget hearings, passage of housing and gun safety bills, and powerful moments of advocacy. FAN showed up in solidarity at the Capitol, testifying in support of critical legislation that uplifts the values of dignity, human rights, and safety for all.

This year’s budget debate is a defining moment for Washington’s values. With a $15 billion shortfall on the horizon, now is the time to push for fair, sustainable revenue solutions that don’t fall hardest on those with the least. The proposed taxes on extreme wealth, high corporate payrolls, and outdated exemptions are important steps toward a more equitable system—one that can fund education, housing, food security, and public safety for all Washingtonians.

We will continue to monitor the budget negotiations and advocate for progressive revenue options that reflect our shared values of equity, compassion, and justice.

State Budgets Take the Spotlight

Both chambers unveiled and held public hearings for their versions of the 2025–2027 biennial Operating Budget:

  • HB 1198 – House Operating Budget (Reps. Ormsby/Gregerson)
  • SB 5167 – Senate Operating Budget (Sens. Robinson/Nobles)

Senate Budget Highlights – Total Budget: $78.5 Billion

The Senate’s budget plan includes $6.5 billion in spending reductions over next four years, including a 5% pay cut for state employees (furlough days) and the use of $1.6 billion from the Rainy Day Fund—Washington’s emergency reserves. While these measures attempt to balance the books, they reflect the growing strain on the state’s finances. For more information on the Senate Budget proposal: Senate budget proposal protects core services, strengthens long-term fiscal stability – Washington Senate Democrats

House Budget Highlights – Total Budget: $77.8 Billion

The House takes a slightly different approach, preserving essential services like housing and food assistance and scaling back on certain planned expansions, such as parts of the Fair Start for Kids Act. For more information on House Budget proposal: House Democratic Operating Budget Holds the Line on Housing, Food Assistance, and Maintains Critical Services and Programs – Washington State House Democrats

April 2 marks the final policy committee cutoff for bills from the opposite chamber to be approved. Any policy bills that haven’t passed out of committee by this deadline are considered likely dead for the session, unless deemed Necessary to Implement the Budget (NTIB). This period marks a flurry of activity as advocates and lawmakers work quickly to move priority bills forward.

The following Bills passed Opposite House Policy Committees this week:

HB 1217 Rent Stabilization would protect tenants from excessive rent increases by implementing a 7% limit on annual rent increases for existing tenants and manufactured homeowners. [Senate Committee on Housing]

SB 5714 Declaring civil immigration enforcement as unprofessional conduct of bail bond recovery agents. [House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business]

SB 5123 Protections for Students would expand protections for K-12 students in public schools related to gender expression and identity, housing status, ethnicity, neurodivergence, and immigration status. [House Committee on Education]

HB 1163 Permit to Purchase Firearms would implement a comprehensive permit system for firearm purchases to reduce firearm-related deaths and curb illegal gun trafficking. [Senate Law & Justice]

SB 5106 State Recognition of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha would establish these religious days as state recognized unpaid holidays. [House State Government & Tribal Relations]

HB 1432 Improving Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services would help enforce insurance coverage parity for mental and behavioral health. [Senate Health & Long-term Care]

SB 5041 Unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers. [House Labor & Workplace Standards]

FAN Advocacy: Testimony Spotlight

✝️ SB 5436 – Protecting Access to Religious Worship

House Community Safety Committee
FAN’s Policy Director, Kristin Ang, testified in strong support of this bill, which protects the right to enter and leave places of worship without fear, obstruction, or threats.

“Faith communities across Washington have reported increased harassment, vandalism, and threats. SB 5436 upholds the rights of all Washingtonians to practice their faith safely, without fear of interference or violence.”

This legislation responds to the rise in religiously motivated hate crimes and reaffirms our state’s commitment to religious liberty and community safety.

️ HB 1232 – Private Detention Facilities Accountability

FAN urged lawmakers in the Senate Human Services Committee to pass this bill, which seeks greater transparency and oversight for private immigration detention facilities, including Tacoma’s Northwest Detention Center (NWDC).

“Oversight agencies, including health professionals and legal monitors, have been denied access to investigate complaints of abuse. The world is watching—and it is clear that Washington must act to address the ongoing human rights violations occurring within its borders.” HB 1232 reinforces our state’s responsibility to ensure human dignity and state accountability in all places of detention.

Protections for Students (SB 5123, Nobles): Expands protections for K-12 public school students related to gender expression and identity, housing status, ethnicity, neurodivergence and immigration status.

“This is such an important bill for our time, protecting the authenticity, creativity, and compassion of the next generation, as well as the lives of children who are most vulnerable. Each child is beloved and needs nurturing and protection. We ask that you act on hope rather than fear.”

News Highlights from Washington State

In Memoriam: Washington mourns the passing of former House Speaker, Frank Chopp, a tireless champion for affordable housing and social justice, as well as Ralph Munro, former WA Secretary of State for 20 years (’81-‘01).

Judge Strikes Down I-2066, Citing Constitutional Violations and Voter Misinformation. A King County Superior Court judge has ruled that Initiative 2066, a controversial natural gas measure in Washington State, is unconstitutional. The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of local officials and environmental, climate, and health advocates, who argued that the initiative was misleading and overly broad. The judge agreed with the plaintiffs that I-2066 violated the state constitution’s single-subject rule, which requires initiatives to focus on only one issue. According to the ruling, the initiative’s language was too expansive and lacked clarity, making it difficult for voters to understand its full impact.

Join Faith Communities Across our Nation for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil

Join an interfaith prayer vigil on the eve of the first hearing of the historic lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security’s rescission of the sensitive locations memo. Together, we will gather in solidarity, lifting prayers for justice, compassion, and the protection of immigrant communities. All are welcome to stand with us in this moment of faith and resolve.

Thursday, April 3rd (6:30 pm EST/3:30 pm PDT)

National City Christian Church in Washington DC and Livestreamed

This lawsuit was brought by a number of religious organizations including the Union of Reform Judaism, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Church of the Brethren, the Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas, the Episcopal Church, the Friends General Council, the Mennonite Church USA, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Unitarian Universalist Association, and regional branches of the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.

More Upcoming Events

Saturday, March 29, 12-2 pm, Rapid Response with WAISN, virtual. As our immigrant communities face escalating ICE activity and threats of deportation, WAISN continues to offer trainings for volunteers to show up, stand in solidarity, offer support, and bear witness. Register here for the next Rapid Response training on March 29. Accompaniment volunteers are also still needed — contact WAISN’s Deportation Defense Organizer (yahaira.padilla@waisn.org) to schedule a training.

Sunday, April 27, 3:30pm – 7pm, Uniting the Inland Northwest, in-person. Montvale Event Center (1019 W. 1st Ave. Spokane, WA 99201). FāVS News is hosting “Uniting the Inland Northwest,” a free community gathering focused on bridging regional divides. The event will feature six breakout sessions addressing regional issues and a keynote address from Itohan Idumwonyi, of the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau, and a Gonzaga University professor, on Ubuntu: How an Ancient African Concept can Help Human Flourishing.