The 2018 Legislative Session is over with most bills now before the Governor for his review and signature. A supplemental budget was approved. Here's how the Legislative Agenda of the United Ways of Washington fared this year.

Don't forget to provide your feedback to us on how to improve these legislative updates. Please take our short survey here.

Increase Resources and Quality in Early Learning and Education Programs

• A long overdue capital budget (ESSB 6095) was approved early in the 2018 session providing $15.5 million for early learning learning facilities. 
• The supplemental budget (ESSB 6032) appropriated $2.3 million to expand Home Visiting services to help parents provide safe and supportive environments for their children and better prepare children for school.
• There were no increases in the reimbursement rates for providers of Working Connections Child Care.

End Homelessness and Increase Access to Affordable Housing

• $58 million provided from the capital budget to build and preserve affordable housing. (We sought $106 million)
• Made permanent (through passage of E2SHB 1570) and increased the fee by 50 percent (to $62)  document recording fees to fund programs that prevent and end homelessness.
• Prevent discrimination against renters by prohibiting landlords from rejecting applicants solely because they pay with housing vouchers or other public income. (Accomplished by passage of E2SHB 2578)

Build Financial Stability

• Pass Breakfast After the Bell to require schools with a high percentage of hungry students to provide breakfast during the school day (2ESHB 1508). 
• Restore TANF grant cuts to 2011 levels with a slight increase over through the budget and increase asset limits to help vulnerable families with children meet basic needs (E2SHB 1831)

We will continue to send updates during the interim on a monthly basis.  Please help us do a better job by completing this short survey on these updates by March 21st.