Inclusion Matters! Legislative Guide
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This file tracks bills specific to people with developmental disabilities. It is updated weekly by The Arc of Washington. It is a great tool to share with legislators so they can see at-a-glance legislation that is helpful (or hurtful) to people with developmental disabilities who rely on long-term support.
Connecting to policy makers
Spotlight Inclusion
Inclusion matters in education, housing, health and well-being. When legislators support bills and funding that promote inclusion, they help build a King County where everyone feels like they belong, have membership, and are welcome to participate.
We are spotlighting big ideas that promote inclusion and tracking who supports them.
Our goals?
- Celebrate legislators who get it
- Encourage all King County legislators to pass bills that make communities inclusive, welcoming, and supportive to people with disabilities and others who are marginalized
What can you do?
If you support a bill and want to see it passed, ask your legislators:
- To co-sponsor it
- Talk about it during caucus meetings
- Support it in committee
- Vote for it
Advocacy tip: If legislators support the bill, be sure to thank them. Share why the bill is important to you. If they don't, keep communicating. Share why the bill is important to you and the impact it would have the community and the people they represent. Be nice.
2022 legislative updates
Bills that support inclusion
The 2023 State Legislative General Session runs January 9 to April 29. We will post bills that speak to inclusion below.
Some bills from the 2022 session:
House Bill 1802 - Increasing access and representation in policy-making processes for individuals with disabilities (The Nothing About Us, Without Us bill)
- Sponsor: Representative Gerry Pollet (46th LD)
- Status: Did not make it to the House floor for a vote. Advocates objected to proposed amendments.
House Bill 1153 - Increasing language access in public schools.
- Sponsor: Representative Tina Orwall (33rd LD)
- Status: Signed into law
House Bill 1980 - Removing the prohibition on providing employment services and community access services concurrently.
- Sponsor: Representative Jamila Taylor (30th LD)
- Status: Signed into law
Senate Bill 5268 - Transforming services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by increasing the capabilities of community residential settings and redesigning the long-term nature of intermediate care facilities.
- Sponsor: Senator Keiser (33rd LD)
- Status: Signed into law
Senate Bill 5793 - Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
- Sponsor: Senator Claire Wilson (30th LD)
- Status: Signed into law
