We’re already in week 3 of Washington 2024 legislative session – but it feels like week 8! It’s been a sprint and a serious game of “whack-a-mole legislation.” You guys are doing awesome in taking action and making your voices heard in Olympia. THANK YOU and KEEP GOING! Do not let up.
Things start to get “interesting” now as bills get passed out of one chamber and move to another. Be watching for status updates on bills throughout the week as they get voted on and move to the other chamber.
Please consider contributing to Conservative Ladies by making a donation or upgrading to a paid subscription/membership to support our work to defend and advance conservative policy in Washington and beyond. Thank you!
Below are just 10 of the bills with public hearings next week that we feel are the most consequential and need citizen attention and input. The following list are the ones within our scope of work (1A, 2A, parental rights, education and right to life) that we feel are the biggest priority in week 2. with ways you can take action! Click each “sign in” button – they’ll take about 30 seconds each and you’ll be done with all 10 bills in less than 5 minutes. If you’d like more action choices, simply click on the bill number.
SB 5209: Requiring Universal Civic Voting
OPPOSE
SB 5209 would establish “universal civic duty voting.” This bill would require citizens to vote, by law. This would create an “opt OUT” system, rather than opt in. You would have to submit a waiver in order to get out of your “legal” obligation to cast a ballot. Every person registered would be required by law to cast a ballot, even if the ballot is left blank.
Must take action by January 23 at 12:30PM
SB 6269: Pilot program for alternative voter verification
OPPOSE
SB 6269 would create a pilot program for counties around the state to employ to try alternative methods of voter verification other than the usual signature verification process as they find it is not equitable and harms marginalized groups. It is another way to game the system.
Must take action by January 23 at 12:30PM
HB 2398: Requiring parent representation on instructional materials committees.
SUPPORT
HB 2398 would require school districts to have parent representation on instructional materials review committees. These committees already exist and usually consist of staff, teachers, and community members, sometimes parents. HB 2398 would require that parents have a “seat at the table.”
Must take action by January 23 at 3PM
HB 2016: Allowing certain minors to contract for housing and utilities.
OPPOSE
HB 2016 – the legislature intends to prevent unnecessary youth homelessness by allowing unaccompanied minors who are at least 16 years old and living apart from their parents or guardians to sign rental agreements without their consent or liability
Must take action by January 24th at 7AM
HB 2239: Supporting student well-being through instruction in social-emotional skills.
OPPOSE
HB 2239 is in response to the youth mental health crisis and provides more funding for “culturally responsive” social emotional learning (SEL) programs and funding in public schools. More indoctrination, more money, no relief for struggling kids.
Must take action by January 25th at 7AM
SB 6216: Establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.
OPPOSE
SB 6216 is part of the expansion of School Based Health Centers and would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health through the education system and would be regulated and overseen by WA OSPI.
Must take action by January 24th at 9:30AM
SB 6236: Filing a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction.
OPPOSE
SB 6236 would require parents who intend to provide home-based instruction to their children to file a signed declaration of intent in the school year when the child turns six and seven years of age
Must take action by January 24th at 9:30AM
HB 2250: The Ranked Choice Voting Act
OPPOSE
SB 2250 would implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in Washington. Voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes in the first round of voting, the last-place finisher is eliminated, and his votes are reallocated to the voter’s second-choice candidate. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority of votes.
Must take action by January 24th at 12:30PM
SB 6208 & HB 2331: Modifying requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials.
OPPOSE
SB 6208 and HB 2331 are companion bills (same bill – separate chambers). The bill prohibits school district boards of directors from refusing to approve, or prohibiting the use of, any such materials, unless the content violates the provisions of chapter 28A.642 or 28A.640 RCW, which prohibit discrimination and bias against protected classes. Lawmakers claim this is an effort to “protect students” from efforts to censor or ban books in public schools.
Must take action by January 23 at 3Pm for HB 2331 and January 24th at 9:30AM for SB 6208
Please consider contributing to Conservative Ladies by making a donation or upgrading to a paid subscription/membership to support our work to defend and advance conservative policy in Washington and beyond. Thank you!
