LEGISLATIVE UPDATES ~ Elections 2022
January 25th 2022
Our Voice of Reason Can Make A Difference!
The Legislative Session is 60 days this year and closed to in-person participation, but does allow for virtual participation through Zoom. You still have options to comment by phone and in writing. Being on the record for your opposition or support of a bill is important and carries a lot of weight on hot issues
To learn how to participate visit the Washington State Legislature page Participating in the Process
and Washington Policy Center's Remote Testimony Options
The Washington State House Republicans have provided a resource page on how you can be involved.
Check it out here:
How To Be Involved
The Washington State Senate Republicans encourage us to watch the legislative session via TVW News
Watch here
You can always call the Legislative Hotline at 1.800.562.6000
ALERT - CALL TO ACTION
SHOULD SCHOOLS REQUIRE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR ALL STUDENTS?
Have you heard that the WSBOH (WA State Board of Health) will be deciding whether or not Covid-19 vaccines should be required for all students 5 and older. They are asking for parent input. The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will have a few meetings in the next month or two. They will make a recommendation to the WSBOH on whether or not to require vaccinations. However, it will be the WSBOH that will make the final decision.
Take the Caregiver and Parent Survey - English
Take the Caregiver and Parent Survey - Spanish
House Republicans want us to "Learn & Share"
Discover resources to raise awareness about legislation and
issues important to us.
Click LEARN & SHARE
Senate Republicans priorities for 2022 are
Restore Public Safety, Return Affordability, Rebuild Trust
Click here to learn more: Priorities
Republican budget leaders welcome proposed sales-tax cut to
discussion of tax relief
The list of major tax-relief proposals before the Legislature this year no longer belongs solely to Republicans, now that a member of the Senate's Democrat majority is proposing a one-point drop in the state sales tax.
Sen. Lynda Wilson, Republican leader on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Drew Stokesbary, Republican leader on the House Appropriations Committee, say they're encouraged by the introduction of Senate Bill 5932, saying it supports their message that legislators should turn part of the state's projected $10-plus billion budget surplus into significant, direct tax relief this year.
The Republicans overall mission this session is to develop and pass legislation that makes daily life more affordable for you and your family, strengthens communities throughout the state by making public safety a priority, holds state government accountable, and empowers parents to help their children succeed in school and in life. An overview of our bills that fit within
these four main priorities is below.
Providing tax relief and making life more affordable for all Washingtonians House Bill 1898: Reducing state property tax levies
Returns $2 billion back to taxpayers through a reduction and rebasing of the state levy from overcollections from 2018-2022, occurring because property values have risen much faster than anticipated when legislation was passed in 2017. If House Bill 1898 is not adopted, an additional $3 billion in overcollection will occur between 2023-2027.
House Bill 1594: Repealing the long-term care trust act and payroll tax
Repeals the payroll tax and wholly inadequate and insolvent benefit from the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Act. Learn more about the program and payroll tax here.
House Bill 1913: Repealing and replacing the long-term care trust and payroll tax
Repeals the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Act and associated payroll tax, replacing it with a privately-managed program that leverages the state's existing revenue to make long-term care coverage both affordable and optional.
House Bill 2015: Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit
Expands and enhances the Working Families Tax Credit by expanding income eligibility, doubling the base payment, and increasing the minimum benefit for working families with children.
House Bill 1858: Reducing manufacturing tax rates
Lowers Washington's main business tax rate for manufacturing and trucking by 40%, and extends and expands an existing tax preference for food processing.
Strengthening communities by making public safety a priority and supporting effective community policingHouse Bill 1737: Restoring balance and common sense to police reform
Rolls back a number of harmful provisions passed in last year's “police reform” bills, restoring tactics and tools to help police bring criminals to justice and keep communities safe.
House Bill 1788: Allowing law enforcement to chase suspects
Eliminates the disastrous probable cause requirement for vehicular chases of criminal suspects, allowing peace officers to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion a person in the vehicle has committed or is committing a criminal offense.
House Bill 1787: Putting more police officers on the streets
Provides funding for signing bonuses, retention bonuses, body cameras for local agencies, and additional Criminal Justice Training Commission classes to get officers trained and ready more quickly.
House Bill 1656: Protecting our retailers from theft
In Washington, it is not against the law to hide stolen retail goods under one's clothing. This bill amends the definition of theft to include the concealment of the property of another when the intent is to deprive the other person of its use or benefit.
