From LWVWA 2/22/26 Newsletter:

The dominant issue this week is the supplemental budget proposals. The House and Senate will be holding public hearings on their respective budget proposals, which are released today, Sunday, Feb. 22, by 4 pm. 

The bills that are still alive passed out of the chamber of origin last week and are beginning the same process in the opposite chamber (House or Senate). Many bills have already had public hearings and are scheduled for executive sessions. Deadline for bills to be passed by policy committees is Feb. 25 and bills with fiscal impact must be passed by their respective fiscal committee by March 2. T

To begin making the state’s tax structure more equitable and generate funding to help address the state’s budget problems, SB 6346/HB 2724, Millionaires’ Tax, would establish a tax on incomes exceeding $1 million annually. The state’s revenue deficit is estimated at $2.3 billion annually, beginning in 2026. If passed, SB 6346 would generate significant additional revenue, estimated between $1-3 billion per biennium. It would only affect the very small percentage of the population with incomes high enough to be eligible for the tax. It would not affect more than 99.9% of the population.

The LWVWA has made SB 6346 a top priority because it affects all other proposals with any fiscal impact, and because it is consistent with the League position on taxes. Support action to obtain a balanced tax structure that is fair, adequate, flexible, and has a sound economic effect. The bill passed by the Senate, and now in the House, was changed very little from previous versions. It is scheduled for a hearing in the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 8 am.

Sign in PRO on SB 6346 HERE before Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 am. If you would prefer to send a message giving your reasons for supporting the bill, please use do so HERE.

Resist Cuts to Child Care for Low-Income Working Families

HB 2689, Concerning the working connections child care program, proposes major cuts to the Working Connections Child Care Program which supports access to quality early learning for children and makes it possible for low-income parents to work. This bill would cap the number of families served and reduce payment rates for child care providers. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Appropriations on Feb. 26 at 1:30 pm.

 Sign in CON on HB 2689 HERE by Thursday, Feb. 26 at 12:30 pm.

Restore the Promise of the Federal Voting Rights Act

Civil rights activists fought for our federal and state Voting Rights Acts, which ensure that voters of every race and background have an equal voice in our democracy. In 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder removed “preclearance.” The Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) was signed into law in 2018 to protect voters in Washington independent of the federal law. HB 1710, Pre-clearance for proposed changes to election procedures, would amend the WVRA to include preclearance which requires certain local election officials to consult with the state attorney general’s office before making changes to election procedures that may violate the state’s Voting Rights Act prohibition against racial discrimination and avoid lengthy and expensive litigation after the fact. This bill passed on the House on Feb. 12 by 57/39. It was heard in the Senate State Government Committee on Feb. 20 and will have an executive session on Feb. 24.

Tell the Senate State Government Committee HERE to PASS HB 1710.

Protect Sensitive Spaces from Immigration Enforcement. SSB 5906, Establishing data and personal safety protections within areas of public accommodation for all Washington residents (The Secure and Accountable Federal Enforcement Act [the SAFE Act]), prohibits early learning providers, school district employees, health care facilities, adult family homes, higher education institutions, and county auditors’ offices from allowing immigrant enforcement officers to enter the nonpublic areas of those locations without a warrant or court order. This bill also prohibits early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about the immigration statuses of students or their family members, except when required by law. SSB 5906 passed the Senate on Feb. 12. It had a hearing on Feb. 20 in House Civil Rights & Judiciary and is scheduled for executive session on Feb. 25 at 8 am.

Tell the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee HERE to vote PRO for SSB 5906.

For additional action items, which help pass or defeat bills the League supports or opposes on specific issues, click on the see all action alerts, and take action on the ones you are most interested in. Thank you for your support for the League’s issues! There are many more action alerts in this weeks legislative newsletter! Get the LWVWA Legislative newsletter delivered direct to you by subscribing here.