LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
The Washington State 2021 Legislative Session has begun. WFRW wants to keep you informed on important legislation and ways to respond. We encourage you to come back to this page often as it will be updated with hot bills needing action. Our Republican Legislators need our encouragement and support. They say the most effective way to help them is to call, email and testify on bills. Here is a Legislative Guide on how to access the Legislature this year.
Also, be sure to check out the important US Congressional bills that need action at the bottom of this page.
H.R. 1 (Election process) passed the House on March 3rd. No Republicans voted for it. The Senate version of the legislation, S. 1, faces a much steeper uphill battle to get the 60 votes required to withstand the filibuster in the US Senate, which is evenly split between 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. Contact Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, ask them to oppose S. 1.
We Cannot Remain Silent ~ Say NO to the Equity Act
~ It's a Game Changer! ~
The Equity Act is a threat to our nation and our freedoms. It will be a tool used against churches, health facilities/providers, schools and other organizations. It will affect women and children greatly.
Contact the Whitehouse, tell the President you do not support this dangerous piece of legislation.
Contact our Senators, tell them to vote NO
"Open Safe, Open Now" Washington State Republicans have a plan for moving Washington forward in reopening the state - Phase 3 and Beyond
Listen to the Senate Republicans
Read the plan and watch the House leaders on TVW
Call To Action - March 7th - Washington Legislature
March 9th is the last day to consider (pass) bills in the house of origin (5pm).
Lawmakers have been in session, voting on bills and moving them on to the other chamber.
Now is the time to call or email your legislators: House of Representatives and Senators and/or call the Legislative Hotline: 1.800.562.6000
To view all the legislative activity on the floor, visit the Legislative Home page
March 26th is the last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
***Get Your Position on a Bill Noted for Legislative Record
The Committee Sign In - Remote Testimony page allows you to select a chamber, committee, and bill, then indicate you wish to have your position noted for the archived legislative record. This is a very effective way to make your voice heard at the most opportune time.
OPPOSE the following
SB 5096 Income Tax - now ESSB 5096 passed the Senate on Saturday March 6th by only ONE Vote. It now moves to the House. Watch the Senate Video on the Income Tax bill.
HB 1236 Landlords and Tenants This measure would make it harder and more complicated to be a rental housing provider in our state. Republicans are not only concerned about homelessness but landlords and tenants. This is not balanced legislation and tips in the wrong direction. It is being debated March 7th in the House.
It is also scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government at 8:00 AM in anticipation of other legislative action on March 11th.***
HB 1225 School Based Health Centers
This bill will set up a new bureaucracy within an agency not accountable to K-12 education districts. It has passed the House.
SB 5044 Dismantling institutional racism (Critical Race Theory)
It has passed the Senate and is scheduled a hearing in the House Education Committee on March 11th.***
HB 1054 Establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers.
This legislation was birthed out of the “Defund the Police” movement and is the wrong direction for our state. It severely limits the tactics, training, and equipment that law enforcement can use to keep our communities and families safe.
This bill passed the House of Representatives on February 27 without Republican support
It has been scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM on March 11th.***
SB 5038 Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol.
Republicans argued against this as it is vague and takes away the right of protection. It passed the Senate and has moved to the House for consideration.
HB 1091 Low Carbon Fuel Standard
This bill will increase the cost of gas and diesel without generating any new revenue for transportation projects.
It was passed in the House on February 27 without Republican support.
Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 8:00 AM on March 10th.***
HB 1068 Exempting election security information from public records disclosure
The bill would keep some election security information from public records disclosure, by exempting information, such as continuity of operations plans for elections and security audits, from the state’s Public Records Act.
Even though Republicans feel this bill is moving away from transparency and gives a false sense of security it passed the House and was sent to the Senate State Government and Elections Committee.
Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on State Government & Elections at 10:30 AM on March 12th.***
.
US Congressional Alerts
*US Congress H.R. 1 passed the House on March 3rd. It will now move to the Senate S. 1 Contact Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, ask them to vote no on S. 1
H.R. 1 would federalize and micromanage the election process, imposing unnecessary, unwise, and unconstitutional mandates on the states.
It would reverse the decentralization of the American election process—an essential protection of our liberty and freedom.
It would implement nationwide the worst changes in election rules that occurred in 2020 and further damage or eliminate basic security protocols.
US Congress H.R. 5 ~ The Equality Act
The Equality Act - H.R. 5 was re-introduced on February 18th.
This bill will add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under federal civil rights law.
If passed the Equality Act will have far reaching implications especially on women and children. Read more from the Heritage Foundation
OPPOSE the Equality Act - Call or email our Senators
US Congress H.R.127 - Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act is being pushed. This bill severely limits our gun rights which are upheld by the 2nd Amendment. It will "To provide for the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms, and to prohibit the possession of certain ammunition."
