2023 Legislative Session Begins

First Week of Session

The 105-day 2023 legislative session began Monday with an opening day ceremony in person. The Washington State Democrats control both chambers, in the Senate 28-20 and in the House 58-40. Lawmakers will focus this session on creating a two-year state budget, as well as bills related to housing, behavioral health, workforce development, gun violence prevention, and protecting bodily autonomy. This will be a hybrid session; legislators will serve in person at the Capitol, but testimony can be given in person or virtually. Hearings will continue to be broadcast or live-streamed by TVW, the state’s government affairs channel.

This past Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his State of the State address. He urged lawmakers to put a $4 billion bond measure on the ballot this year that, if approved by voters, would accelerate efforts to build thousands of new homes and reduce the number of homeless individuals and families across the state. The money would be used to create emergency housing and more than 20,000 new housing units by 2030, while providing closing costs and down payments to some low-income first-time home buyers.

Also on Tuesday, the Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee heard HB 1024 Real Labor Real Wages Act (Rep. Simmons), which would require that incarcerated workers in Washington prisons be paid minimum wage. Currently, people incarcerated by the Washington Department of Corrections are generally paid less than $1 per hour for their work. This bill would help provide financial stability for successful re-entry.

The committee also heard HB 1087 Solitary Confinement Reform (Rep. Peterson), which would address conditions in state prisons and private detention centers like the Northwest Detention Center, an immigration prison located in Tacoma. Because a virtual testimony option was available, several people who are currently or formerly incarcerated or detained were able to give powerful testimony remotely on the impacts of solitary confinement on their lives. Solitary confinement is considered a form of torture by the United Nations. This inhumane treatment disproportionately impacts people of color and has been shown to have devastating and lasting psychological effects. This is why FAN joins our Multifaith Coalition for Restorative Justice partners in advocating for reform.

The Senate State Elections and Government Committee heard SB 5082 Repeal Advisory Votes (Sen. Kuderer). Washington is the only state that has advisory votes, which are commonly referred to as Tim Eyman’s biased push polls, and are costly, misleading, and nonbinding, and discourage voting. Bob Beekman, co-lead of FAN’s Economic Justice Working Group (EJWG), testified in support of abolishing advisory votes. Steve Clagett, also co-leader of EJWG, submitted testimony in support of additional language in the bill that would give voters more accurate information about state budgets and new revenue resources.

On Wednesday, the Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee heard HB 1045 Evergreen Basic Income Pilot Program (Rep. Berry) to reduce poverty. If passed, Washington would be the first state in the nation to pilot a guaranteed basic income (GBI) program. Specifically, the program would provide 24 monthly payments to up to 7,500 qualifying participants in an amount equal to 100% of the fair market rent for a two-bedroom dwelling unit in the county in which the participant resides.

On Thursday, both the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees heard the Governor’s proposed $70.4 billion 2023-25 operating budget, which prioritizes increased funds for housing, mental health services, early education and social services, ecological preservation for salmon, and clean energy solutions.

The Housing Committee heard HB 1124 Protecting Tenants from Excessive Rent (Rep. Peterson), which would limit rent increases over a certain percentage to protect tenants from excessive rents and fees. The Finance Committee held a work session on the recommendations made to the Legislature by the Tax Structure Work Group.

On Friday, the Labor & Workforce Standards Committee heard HB 1095 Unemployment Insurance for Undocumented Workers (Rep. Walen). This bill would create a permanent, separate unemployment system to provide benefits to undocumented workers.

To connect more about FAN’s policy work, please contact Policy Engagement Director Kristin at Ang@fanwa.org.

---

Events for MLK Day and Beyond

Seattle: January 13, 5:00pm. Join Temple De Hirsch Sinai & First African Methodist Episcopal for MLK Weekend beginning tonight with a Worship Service featuring Pastor Carey Anderson and the FAME Gospel Choir: View the full schedule here.

Through January 16. Seattle/King County, Martin Luther King Community Workshop Series, online January 10-14, and in-person January 16, 9:30 – 10:50am, at Garfield HS Seattle. See webpage for information and registration. On Monday 1/16, Annual Rally at 11am and March starting at Garfield HS.

Tacoma: January 15, 2:00-5:00pm. 17th Annual MLK Jr. Redeeming the Prophetic Vision: Calling in the Beloved Community. Evergreen State College, Tacoma. Presented by Associated Ministries and the Conversation 253, come, hear and be inspired by multiple faith traditions and activists toward action for justice and unity. Register Here.

Spokane: January 15, 3:00-5:00pm, Martin Luther King Commemorative Celebration, Spokane NAACP at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ and January 16, 11:30am-2:00PM, MLK DAY Annual Unity Rally, March and Resource Fair, Spokane Convention Center. Find out more here.

Renton: January 15, 3:00pm, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration featuring Carl B. Mack at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Baptist Church, 4519 NE 10th Street, Renton.

Yakima: January 15, 3:00 pm, City Wide MLK Jr Commemoration Service at Greater Faith Baptist Church, 816 S 6th St, Yakima. January 16, 11:30 am, 38th Annual MLK Jr Peace March. Gather on the corner of 5th Ave and MLK Jr Boulevard, a short program will follow after the march.

Edmonds: January 16, 9:30-11:30am, “When Love Changes Things” The 5th Annual Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Edmonds Waterfront Center. Free youth event including performances, spoken word and activities for the whole family. 5:30pm, Evening Program, find out more about these events here.

January 18, 6:30-8:00, online. Interrogating Privilege, Northwest Washington Synod ELCA, this 8-week course is designed specifically for lay leaders to open up transparent, and honest conversations around the ways privilege shapes and impacts our lives and communities of faith.

January 25, 5:30pm. Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, will host an educational event on Passing Responsible Gun Legislation for WA, open to the Pierce County/Tacoma community. It will be held in their Fellowship Hall and include a light dinner. Featuring Tremayne Edwards from the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, with training for effective advocacy and lobbying.

January 26, 5:00-6:30pm, online. Sacredly Speaking: God-Talk About Reproductive Freedom, presented by The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) in partnership with Seattle First Baptist Church and the Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches.

2023 Lobby Days (that we know so far):

January 16, 9am, on Zoom. Statewide Poverty Action’s MLK Lobby Day, register here.

January 21, 8:30am-3:00pm, in Spokane & online, Eastern WA Legislative Conference

January 26, 11:30am, in Olympia, Support Capital Gains Rally.

February 6-8, online, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Days.

February 7, in Olympia, Hunger Action Day at Temple Beth Hatfiloh.

February 9, 9am-3pm, in Olympia, Interfaith Advocacy Day.

February 15, online, Multifaith Restorative Justice Coalition.

February 16, 9am-5pm, in Olympia, WAISN Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day.