Legislative Priorities

Promoting equitable access to opportunities and resources across Washington

Our legislative and rulemaking priorities, policy recommendations, and consultation with state agencies focuses on co-creating a seamless, integrated, world-class, equitable and just public service delivery system where a team of actively engaged public servants bring their whole self a to work to provide a superior customer experience to Washingtonians seeking assistance. We will partner with others to decrease inequities in employment and contracting, improve access to state services, and surpass accessibility (language, physical, technological/internet) requirements across state government.

Megan Matthews, Director

Equity in Session: Season 1 Episode 2

January 29, 2024  • 
News & Updates

In this second episode, Director of Office of Equity’s Megan Matthews and Office of Equity's Legislative Aide Patrick Stickney, talk about legislative priorities and bills to watch for the week of January 16th through the 19th. We also get to see a clip of Megan testifying during HB 2230's hearing.

Read More   about Equity in Session: Season 1 Episode 2
Megan Matthews, Director

Equity in Session Introduction: Season 1 Episode 1

January 22, 2024  • 
News & Updates

Equity in Session is the Office of Equity’s new video series on weekly legislative updates. In this kickoff episode, Director of Office of Equity’s Megan Matthews, staff with the Office of Equity’s Omar Santana-Gomez and Patrick Stickney, talk about legislative priorities and bills to watch for the week of January 8th through the 12th. 

Read More   about Equity in Session Introduction: Season 1 Episode 1

Governor's Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE)

  • HB 1933 Supporting the servicing and right to repair of certain products with digital electronics in a secure and reliable manner.
  • HB 1541/SB 5616 Establishing the nothing about us without us act.
  • HB 1905/SB 5894 Including protected classes in the Washington equal pay and opportunities act.
  • HB 2080 Establishing day habilitation services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Learn More!

Commission on Hispanic Affairs

  • HB 1095/SB 5109 Creating a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance.
  • HB 1944 Establishing a running start for the trades grant program.
  • HB 1895/SB 5839 Modifying the working families' tax credit by clarifying the refundable nature of the credit, the application requirements, and the eligibility verification process.

2024 CHA Priorities

Women's Commission

  • HB 2098 Authorizing the women's commission to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.
  • HJR 4201/SJR 8202 Amending the Constitution to address reproductive freedom.
  • HB 1089/SB 5114 Supporting adults with lived experience of sex trafficking.
  • HB 1177/SB 5137 Creating a missing and murdered indigenous women and people cold case investigations unit.
  • HB 1934/SB 5838 Establishing an artificial intelligence task force.

2024 Women's Commission Priorities

Coming Soon