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The 2023 Legislative Session started January 9. Below are updates on bills we are advocating for in the 2023 session.
Watch recorded hearings and floor debates online at www.TVW.org
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Meeting Basic Needs
#We all deserve to have what we need to survive and live healthy lives. No one should ever have to worry about how to pay for their next meal or next month’s rent. This is possible when we have fully-funded safety net programs that are designed so we are treated with dignity and respect when we ask for help. Poverty Action supports bills that ensure fair access to a baseline of financial stability. We are each the experts in our own lives and know how to meet our needs better than anyone else. Poverty Action supports bills that provide direct cash support to the residents of Washington who need it.
Accelerating stability for people with a work-limiting disability or incapacity – HB 1260
support
What It Does
This bill eliminates a requirement that recipients of the Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance program pay the state back. HB 1260 eliminates a decades old rule from the Reagan era that punishes people by requiring them to repay the state their entire cash benefit. If this bill passes, low income and disabled people will be able to keep their SSI/SSDI back payments and move forward with more security.Bill Status
ESHB 1260 passed off of the Senate floor! It needs to be signed by the Governor and included in the Senate budget to be funded.Strengthening the ability of assistance programs to meet foundational needs of children, adults, and families – HB 1447
support
What It Does
This bill makes TANF hardship Time Limit Exemptions permanent for all households, eliminates time limits for child-only cases, expands asset limits for cash assistance programs up to $8,000, and waives the value of one car. These policies will help families meet their basic needs and build up savingsBill Status
This bill passed off of the Senate floor! It needs to be signed by the Governor and included in the Senate budget to be funded.TANF Child Support Pass-Through – HB 1652
support
What It Does
This bill would ensure that 100% of non-custodial parent's child support payments would be passed through to children whose family receives TANF.Bill Status
This bill was scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, but did not get voted on.Building Vibrant Communities
#We believe it’s possible to build a better world than the one we’ve inherited. Strong communities come from a clear vision for socioeconomic justice; a vision that includes a fair tax code that pays for basic needs, robust cash assistance programs that help everyday Washingtonians make ends meet, and civil rights measures that ensure progress on racial justice.
Creating the Evergreen Basic Income Fund – HB 1045
support
What It Does
This bill creates a 2-year pilot Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program for Washingtonians earning less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to allow participants greater dignity and choice in caring for themselves and their families.Bill Status
This bill was passed out of the House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning on 1/24Creating the Washington Future Fund trust fund program – HB 1094
support
What It Does
This bill would create a trust fund for children in low-income families to have access to financial support when they turn 18.Bill Status
The Washington Futures Fund has passed out of both the House and Senate Human Services Committees!Expanding Access to the Working Families Tax Credit – HB 1075, SB 5249
support
What It Does
This bill would expand access to the Working Families Tax Credit to low-income young people and seniors.Bill Status
SB 5249 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on January 19 at 4:00 PM HB 1075 passed out of the House Finance committee with an amendment to make the bill subject to appropriations. This means that there is a possibility that the bill could pass without the expansion being funded.Authorizing the Use of Vascular Neck Restraints – SB 5042
oppose
What It Does
This bill would authorize police to use chokeholds.Bill Status
This bill was referred to the Senate Law & Justice Committee on January 9.Dental Care
#We all deserve a healthy smile, no matter our race, where we live, or what insurance we can afford. Yet, in Washington, dental providers are concentrated in well-insured, majority white communities, leaving residents of color and low-income, rural communities without adequate care. Adding dental therapists to the dental care team has shown to improve access to routine, preventative care, and create a pathway to quality employment in healthcare for members of communities with restricted access. Poverty Action supports boosting access to affordable and comprehensive dental care through the expansion of dental therapy statewide.
Establishing and authorizing the profession of dental therapy. – HB 1678
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