With Dems in Control, Voting Rights, Health Care Access, Gun Safety, Education, Jobs Take Center Stage

OLYMPIA, Washington, March 9 -- The Washington Senate Democrats issued the following news:

With Democrats back in control, Washingtonians saw a Legislature that fought for their values, putting the focus on issues that will leave a lasting, positive impact on people in communities throughout the state.

"I am so proud of what we have accomplished on behalf of the people of this state," said Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson. "We put people first and followed through on an agenda that every Washingtonian can be proud of."

The Legislature adjourned today on time for the first time in four years, passing a balanced budget plan that will make substantial investments in education, mental health and provide property tax relief across the state in 2019.

"We hit the ground running in 2018 and never looked back," Nelson said. "When we look back at what was accomplished this year, it's hard to believe all of this happened in just 60 days."

Policy that passed during the 2018 legislative session includes:

* Expanded access to Democracy on several fronts by passing:

The DISCLOSE Act to expose hidden money in elections (SB 5991);

Same-day voter registration (SB 6021),

Automatic voter registration (HB 2595),

Voter pre-registration (HB 1513);

The Washington Voting Rights Act (SB 6002)

* Passage of the long-delayed 2017 capital construction budget that provides the largest-ever investment in K-12 school construction, 19,000 jobs and badly needed infrastructure projects across the state. (SB 6090)

* A budget that invests in education, mental health and jobs as well as the final piece of funding to satisfy McCleary, the state's constitutional obligation to amply fund K-12 education. The budget includes a $2.4 billion reserve, the largest in state history, as a hedge against an economic recession. (SB 6032)

* A statewide property tax cut, effective in 2019, to give households relief from the Republican Property Tax of 2017. (SB 6614)

* A ban on bump stocks, the device used in the Las Vegas massacre to give a semi-automatic rifle the rapid-fire capability of a machine gun. (SB 5992)

* Adding domestic violence harassment to the list of conditions that prevent people from being able to buy a firearm. (SB 6298)

* Legislation to allow anyone struggling with mental illness to place themselves on a firearms do-not-purchase list. (SB 5553)

* Equal pay legislation to help close the wage gap between men and women in our state by offering protections for workers who are paid less, or are offered lesser career advancement opportunities on the basis of gender. (HB 1506)

* A pair of bills that strengthen protections against sexual harassment in the workplace (SB 5996, SB 6471)

* First state in the nation to pass state-level Net Neutrality policy (HB 2282)

* Consumer protection from unfair fees charged by financial institutions to freeze and unfreeze credit accounts when information is breached as in the notorious Equifax debacle. (SB 6018)

* The Reproductive Parity Act to make sure women have the option of choosing the healthcare choices that are best for them and their families. (SB 6219)

* Separate bills requiring health care providers to cover the cost of 3-D mammograms (SB 5912) and requiring doctors to inform and assist patients who have high breast density, to better detect early signs of breast cancer. (SB 5084)

* A requirement that all health plans sold in Washington state cover the same preventive services required by federal law in the Affordable Care Act, such as disease screening and contraception (HB 1523)

* The Student Loan Bill of Rights, to protect college students from fraudulent and predatory practices by lenders that saddle students with spiraling debt. (SB 6029)

* A ban on conversion therapy, the practice of applying physical and mental discomfort to try to force LGBTQ minors to conform to a gender identity other than which feels appropriate for who they are. (SB 5722)

* Expansion of Breakfast after the Bell, a program that has been shown to improve student performance by making sure kids start the school day able to concentrate on their classes instead of grumbling stomachs. (HB 1508)

* The phasing out of Atlantic salmon net pen farms that threaten the health of our water and native fish populations. (HB 2957)

* The Dream Act 2.0, to expand access to higher education for students who are DACA recipients. (SB 5074)

* Standing up for workers made sick because of conditions at Hanford (HB 1723)

* Efforts to reform juvenile justice that include reducing recidivism and racial disproportionality (SB 6160); and expanding juvenile court jurisdiction (SB 6550)

* Combatting homelessness by raising the document recording fee from $40 to $62. (HB 1570)

* Prohibiting housing discrimination by stopping landlords from turning away potential tenants who rely on Section 8 vouchers, Social Security or veterans benefits. (HB 2578)

* The Fair Chance Act. Ban the box legislation to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity for employment (HB 1298)