House Bill 1873: Stopping catalytic converter thefts
Requires that catalytic converters be added to the list of items for which sales records must be kept by scrap metal dealers, prohibits the sale of catalytic converters by anyone other than a commercial enterprise or the private owner of the vehicle, and increases the seriousness of repeated offenses.
Holding state government accountable, improving outcomes, and enacting emergency powers reformHouse Bill 1772: Adopting emergency powers reform
Modeled after a variety of emergency powers statues utilized in almost every state in the nation, this bill increases legislative involvement during states of emergency, allowing for legislative oversight on states of emergency that last longer than 60 days.
House Bill 1541: Increasing funding to cities for homelessness solutions
Provides $200 million per year to cities to combat homelessness, provided they ban injection sites and clean up encampments near schools and parks.
House Bill 1177: Implementing the periodic review of state spending programs
Requires every new state spending program that meets certain criteria to include an expiration date, performance statement, and data requirements to measure the effectiveness of the program.
House Bill 1178: Improving state budgeting through zero-based budget reviews
Requires agencies to regularly “zero-base” their budgets to better prioritize spending , and then submit that analysis to the governor and Legislature.
This bill would help constrain the growth of government and improve outcomes.
Transportation solutions: Reprioritizing Existing Appropriations for Longevity (REAL) Act
A suite of bills to make Washington's transportation system safer and function better for travelers. Instead of raising taxes, these bills reprioritize our current budget surplus to pay for transportation projects.
Empowering parents by providing transparency and the necessary financial and educational flexibility to help their children succeed in school and in life House Bill 1973: Requiring school board meetings to be recorded
Requires regular and special meetings of school boards to be recorded, and must include the comments of the board and members of the public if testimony was taken at the meeting.
Recordings must be provided to the public upon request.
House Bill 1633: Promoting school choice through the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
Establishes an educational scholarship program of $10,000 for 100,000 homeschooled and private school students to cover costs associated with alternative education, such as books and learning materials, transportation, and tuition fees.
House Bill 1215: Establishing an education scholarship program to promote equity
Establishes a homeschool and private school voucher program of $7,000 for 130,000 students to cover costs associated with alternative education. One quarter of these scholarships would be awarded to students within special populations, such as students experiencing homelessness.
Republicans are also working on a bill to increase transparency in the classroom by requiring teachers to make syllabi and primary materials available on the school district's website.
Our Voice of Reason Can Make A Difference!
The Legislative Session is 60 days this year and closed to in-person participation, but does allow for virtual participation through Zoom. You still have options to comment by phone and in writing. Being on the record for your opposition or support of a bill is important and carries a lot of weight on hot issues
To learn how to participate visit the Washington State Legislature page Participating in the Process
and Washington Policy Center's Remote Testimony Options
The Washington State House Republicans have provided a resource page on how you can be involved.
Check it out here:
How To Be Involved
The Washington State Senate Republicans encourage us to watch the legislative session via TVW News
Watch here
You can always call the Legislative Hotline at 1.800.562.6000
ALERT - CALL TO ACTION
SHOULD SCHOOLS REQUIRE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR ALL STUDENTS?
Have you heard that the WSBOH (WA State Board of Health) will be deciding whether or not Covid-19 vaccines should be required for all students 5 and older. They are asking for parent input. The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will have a few meetings in the next month or two. They will make a recommendation to the WSBOH on whether or not to require vaccinations. However, it will be the WSBOH that will make the final decision.
Take the Caregiver and Parent Survey - English
Take the Caregiver and Parent Survey - Spanish
House Republicans want us to "Learn & Share"
Discover resources to raise awareness about legislation and
issues important to us.
Click LEARN & SHARE
Senate Republicans priorities for 2022 are
Restore Public Safety, Return Affordability, Rebuild Trust
Click here to learn more: Priorities
Republican budget leaders welcome proposed sales-tax cut to
discussion of tax relief
The list of major tax-relief proposals before the Legislature this year no longer belongs solely to Republicans, now that a member of the Senate's Democrat majority is proposing a one-point drop in the state sales tax.
Sen. Lynda Wilson, Republican leader on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Drew Stokesbary, Republican leader on the House Appropriations Committee, say they're encouraged by the introduction of Senate Bill 5932, saying it supports their message that legislators should turn part of the state's projected $10-plus billion budget surplus into significant, direct tax relief this year.
The Republicans overall mission this session is to develop and pass legislation that makes daily life more affordable for you and your family, strengthens communities throughout the state by making public safety a priority, holds state government accountable, and empowers parents to help their children succeed in school and in life. An overview of our bills that fit within
these four main priorities is below.