Please let your US House Representatives know you OPPOSE H.R. 127. Click here for their information US House
Also, be sure to check out the important US Congressional bills that need action at the bottom of this page.
H.R. 1 (Election process) passed the House on March 3rd. No Republicans voted for it. The Senate version of the legislation, S. 1, faces a much steeper uphill battle to get the 60 votes required to withstand the filibuster in the US Senate, which is evenly split between 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. Contact Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, ask them to oppose S. 1.
We Cannot Remain Silent ~ Say NO to the Equity Act
~ It's a Game Changer! ~
The Equity Act is a threat to our nation and our freedoms. It will be a tool used against churches, health facilities/providers, schools and other organizations. It will affect women and children greatly.
Contact the Whitehouse, tell the President you do not support this dangerous piece of legislation.
Contact our Senators, tell them to vote NO
"Open Safe, Open Now" Washington State Republicans have a plan for moving Washington forward in reopening the state - Phase 3 and Beyond
Listen to the Senate Republicans
Read the plan and watch the House leaders on TVW
Call To Action - March 7th - Washington Legislature
March 9th is the last day to consider (pass) bills in the house of origin (5pm).
Lawmakers have been in session, voting on bills and moving them on to the other chamber.
Now is the time to call or email your legislators: House of Representatives and Senators and/or call the Legislative Hotline: 1.800.562.6000
To view all the legislative activity on the floor, visit the Legislative Home page
March 26th is the last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
***Get Your Position on a Bill Noted for Legislative Record
The Committee Sign In - Remote Testimony page allows you to select a chamber, committee, and bill, then indicate you wish to have your position noted for the archived legislative record. This is a very effective way to make your voice heard at the most opportune time.
OPPOSE the following
SB 5096 Income Tax - now ESSB 5096 passed the Senate on Saturday March 6th by only ONE Vote. It now moves to the House. Watch the Senate Video on the Income Tax bill.
HB 1236 Landlords and Tenants This measure would make it harder and more complicated to be a rental housing provider in our state. Republicans are not only concerned about homelessness but landlords and tenants. This is not balanced legislation and tips in the wrong direction. It is being debated March 7th in the House.
It is also scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government at 8:00 AM in anticipation of other legislative action on March 11th.***
HB 1225 School Based Health Centers
This bill will set up a new bureaucracy within an agency not accountable to K-12 education districts. It has passed the House.
SB 5044 Dismantling institutional racism (Critical Race Theory)
It has passed the Senate and is scheduled a hearing in the House Education Committee on March 11th.***
HB 1054 Establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers.
This legislation was birthed out of the “Defund the Police” movement and is the wrong direction for our state. It severely limits the tactics, training, and equipment that law enforcement can use to keep our communities and families safe.
This bill passed the House of Representatives on February 27 without Republican support
It has been scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM on March 11th.***
SB 5038 Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol.
Republicans argued against this as it is vague and takes away the right of protection. It passed the Senate and has moved to the House for consideration.
HB 1091 Low Carbon Fuel Standard
This bill will increase the cost of gas and diesel without generating any new revenue for transportation projects.
It was passed in the House on February 27 without Republican support.
Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 8:00 AM on March 10th.***
HB 1068 Exempting election security information from public records disclosure
The bill would keep some election security information from public records disclosure, by exempting information, such as continuity of operations plans for elections and security audits, from the state’s Public Records Act.
Even though Republicans feel this bill is moving away from transparency and gives a false sense of security it passed the House and was sent to the Senate State Government and Elections Committee.
Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on State Government & Elections at 10:30 AM on March 12th.***
.
US Congressional Alerts
*US Congress H.R. 1 passed the House on March 3rd. It will now move to the Senate S. 1 Contact Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, ask them to vote no on S. 1
H.R. 1 would federalize and micromanage the election process, imposing unnecessary, unwise, and unconstitutional mandates on the states.
It would reverse the decentralization of the American election process—an essential protection of our liberty and freedom.
It would implement nationwide the worst changes in election rules that occurred in 2020 and further damage or eliminate basic security protocols.
US Congress H.R. 5 ~ The Equality Act
The Equality Act - H.R. 5 was re-introduced on February 18th.
This bill will add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under federal civil rights law.
If passed the Equality Act will have far reaching implications especially on women and children. Read more from the Heritage Foundation
OPPOSE the Equality Act - Call or email our Senators
US Congress H.R.127 - Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act is being pushed. This bill severely limits our gun rights which are upheld by the 2nd Amendment. It will "To provide for the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms, and to prohibit the possession of certain ammunition."
Please let your US House Representatives know you OPPOSE H.R. 127. Click here for their information US House
