Immigrants, people of color and LGBTQ+ rights
- Enacted “Keep Washington Working” to ensure agencies limit information shared with federal immigration enforcement (2019 SB 5497).
- Strengthened protections against hate crimes (2019 HB 1732 and SB 5689; 2020 HB 1687; 2024 SB 5427 and SB 5917; 2025 SB 5101).
- Prohibited bans of books due to the contributions of individuals from protected classes (2024 HB 2331).
- Allowed for the use of civil legal aid funds to assist people present in Washington without legal status (2021 HB 1072).
- Expanded civil service eligibility for noncitizens (2018 SB 6145; 2024 SB 6157 and HB 1530).
- Expanded eligibility for the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status program to protect vulnerable youth facing abuse from deportation (2017 HB 1988).
- Banned discrimination by most health providers based on a person’s gender identity or expression (2019 SB 5602).
- Created a new low-interest loan program for undocumented students allowing the state to match private donations (2020 SB 6561).
- Expanded financial aid for DREAMers (2018 HB 1488 and SB 5074).
- Created an LGBTQ veteran’s coordinator to help LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans receive the honor and support they earned but may not be receiving due to the archaic legacy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2020 SB 5900).
- Created sentence review to prevent deportation (2025 HB 1131).
- Prevented workplace coercion based on immigration status (2025 SB 5104).
Environment
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions among large polluters with passage of the “Climate Commitment Act” (2021 SB 5126).
- Reduced the carbon intensity of transportation fuels with passage of the “Clean Fuel Standard” (2021 HB 1091; 2025 HB 1409).
- Set energy performance standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings (Clean Buildings Act and Reducing Buildings Emissions) (2019 HB 1257; 2022 SB 5722; 2025 HB 1543).
- Supported investments in local renewable energy projects by creating new pathways to meet clean energy goals (2025 SB 5445).
Kids and education
- Extended access to Working Connections Child Care regardless of immigration status (2023 SB 5225).
- Prohibited school bans of books written by individuals from protected classes (2024 HB 2331).
- Required school districts to have a gender-inclusive schools policy that protects students from discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression (2019 SB 5689).
- Required all school directors and educational staff have training in cultural competency, diversity, equity and inclusion (2021 SB 5044).
- Ensured instructional materials used in schools are inclusive and include the histories, contributions and perspectives of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (2024 SB 5462).
- Expanded financial aid opportunities for DREAMers (2018 HB 1488 and SB 5074).
- Supported the rights of students, teachers, and their families to create a safe, healthy learning environment for all students (2025 HB 1296).
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you missed my newsletters on public education, housing, community projects, transportation, environmental protections, LGBTQ rights, public safety, worker protections, consumer protections, progressive revenue, or health care, they are available on my website.
This will be the final newsletter reporting on the 2025 session. I’ll be back late in the year as we prepare for 2026. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions at Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov.
Best wishes,
Jamie
Pages: 1 2