We’re over the half-way point in the 2021 Washington Legislative Session. A number of good bills have been killed, yet one still remains in play. Conversely, a number of dangerous proposals are still under consideration, including several that would dramatically and negatively impact Washington families, free speech rights, religious liberty, and the protection of innocent life.
I want to give you a rundown on those bills, but before I do that, I want to remind you that it’s never too late to reach out and form a relationship with your elected officials. When I was in the Washington House and Senate, I always appreciated when constituents would reach out and connect with me – whether they had opinions on a certain bill or not. Even if your senator or representative does not subscribe to your worldview, they may, at some point, consider your viewpoint on an issue. They may not agree with you, but they still represent your interests.
The 2021 Legislative Session ends on April 25th.
Here are the bills the legislature is still considering that FPIW believes pose a risk to your family, along with instructions on how to help, if you feel so inclined:
HB 1009 – Adds abortion coverage to student healthcare plans. We do not need to subject more people or force people to be a party to the violence and devastation of abortion. Passed the House. A public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee is scheduled for 3/17/21 @ 8:00AM. Contact the Senate Committee and your Senator and tell them to Vote NO.
HB 1141 – Would increase access to the Death with Dignity Act and decrease the waiting period for patients from 15 days to just 72 hours. It also allows for lesser-qualified medical staff to authorize and prescribe the lethal doses and to make determinations of mental competence. Passed the House. A public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee is scheduled for 3/17/21 @ 8:00AM. Contact the Senate Committee and your Senator and tell them to Vote NO.
SB 5140 – This bill would force religious hospitals to perform abortions under the threat of lawsuit. Currently in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee. The public hearing was on 3/11/21. The Committee will vote on 3/17/21. Contact the House Committee and your House Representatives and tell them to Vote NO.
SB 5030 – Creates a comprehensive School Counseling program that allows school counselors to usurp parental rights in many areas. We must keep our own standards and allow for parental involvement and consent. Passed the Senate. Currently in to the House Education Committee which will vote on 3/17/21. Call and email the House Committee and your House Representatives and tell them to Vote NO.
SB 5151 – This bill would force relatives who care for their relative’s children and receive funding for childcare to be registered, licensed, monitored, and trained by the State. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles should not need to be licensed! Passed the Senate. Currently in the House Children, Youth & Families Committee. The public hearing was on 3/11/21. The Committee will vote on 3/17/21. Call and email the House Committee and your House Representatives and tell them to Vote NO.
HB 1225 – This bill would create an office and program within the Department of Health to install school-based health centers in public schools. There have no local control or parental control safeguards. Passed the House. Public hearing was held Monday in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee.
HB 1426 – Specifying minimum continuing education requirements for administrator and teacher certificate renewals that focus on equity-based school and classroom practices. Passed the House. Currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Early Learning and K-12. Currently scheduled for a public hearing on 3/19 @ 8:00. Contact your Senator and the Senate Committee members and ask them to vote NO.
SB 5044 - Concerning professional learning, equity, cultural competency and dismantling institutional racism in the K-12 public schools. It is now in the House Education Committee and is scheduled for a vote on 3/18/21. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote NO.
SB 5194 – This bill would force community and technical colleges to accept students based on race versus aptitude. Currently in the House College & Workforce Development Committee awaiting a hearing. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote No.
SB 5227 – Requiring diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism training and assessments at institutions of higher education. Passed the Senate. Currently in the House College and Workforce Development Committee with a committee vote on 3/17 or 3/18. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote NO.
SB 5228 – This bill calls out institutional racism in our health institutions where there is none! Passed the Senate. It has a committee vote on 3/17 or 3/18. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote NO.
SB 5313 – This bill mandates healthcare insurers to provide coverage for gender mutilation surgeries and gender changing treatment. Passed the Senate. Currently scheduled for a public hearing in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on 3/15/21 @ 1:30 and a Committee vote on 3/17/21. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote No.
SB 5052 – This bill will promote racial segregation within our health care system. Passed the Senate. Currently scheduled for a public hearing in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on 3/15/21 @ 1:30 and a Committee vote on 3/17/21. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote NO.
SB 5229 – This bill may force health care workers to be a part of dangerous transgender therapies and surgeries against their will. The Senate voted to pass this bill on a vote of 35 yeas to 14 nays. Currently scheduled for a public hearing in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on 3/15/21 @ 1:30 and a Committee vote on 3/17/21. Call and email your House members and the House Committee members and ask them to Vote NO.
As you can see, many of the bills up for consideration are based on the radical left’s obsession with Critical Race Theory. FPIW supports true equality of opportunity, however, we believe these proposals fall short. Forcing students & teachers to focus on outside racial appearances rather than inward character will only increase division and hatred. Assuming that every person with a certain color of skin is either inherently racist or inherently oppressed will only lead to resentment between people – not unity.
There is one bill left under consideration that FPIW supports. HB 1074 would allow local public health districts to create suicide review teams which will pull data from various public and emergency responder entities to document what lead to the suicide or overdose death. It has passed the House and is in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee with a vote on 3/19/21. If you support this effort, you can call and email the Senate Committee and your Senator and tell them to Vote YES.
FPIW continues to stand on the front lines in Olympia and serve as your voice before an often-reckless legislature. We need your support to continue fighting.
