The League of Women Voters of Washington's advocacy is primarily done by the Lobby Team. This team is comprised of experienced (volunteer) subject matter experts who work year-round on legislative issues as nonpartisan advocates for League positions.
During the legislative session, the team monitors state legislation and testifies based on League positions. The team also publishes a weekly newsletter giving updates on issues and calling for member action in some cases. Outside of the legislative session, the team works with nonpartisan issue-based coalitions who share League’s values and interests in specific topics. This work involves sharing information, developing advocacy strategies, and educating each other on the issues in preparation for the upcoming legislative session.
League issue chairs contributed to a wide range of major legislative achievements in the 2023 session in the areas of elections, health care, education, growth management, waste reduction, and more! Please consider donating to support our future advocacy work.
There are too many to list them all, but here are just a few of our 2023 advocay accomplishments:
Elections
- Adoption of the Washington Voting Rights Act, which seeks to protect members of classes who do not have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice through methods that have created vote dilution or polarized voting.
- Abolition of advisory votes on the ballot—these were confusing and nonbinding
Education
- Clarification of policies and regulations that prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination in schools
- Various bills supporting special education and equity in programs for highly capable students
Growth Management
- Changes in the Growth Management Act that now require more extensive planning for housing for residents at all income levels and climate mitigation and resilience
Health Care
- Required coverage for hearing aids in most group insurance plans
- Establishment of a new role in dentistry, a dental therapist, which will make dental services more accessible in rural areas and for low-income people
- Protection of access to abortion medication
- Various improvements to standards for health care workforce
- Increased access to the provisions of the Death with Dignity Act or Medical Aid in Dying
Criminal Justice
- Waiver of certain legal financial obligations owed by defendants who have been convicted
- Elimination of juvenile offenses from offender scores used to determine sentencing ranges for crimes
Solid Waste Management
- Measures related to upgrades in recycling, including batteries and plastics, and composting
Children's Programs
- Improvements in the child care system and a new Transition to Kindergarten Program.
These legislative victories were also accompanied by large increases in funding for behavioral health, affordable housing, the working families tax credit, and carbon sequestration measures.
