Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can “take action” on these most pressing bills by following the links below. Please sign in as individuals and not as representing the League of Women Voters. Thank you for taking action!

Priority Actions

Provide Rent Stabilization

The formal title of this bill is “Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.” This bill, SB 5222, addresses one of the recent causes of homelessness, which is unpredictable, very large rent increases that are unaffordable and/or established with insufficient time for tenants to plan financially. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing on Wednesday, January 22, at 1:30 pm.

⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5222 here by 12:30 pm on Wednesday, January 22.

Address Problems With Health Care Systems and Hospital Mergers

SB 5122, the "Enacting the uniform antitrust premerger notification act." This bill would address some of the existing problems that occur with health care system and hospital mergers by requiring that the Attorney General receive pre-merger notices and information. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Monday, January 20, at 10:30 am.

⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5122 here by 9:30 am on Monday, January 20. 

Establish Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Improve Recycling Outcomes
The Recycling Reform Act (HB 1150 Improving Washington's Solid Waste Management Outcomes) would modernize our recycling system in Washington. It would create a producer responsibility program in which manufacturers and brands come together to reduce unnecessary packaging and paper, fund statewide recycling services, and ensure that materials are actually recycled. Specific incentives are built in to reduce plastic packaging. 

⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 1150 here by 3:00 pm on Tuesday, January 21.

Reduce Financial Barriers to Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Care

Prohibiting cost sharing for pre-natal and post-natal care. This bill, SB 5075, would remove out-of-pocket expenses for prenatal and postnatal care services covered by qualifying health plans. By reducing financial barriers, the bill may encourage more expectant mothers to seek early and consistent prenatal care. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care committee on Tuesday, January 21 at 10:30 am.

⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5075 here by 9:30 am on Tuesday, January 21.

Monday is the beginning of the second week of the 2025 legislative session. Week one included both committee briefings and public hearings and this coming week will be similar. The briefings are used to both educate legislators who are new to the issue and/or to the legislature itself and to set the stage for later proposed legislation. The legislation being heard already is often that which has been before the lawmakers in the last session or two and has been reintroduced for this biennium. 

Committees will have increasingly active agendas over the next few weeks, as the first cutoff date—the policy committee cutoff in the house of origin on February 21—approaches. That is the last day bills can be passed out of the policy committee in the house of origin, except for the bills in the House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees, which have another week to pass out of committee.

The Action Items above are ones that we hope every reader will use. For additional action items, which help pass bills the League supports on specific issues, click on the "see all action alerts" button above, or see the links by issue below and take action on the ones you are most interested in. Thank you for your support!

LWVWA Legislative Issues From the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session

Click on an issue overview to learn more about the bills the League is following and "This Week's Updates" to read the issue chair's report on this past week. When a "⚠️" appears next to an overview, it indicates there are actions to take for this week. Click on the "⚠️" to be taken to the actions for that issue.

*Please note that additional issues will be available in next week's issue.

Democracy

Local News and Democracy | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

Redistricting | Issue overview

Environment

Climate Crisis and Energy | Issue overview |Weekly Update

Forests| Issue overview |Weekly Update

Waste Diversion | Issue overview ⚠️

Social and Economic Policy

Behavioral Health | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

K-12 and Early Care and Education | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

Children's Issues | Issue overview |Weekly Update

Criminal Justice | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 801, Seattle, WA 98101
206-622-8961 | 1-800-419-2596 | www.lwvwa.org

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 Third Ave, Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please (Unsubscribing is not supported in previews).  If you would like to update your contact information and subscription preferences, please click here.