Providing tax relief and making life more affordable for all Washingtonians House Bill 1898: Reducing state property tax levies
Returns $2 billion back to taxpayers through a reduction and rebasing of the state levy from overcollections from 2018-2022, occurring because property values have risen much faster than anticipated when legislation was passed in 2017. If House Bill 1898 is not adopted, an additional $3 billion in overcollection will occur between 2023-2027.
House Bill 1594: Repealing the long-term care trust act and payroll tax
Repeals the payroll tax and wholly inadequate and insolvent benefit from the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Act. Learn more about the program and payroll tax here.
House Bill 1913: Repealing and replacing the long-term care trust and payroll tax
Repeals the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Act and associated payroll tax, replacing it with a privately-managed program that leverages the state's existing revenue to make long-term care coverage both affordable and optional.
House Bill 2015: Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit
Expands and enhances the Working Families Tax Credit by expanding income eligibility, doubling the base payment, and increasing the minimum benefit for working families with children.
House Bill 1858: Reducing manufacturing tax rates
Lowers Washington's main business tax rate for manufacturing and trucking by 40%, and extends and expands an existing tax preference for food processing.
Strengthening communities by making public safety a priority and supporting effective community policingHouse Bill 1737: Restoring balance and common sense to police reform
Rolls back a number of harmful provisions passed in last year's “police reform” bills, restoring tactics and tools to help police bring criminals to justice and keep communities safe.
House Bill 1788: Allowing law enforcement to chase suspects
Eliminates the disastrous probable cause requirement for vehicular chases of criminal suspects, allowing peace officers to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion a person in the vehicle has committed or is committing a criminal offense.
House Bill 1787: Putting more police officers on the streets
Provides funding for signing bonuses, retention bonuses, body cameras for local agencies, and additional Criminal Justice Training Commission classes to get officers trained and ready more quickly.
House Bill 1656: Protecting our retailers from theft
In Washington, it is not against the law to hide stolen retail goods under one's clothing. This bill amends the definition of theft to include the concealment of the property of another when the intent is to deprive the other person of its use or benefit.
House Bill 1873: Stopping catalytic converter thefts
Requires that catalytic converters be added to the list of items for which sales records must be kept by scrap metal dealers, prohibits the sale of catalytic converters by anyone other than a commercial enterprise or the private owner of the vehicle, and increases the seriousness of repeated offenses.
Holding state government accountable, improving outcomes, and enacting emergency powers reformHouse Bill 1772: Adopting emergency powers reform
Modeled after a variety of emergency powers statues utilized in almost every state in the nation, this bill increases legislative involvement during states of emergency, allowing for legislative oversight on states of emergency that last longer than 60 days.
House Bill 1541: Increasing funding to cities for homelessness solutions
Provides $200 million per year to cities to combat homelessness, provided they ban injection sites and clean up encampments near schools and parks.
House Bill 1177: Implementing the periodic review of state spending programs
Requires every new state spending program that meets certain criteria to include an expiration date, performance statement, and data requirements to measure the effectiveness of the program.
House Bill 1178: Improving state budgeting through zero-based budget reviews
Requires agencies to regularly “zero-base” their budgets to better prioritize spending , and then submit that analysis to the governor and Legislature.
This bill would help constrain the growth of government and improve outcomes.
Transportation solutions: Reprioritizing Existing Appropriations for Longevity (REAL) Act
A suite of bills to make Washington's transportation system safer and function better for travelers. Instead of raising taxes, these bills reprioritize our current budget surplus to pay for transportation projects.
Empowering parents by providing transparency and the necessary financial and educational flexibility to help their children succeed in school and in life House Bill 1973: Requiring school board meetings to be recorded
Requires regular and special meetings of school boards to be recorded, and must include the comments of the board and members of the public if testimony was taken at the meeting.
Recordings must be provided to the public upon request.
House Bill 1633: Promoting school choice through the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
Establishes an educational scholarship program of $10,000 for 100,000 homeschooled and private school students to cover costs associated with alternative education, such as books and learning materials, transportation, and tuition fees.
House Bill 1215: Establishing an education scholarship program to promote equity
Establishes a homeschool and private school voucher program of $7,000 for 130,000 students to cover costs associated with alternative education. One quarter of these scholarships would be awarded to students within special populations, such as students experiencing homelessness.
Republicans are also working on a bill to increase transparency in the classroom by requiring teachers to make syllabi and primary materials available on the school district's website.
