Alex Ramel: Legislature passes record number of bills — 80% with bipartisan support

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF ALEX RAMEL |||

[Sunday] marks the last day of session! Over the last 104 days, the legislature has passed a near record number of bills, with nearly 80% of them passing with broad bipartisan support. We’ve tackled some of the largest issues facing our state from housing affordability, ferry reliability, and turning the tide on climate change. While this work will be a great start to uplifting our communities and improving resiliency, this interim presents a great opportunity to develop bigger and bolder solutions for next year.

In this issue, I’d like to highlight some of the great bills we have passed this year. Then, in a few weeks, I’ll be back to share a more comprehensive look at the legislature’s budget priorities and highlights.

Rep. Ramel standing over a sitting Rep. Ramos at his desk on the House floor. Ramel stands to his right. Both are deeply focused on the topic at hand.

Addressing Housing Affordability and Supply

The housing affordability and security crisis is affecting every city and county in Washington. Residents in eastern and western Washington alike face a housing shortage, sky-rocketing rents, and unstable living conditions. Helping Washingtonians have a place to call home, put down roots, and build equity is critical to removing barriers, creating economic vibrancy, and helping our communities prosper. We still have a lot more to do, but I am proud to have voted in favor of all the following bills:

House Bill 1337, sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson remove barriers to construction and ownership of accessory dwelling units. This bill will create more opportunities for young adults that have been priced out of the market and allow our elders to age in place. 

House Bill 1110, sponsored by Rep. Jessica Bateman, addresses missing middle housing. This legislation will legalize modest homes like duplexes and townhomes in neighborhoods where services like transit already exist. Everyone deserves a place to call home, but right now there are not enough homes achieve these goals.

House Bill 1074 will help tenants who continue to tell us they are being denied deposit refunds due to unsubstantiated damage claims. This bill doesn’t deny landlords the ability to recoup their expenses for real damages, it simply offers one step toward more fair treatment of renters. 

Addressing Washington’s housing crisis requires focusing on supply, support, and stability in the market.

Protecting Vulnerable Youth & Reproductive Health Care

Senate Bill 5599, sponsored by Senator Liias, was the last bill passed out of the House before a major legislative cutoff on April 12th. The legislation will protect housing for youth seeking gender affirming and reproductive health care. There are as many as 30,000 unsheltered young people across Washington state, with as many as 40% of these vulnerable kids being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Life on the streets is extremely dangerous for anyone, but especially terrifying for trans youth. Too often, serious physical and mental pain and traumatic family dynamics push youth away from home.

Under current law, if a child runs away from home and goes to a licensed youth shelter, that shelter is required to notify the parents. But returning a young person to an unsupportive or even violent environment is not the answer. About 10% of trans people report being physically assaulted by a family member after coming out. Senate Bill 5599 will allow certified shelters to contact the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in lieu of parents. This is about creating a safe opportunity for young people to access the health care services they need.

House Bill 1155, introduced by Rep. Vandana Slatter, increases privacy protections for healthcare data not protected by federal law. This first in the nation bill, known as the My Health, My Data Act, protects consumers from the collection, sharing, and sale of private consumer health data. My Health, My Data protects the independence and dignity of individuals when they make healthcare decisions, so they can be protected from the exploitation of data brokers and tech companies profiting off this information.

Ending Gun Violence

After the shooting in Uvalde, I stood on the steps in front of the Bellingham City Hall and told hundreds of folks who had gathered it was time to pass an assault weapon ban in Washington State. House Bill 1240 is that bill. Rep. Strom Peterson has been working on this for the last 7 years, and I’ve been a cosponsor since joining the House in 2020. I am so pleased to tell you that that this bill has passed and will immediately help prevent the carnage of mass shootings.

House Bill 1143, a common-sense gun reform bill, will implement a 10-day waiting period for purchase of firearms, provide firearm training and education, and expand firearms background checks. The waiting periods in this bill will help prevent individuals from committing suicide, murdering others, and ultimately save lives.

Our nation has seen an average of 1.5 mass shootings each day for the last four years. When do we say enough is enough? The passage of HB 1240 and HB 1143 have been one of the highlights of my time in the legislature. I know we can do more to protect our children, our families, and each other from the threat of gun violence in our communities and look forward to expanding on this work next year.

Urban Growth & Climate Change

It’s time to turn the tide on climate change.

Housing and climate changes are inexplicably linked. Where we build and how we build dictates how much buildings and transportation contribute to climate change. Two bills I’m proud to have supported will help address this intersection of issues:

House Bill 1181 is a bill from Rep. Duerr that requires climate change to be incorporated into the Growth Management Act planning. It will add climate change and resiliency to our state’s land use planning to better prepare us for climate change and natural disasters.

The National Weather Service shows the number of days each year where temperatures reached at least 90 degrees in Yakima increased from an average of about 30 in the 1980’s, to more than 50 in the last decade. In the same period, the number of days over 95 degrees more than doubled. The Washington Department of Health reported nearly 160 deaths over the course of about a month during the 2021 heatwave, and emergency room visits were 69 times higher than in previous years. 

As climate change worsens, utility shutoffs during periods of extreme heat will result in increased hospitalizations and fatalities. Rep Mena introduced House Bill 1329 to keep people safe from utility shutoffs during these extreme weather events. Our state’s lowest income residents, the elderly, and those with health conditions are in desperate need of this protection. It was an honor to support both of my colleagues in passing these pieces of legislation.

Share your thoughts with me

In the next eight months, I look forward to traveling around our communities, visiting neighborhoods, and hearing directly from you. As we move forward, I encourage you to stay involved, stay informed, and continue advocating for the issues that matter to you. Never hesitate to email our office with ideas and suggestions.