2024 Legislative Agenda
In 2024, EOI is focused on passing legislation that invests more of the tremendous wealth generated by our economy in innovative programs for the public good, counteracting systemic racial inequities, and boosting support for workers and families.
We must take bold action now to create thriving communities throughout Washington. People across our state are struggling. The state’s regressive tax code hits low and middle-income households far harder than the wealthy, while CEO compensation soars above workers’ wages. Access to affordable childcare, paid leave, and healthcare can lead to a better quality of life for all – but for too many people in our state, those essentials are out of reach.
EOI will focus on legislation requiring multimillion-dollar corporations and individuals to start paying what they owe so that we can fund and expand these vital programs, boost economic stability and promote a better quality of life for every Washingtonian.
These are our top priorities for Washington’s 2024 Legislative Session:
Affordable and Accessible Health Care
Stable and Dignified Work for All People
Affordable and Accessible Health Care
Everyone deserves quality, affordable, and accessible health care. But right now, our health care system is dominated by big industry players like hospital chains and drug companies that prioritize profit over community need. Addressing our state’s health care affordability crisis will require bold leadership from our state legislature to improve oversight, address industry-wide monopolies, and hold bad actors accountable.
Many of EOI’s health policy priorities have been developed in partnership with Fair Health Prices Washington, a group of consumer and patient advocates, workers, and businesses working together to drive down health care prices with data-driven policy solutions.
Learn more about the health care policies EOI is advancing this legislative session below:
Prioritizing:
Strengthening the Health Care Cost Transparency Board (HB 1508): This bill gives our existing Board more authority to collect key affordability and hospital financial data to better understand health care spending – and the ability to bring high-priced outliers into compliance. This bill gives our existing Board more authority to collect key affordability and hospital financial data to better understand health care spending – and the ability to bring high-priced outliers into compliance.
Anti-competitive provider contracting practices: EOI and our coalition partners are working on a bill to help correct the negative impacts of health care consolidation by stopping hospitals from using anti-competitive contracting practices.
Keep Our Care Act (SB 5241): KOCA will help bring down health care costs and protect access to health care by allowing the Attorney General to review new potential consolidations and block those that would diminish access to affordable, quality care.
Supporting:
Health Equity for Immigrants: Immigrants in our state are 11 times more likely to lack health insurance than U.S. citizens. Building on the success of prior years, which created a state-funded Medicaid-equivalent program, as well as an Exchange coverage program with subsidies for lower-income immigrants, the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign now demands a strong budget allocation to fund and implement these programs.
Read our latest health policy research, Controlling Health Care Costs in Washington.
Updates:
Strengthening the Health Care Cost Transparency Board (HB 1508): This bill passed the House 94-3 and the Senate 45-2, both with strong bipartisan support. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature!
While slightly pared down from its original form, the version of the bill entering the Senate has strong provisions to keep patients at the center of our health care system. The bill strengthens our state’s Health Care Cost Transparency Board by enabling it to: track consumer affordability challenges; add patient, labor, and business representation to the advisory committee; evaluate how industry profits contribute to health care spending; and provide an annual public hearing on cost trends. The final budget included $1.3 million from the general fund to implement the bill and support the work of the HCCTB, including funds to study best practices on running cost growth programs and how to encourage compliance with growth benchmarks. PASSED!
Anti-competitive provider contracting practices (HB 2066): This bill received a strong hearing in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee but didn’t get voted out before the cutoff. The hearing highlighted the negative impact on patients when hospitals use anti-competitive tactics to negotiate unreasonably high payment rates. These high rates are especially problematic because they don’t result in higher quality care or better access for patients. The bill would have prohibited hospitals from using these tactics to raise their rates. DID NOT ADVANCE
Keep Our Care Act (SB 5241): After hours of floor debate on the bill and 14 amendments (most of them from Republicans), KOCA passed the Senate 28 to 21 on 2/8/24! This bill gives the Attorney General oversight over health entity mergers and consolidations that would result in reduced access to care or higher prices for patients. The bill is now scheduled for a hearing in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee on Wednesday 2/14. DID NOT ADVANCE
Additional health care budget wins:
- Health Equity for Immigrants (budget ask): Last year, the legislature funded the launch of our state’s new Apple Health Expansion program to provide Medicaid-like health coverage for Washington residents with incomes at or under 138% of the federal poverty line, regardless of immigration status. The final budget includes $28 million to expand health coverage for Washington residents with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status, beginning July 1, 2024.
