Next week marks a key deadline of this legislative session. All bills must pass a floor vote in their originating house by March 8. For bills making it past March 8, the process will then begin again in the opposite house. Today’s action alerts are driven by this bill cutoff deadline. Additionally, there is an opportunity to sign in “con” against the assisted suicide bill. Thank you for your advocacy!
Sign in “con” for Senate Bill 5179 (SB 5179), the expansion of assisted suicide. Please sign in prior to Monday, March 6 at 7 am. SB 5179 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Health Care and Wellness one hour later. When signing in you may leave the “organization” box blank or write in “parishioner of --- Church.”
Additionally, if you haven’t done so already, please click here to send a message to your legislators and urge them to oppose the expansion of assisted suicide,Senate Bill 5179 (SB 5179). This bill is opposed by disabilities advocates, such as Disabilities Rights Washington, and the American Medical Association. More details about this bill may be found on our Action Alert page. In February, Bishop Joseph Tyson of the Diocese of Yakima testified against SB 5179 in committee hearing. In accordance with the bishops' legislative priority to respect life from conception to natural death, the WSCC opposes SB 5179.
As the March 8 deadline approaches for all bills to pass out of their originating house, please contact your state senator and ask your senator to pass the following bills: SB 5047, SB 5180, SB 5225, and SB 5366. Identify your state senator and obtain contact information here. Details of these bills are below.
On the House side, please contact your representatives and ask them to pass the following bills out of the House: HB 1124, HB 1131, and HB 1181. Identify your representatives and obtain contact information here. Details of these bills may be found below.
Senate Bill 5047 (SB 5047) and House Bill 1048 (HB 1048) would enhance the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA). The WVRA was passed in 2018 to expand access to fair and effective representation for historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. SB 5047 and HB 1048 would improve the WVRA by refining language of who may recover costs incurred conducting research on alleged violations of the WVRA, allowing organizations and coalitions to file WVRA violations, permitting tribes to files WVRA claims, allowing the number of county commissioners to be increased to remedy violations related to tribal status, and establishing that state and local laws be construed in favor of protecting the right to vote. In line with the bishops’ racial justice legislative priority, the WSCC supports SB 5047/HB 1048.
Senate Bill 5180 (SB 5180) would support teachers from other states in pathways to licensure in Washington. SB 5180 would also help eligible military spouses in becoming licensed in our state. SB 5180 could be advantageous for teachers seeking employment in Catholic schools. Additionally, it would aid Catholic schools in hiring qualified teachers. In line with the bishops’ Catholic schools and education legislative priority, the WSCC supports SB 5180.
Senate Bill 5225 (SB 5225) would increase access to the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program. The WCCC provides child care subsidies to families in need. SB 5225 would improve the WCCC by increasing the eligibility of child care workers who have incomes up to 85% of the state median income. Copayments would be waived to the extent allowable, too. In line with the bishops’ legislative priorities of economic justice and supporting children and families, the WSCC supports SB 5225.
Senate Bill 5366 (SB 5366), would help individuals with low incomes by preventing utilities from shutting off their water or electricity due to nonpayment during periods of extreme heat. In line with the bishops’ economic justice legislative priority, the WSCC supports SB 5366.
House Bill 1124, (HB 1124) would protect renters from excessive fees. This bill requires landlords to provide at least 180 days’ notice for rent increases over 5 percent. It also allows tenants to terminate tenancy without penalty for a rent increase over 5 percent. Additionally, late rental payment fees are limited to the lesser of 10 percent of the rental amount or $75 total. In line with the bishops’ affordable housing legislative priority, the WSCC supports HB 1124.
The Washington Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act addresses plastic and packaging waste by creating a set of graduated fees to be paid for by packaging manufacturers. Fees will be based on how reusable, compostable, or recyclable products are. Fees will then be used to fund improvements to infrastructure and provide uniform recycling access across the state. In line with the legislative priority to care for God’s creation, the WSCC supports House Bill 1131 (HB 1131) and its companion bill, Senate Bill 5154 (SB 5154).