- Health Provider Contracting Study ($200k total): Additional funding was added for an existing study being conducted by OIC to analyze a range of policy approaches to improve health care affordability, focusing on other states that have adopted policies. The final report is due August 1, 2024.
- Health Nonprofit Tax Preferences ($350k GFS): New funding directs the OFM to study costs and missed revenue for the state related to non-profit health care providers and insurers. The study will quantify the value of state and federal tax preferences and other reimbursement streams available to non-profit entities. The report is due by October 1, 2024.
Stable and Dignified Work for All People
Everyone deserves job security, living wages, and time to care for themselves and their loved ones. We have been successful in creating strong public policies that promote fair work practices like Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), paid sick days, and equal pay, but we could go further to increase equitable access to these programs and policies. Addressing inequity in these programs requires the legislature to make improvements to current policies that provide protection for workers.
Learn more about the healthy workplace policies we are advancing this session:
Prioritizing:
Paid Family and Medical Leave improvements (HB 2102/SB 6177): Changes to existing law would require a maximum timeframe for medical providers to certify PFML requests promptly. Without a medical certification, workers who need extended leave cannot apply for PFML. Sometimes, providers take too long to sign the medical certification, extending the time when a patient can begin to receive their benefits.
Expanding family definition in Paid Sick and Safe Days (SB 5793): Changes to existing law would expand how family is defined in Washington's Sick and Safe Days law (PSSD) to be more equitable and align with Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) policy. In 2021, the state legislature included chosen family in the PFML definition, recognizing that not all families were related by blood or through a legal connection. PSSD needs to be updated to make the same recognition so that all families can participate in caring for their loved ones.
Amending the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (HB 1905): This bill strengthens the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, expanding equal pay and wage discrimination protections to all protected classes.
Supporting:
Child Care and Early Learning DCYF (budget strategy): Request for $22,442,000 from the general fund in 2024 to increase child care provider participation in the Working Connections Child Care program which would support increased BIPOC and low income family eligibility in 2025.
Updates:
Paid Family and Medical Leave improvements (HB 2102/SB 6177): HB 2102 was voted out of the House of Representatives on February 8 and was recommended to the Senate. The bill was amended in committee with language that clarifies that medical providers are not responsible for signing a medical certification for which they have little or no knowledge. An additional amendment changed the requirement to sign a medical certification from 5 to 7 calendar days. The bill sat in the Senate rules Committee until the the final Oppose House cut off on March 1. HB 2102 was fianally passed unanimously out of the Senate on March 1. This bill directs medical providers to sign the medical certification within five calendar days and prohibits charging a patient for getting the form signed. The medical certification form is required to apply for PFML. This law will help workers receive their benefits in a timely manner. PASSED!
Making PSSD more equitable by expanding family definition (SB 5793): SB 5793 passed 76-19 and now awaits the governor’s signature. This bill expands the definition of family to include chosen family in recognition that families are structured differently. During committee hearings, the bill received great testimony, including personal stories to highlight why chosen family is an important part of a family’s fabric. This original bill also included language that would have allowed workers to use PSSD when businesses and schools close due to extreme weather. An amendment removed this language. A small fiscal note of $190,000 is attached for outreach and materials. PASSED!
Amending the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (HB 1905): HB 1905 passed out of the Senate with 36-13. HB 1905 adds certain protected classes to the Equal Pay Opportunity Act. In addition to having the ability to take action due to gender-based discrimination, this bill now allows for a person to file a complaint to bring an action asserting discrimination based on a protected class: employee’s age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. This bill protects workers who fall under a crosssection of the mentioned protected classes such as a woman of color or a trans individual. The Washington Equal Pay Opportunity Act has been amended four times since it was enacted in 1943. PASSED!
Economic Stability Through Meaningful Investment
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color have been systematically excluded from building economic stability in many ways from land theft of Indigenous people, to a GI Bill that was created to accommodate Jim Crow laws, to today’s immigrants who pay taxes but are prevented from accessing financial safety net programs. BIPOC communities owe disproportionate amounts of debt, such as medical and student loan debt and have less access to cash when they need it.