The Growth Management Act (GMA) is a series of laws that was passed in 1990 and requires fast-growing cities and counties to develop a comprehensive plan to manage their population growth. House Bill 1181 (HB 1181) and Senate Bill 5203 (SB 5203) updates the GMA by adding a climate change and resiliency goal and requiring some counties and cities to address adverse impacts of climate change on people, property, and ecological systems and identify ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled. In line with the bishops’ legislative priority of caring for God’s creation, the WSCC supports HB 1181 and SB 5203.
Urge your representatives to oppose House Bill 1151 (HB 1151). HB 1151 would mandate health coverage of fertility services. The WSCC specifically opposes the promotion of in vitro fertilization (IVF), which creates human embryos that are not properly cared for. Our Catholic faith teaches us to respect all life and that life begins at conception. However, IVF often results in unused embryos that are frozen indefinitely, destroyed, or abandoned. Life is not properly cared for nor respected. Additionally, IVF can treat children as commodities that are manufactured outside of the construct of the expression of love of a married couple. A more thorough explanation of the complexity of the Church’s opposition to IVF may be found here. In line with the legislative priority to respect life, the WSCC opposes HB 1151.
If you have not done so already, please use this Action Alert to send a message to the governor and your state senator to urge them to oppose Senate Joint Resolution 8202 (SJR 8202), which would create a constitutional right to an abortion. Last year, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, giving states the ability to determine their own laws on abortion. Abortion laws in our state did not change. Current law was determined by an initiative approved by the people, allowing for abortion up to the point of a fetus’s viability. SJR 8202 proposes enshrining abortion in the state constitution. The proposed amendment would expand abortion, allowing babies to be aborted up to the point of their birth.
Bishop Frank Schuster testified against SJR 8202 and his testimony may be viewed here. The initial screen for the clip appears to be for a different bill, but if you press play, the video will be cued for Bishop Schuster’s testimony.
In light of increased pro-abortion legislation this session, the WSCC bishops released a statement, “Supporting Life and Justice for the Common Good in Washington State,” emphasizing the Church’s teaching to respect the dignity of every human person, from conception to natural death.
SJR 8202 passed out of the Senate Committee on Health and Long Term Care, but it is not expected to pass a floor vote if legislators vote along party lines. Unlike other bills, a joint resolution to change the constitution must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote from the full legislature. If SJR 8202 did happen to pass out of the legislature, it would then be on the next ballot for approval by the citizens of the state.
Senate Bill 5280 (SB 5280) would mandate clergy to report child abuse or neglect. In its current, original form, the Senate bill exempts clergy from reporting child abuse or neglect when information is obtained during the sacrament of Reconciliation, as a result of the established clergy-penitent privilege. In its original form, SB 5280 does not attempt to change current practice within the Catholic Church. Clergy are already mandatory reporters when they obtain information outside of the confessional.
SB 5280 has a companion bill,House Bill 1098(HB 1098), that has been altered and is opposed by the WSCC. HB 1098 has been amended and strikes the confessional exemption; it mandates that clergy report child abuse or neglect, even when information is obtained during the sacrament of Reconciliation. This practice would violate canon law. The WSCC opposes HB 1098. While SB 5280 in its current form is not objectionable, the WSCC would oppose any amendment seeking to negatively impact the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Click on this Action Alert from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to urge the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strengthen conscience protections related to health care. Read the Action Alert to learn more.
Click on this Action Alert to urge Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell to keep pro-life protections, protect women, and protect religious freedom when considering a resolution that will soon be up for a vote. See the Action Alert to learn more and send a message to the senators.
Last day to pass bills out of committee from opposite house (exceptions: House fiscal committees and House Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees)
April 4
Last day to pass bills out of all committees in opposite house
April 9
Easter
April 12
Last day to pass bills out of the opposite house
April 23
Last day of the session
WSCC Staff
We invite you to contact us at any time.
Mario Villanueva, Executive Director
mario.villanueva@wacatholics.org
Adrienne Corpuz Joyce, Director of Policy & Communications
adrienne.joyce@wacatholics.org
Tracey Wilson Yackley, Operations Manager
tracey.yackley@wacatholics.org
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