Learn more about the bill we are advancing to improve economic opportunity for Washingtonians:
Prioritizing:
Washington Future Fund (HB 1094/SB 5125): Also known as Baby Bonds, this legislation would provide every child on medicaid (Apple Health) a $4,000 bond by their first birthday that they can access between the ages of 18-35 to use for college, buying a home, or opening a business. The racial wealth gap in Washington continues to widen. Today Black families on average make $33,000 less than white families. Income gaps and other institutionalized racist policies and practices prevent Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color from building generational wealth. The Washington Future Fund would shrink this racial wealth gap and provide longer term economic stability to low income Washingtonians.
Resolution 4204/8205 Constitutional Amendment for investment purposes: This resolution would allow the State Treasurer to invest Washington Future Funds in higher-yielding securities, enabling those funds to grow larger and ensure a more meaningful payout when the funds mature for each individual. This is an important tool to ensure that Washington Future Funds are useful in the decades to come, understanding how education, housing and other costs continue to rise.
Washington Saves (HB 2244/SB 6069): A state-run ''Automatic IRA'' can help some workers and families improve their future financial security – and recent federal legislation may make federal matching contributions available to low-income savings starting in 2027. Washington Saves is a strong step toward making retirement saving convenient, cost-effective, and portable for workers. If it covers all workers – and especially if federal matching funds come through – Washington Saves would be a small but meaningful and measurable step toward improving retirement security for everyone in Washington.
Supporting:
Working Families Tax Credit expansions (HB 1075/SB 5249): This bill will expand eligibility for people without qualifying children, allowing everyone 18 and older who meets the income eligibility to apply. It would expand WFTC access to 210,000 more Washington households, reaching more young adults and seniors, and increasing the number of eligible households by nearly 50 percent.
Cost Free College (College Grant expansion) and other Communities for our Colleges priorities (SB 5712): Introduced last year, this bill expands the existing Washington College Grant by increasing the maximum grant amount for middle income families, makes permanent the Bridge Grant, a stipend for those receiving the maximum college grant, and also establishes the Washington College Promise Program, which is essentially cost-free Community Technical College.
Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot (SHB1045/SB 6196): This bill would offer monthly unrestricted cash payments to households who qualify based on income. Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) offers more freedom, dignity, and choice in how people care for themselves and their families. Although we have several vital public assistance programs in Washington, they fall dramatically short in helping low income households make ends meet. GBI would close that gap and give struggling families what they need to live safe and healthy lives.
Updates:
Washington Future Fund (HB 1094/SB 5125): The Washington Future Fund Coalition worked hard to uplift this legislation pushing for a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee to ensure the importance of the fund is elevated. The Washington Future Fund bill would provide a $4,000 government investment to children born under or enrolled in Apple Health when they turn one. This investment can be used upon turning 18-35 to attend post-secondary school, buy a home, or open a business. This legislation aims to work as a “start-up” capital and advance the economic security of people born into a cycle of poverty. Also known as the “Baby Bonds Bill,” the Washington Future Fund died in both fiscal committees. DID NOT ADVANCE
Resolution 4204/8205 Constitutional Amendment for investment purposes: This bill did not move out of the House Rules Committee and does not have a path forward this session. DID NOT ADVANCE
Washington Saves (HB 2244/SB 6069): For some workers (and often for many small employers), the cost and complexity of retirement plans present a barrier to participating in (or offering) a workplace-based retirement plan. Washington Saves aims to address that by creating a state-administered IRA and automatically enrolling people without a comparable employer-provided retirement plan. Participants can opt-out at any time, the IRAs are portable from job-to-job, and a state oversight board will help ensure participants have low-cost options and consumer protections. The program is slated to roll out in 2027 – the same year federal matching contributions are scheduled to become available to low-income savers. While lawmakers must do more to lower the cost of basic needs – which too often crowd out people’s ability to save for the future – Washington Saves represents a small but measurable step toward improving retirement security for Washington residents. PASSED!
Working Families Tax Credit expansions (HB 1075/SB 5249): This bill had a hearing in the House but was not voted out of committee. We are disappointed that this legislation will not be moving forward this session, meaning that seniors and young adults without kids will continue to be excluded from receiving this critical cash boost. We are looking forward to the 2025 session, when we will continue to call on lawmakers to fund the needs of our communities and expand the Working Families Tax Credit.
This legislation would expand eligibility for people without qualifying children, allowing everyone 18 and older who meets the income eligibility to apply. It would expand WFTC access to 210,000 more Washington households, reaching more young adults and seniors, and increasing the number of eligible households by nearly 50 percent. DID NOT ADVANCE
Cost Free College (SB 5712): SB 5712 is not moving this session. Several other bills that would expand the Washington College Grant eligibility (SB 5999) or provide a cost free year of Community and Technical College (HB 2374, HB 2309) were heard, with great support from students, faculty and higher education advocates but did not make it past the cutoff. DID NOT ADVANCE
Other Communities for our Colleges priorities: SB 5904 which expands the length of the Washington College grant and College Bound scholarship to 6 years has passed the legislature. HB 1889, a priority of the Communities for our Colleges coalition, provides pathways to professional licensure for immigrants and undocumented people; this bill has also passed the legislature. PASSED!
Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot (SHB1045/SB 6196): These bills were heard in the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Committee on Human Services, but neither voted out of committee and will not be moving forward this session. However, forward progress was made with the introduction and hearing of the Senate bill and momentum built between lawmakers and the GBI Coalition committed to real solutions for the 1.7 million people in our state who can’t afford to cover basic needs like rent, food, and healthcare. This bill would offer monthly unrestricted cash payments to households who qualify based on income. Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) offers more freedom, dignity, and choice in how people care for themselves and their families. Although we have several vital public assistance programs in Washington, they fall dramatically short in helping low income households make ends meet. GBI would close that gap and give struggling families what they need to live safe and healthy lives. DID NOT ADVANCE
Fair Taxes that Provide Ample Funding
Everyone should be taxed fairly according to their means, but Washington has the most regressive tax code in the nation [according to a newly released analysis from ITEP, we are now, in fact, in 49th place, rather than last place, due to the passage and implementation of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Capital gains tax], overtaxing working people while subsidizing the very wealthy and large, profitable corporations. Not just unfair, the tax system results in insufficient funding for community needs and vital programs and services. Addressing this will take reforming our tax code by making existing taxes more progressive and by taxing extreme wealth and profitable corporations.
Learn more about the progressive revenue policies we are advancing this session:
Prioritizing:
Wealth Tax on Billionaires (HB 1473/SB 5486): The Washington State Wealth Tax closes a glaring loophole in our tax system and in doing so raises billions of dollars in public funds every year. The tax works as a 1% tax on financial wealth, assets like stocks and bonds traded on Wall Street, in which the first $250 million in value is exempted from taxation.
Supporting:
Progressive Real Estate Excise Tax (HB 1670): The Real Estate Excise Tax is a tax paid when a house or other real estate is sold and the rate is based on the selling price: the more expensive the property, the higher the rate. Legislators are seeking to make it more progressive and bring in additional revenue for different housing programs.
1% Property Tax Growth Limitation (SB 5770): This bill seeks to overturn part of law put in place by a Tim Eyman initiative in the early 2000s.
A tax on extreme wealth is the missing link in Washington’s tax code. Read our latest report, Share the Wealth, Washington, to learn more about the billionaire wealth tax.
Updates:
Wealth Tax on Billionaires (HB 1473/SB 5486): The wealth tax legislation, which was heard in both the House and Senate in the 2023 session, has not been moved forward this legislative session. However, the Department of Revenue has initiated a study on the policy and posted its first status update on the study, slated to be completed in the fall of this year. Read that update, here. DID NOT ADVANCE
Progressive Real Estate Excise Tax (HB 2276/ SB 6191): New legislation introduced this session by Rep. April Berg was heard on January 18th with a large turnout from the affordable housing and disability justice community supporting the bill. Its companion bill was heard on January 25th in the Senate. This bill adjusts the tiers of the real-estate excise tax (REET) to raise revenue for affordable housing, including establishing (for the first time) a permanent funding source for the Housing Trust Fund. The adjustments to the tax will provide a tax cut for most home-sellers and a small tax increase for those selling homes worth more than $3 million. This bill did not move forward this session due to pushback from the real estate lobby. Read our blog post about the legislation, here. DID NOT ADVANCE
1% Property Tax Growth Limitation: (SB 5770): A substitute bill was heard early in session, but will not move forward this session. The bill would have adjusted the maximum amount that local property tax levies may increase year over year, changing the growth limit from 1% to the lesser of 3% or inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. DID NOT ADVANCE