Healthcare

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1047	Requiring coverage for hearing instruments for children and adolescents	It is essential for children and adolescents with hearing loss to have access to hearing-assistive devices regardless of ability to pay.	Referred to HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS
SB 5010	Prohibiting the use of credit scores to determine rates for personal lines of insurance	The use of credit scoring in insurance is an unfair practice that negatively impacts people with disabilities, who have less access to credit than those without disabilities, potentially preventing them from receiving care they need.	Senate Rules “X” file
SB 5052	Concerning the creation of health equity zones	People with disabilities are faced with significant health disparities stemming from things like difficulty accessing services, inflexible policies and procedures, and inaccessible environments. This results in higher cases of missed diagnoses, lower rates of prevention, and delays in care services, disproportionately impacting minorities experiencing higher rates of mobility-related disabilities.	Governor signed. Chapter 262, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5185	Concerning capacity to provide informed consent for health care decisions.	Many people with disabilities have guardianships. This bill would make it so people with a guardianship that includes healthcare decision making are assumed to not be able to make their own healthcare decisions regardless of capacity.	Governor signed. Chapter 270, 2021 Laws. Effective date 1/1/2022.
HB 1141	Increasing access to the death with dignity act.	This legislation makes it easier to access the Death with Dignity Act.	IN THE SENATE – By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
HB 1218	Improving health, safety, and quality of life for residents in long-term care facilities.	People with disabilities make up a significant percent of residents in long-term health care facilities. In addition to high rated of COVID-19 deaths in the facilities, the pandemic has also resulted in further isolation thereby affecting the mental health of residents.	Governor signed. Chapter 159, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1411	Expanding health care workforce eligibility.	Reducing barriers so individuals who have a criminal record can become caregivers. This will increase availability of caregivers and diversify the caregiving workforce.	Governor signed. Chapter 219, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021

Behavioral Health

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1086	Creating the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy.	People who use mental health and substance abuse services need a coordinated system of effective, well trained, accessible advocates to respond to complaints.	Governor signed. Chapter 202, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1020	By request of Department of Social and Health Services Concerning state of emergency operations impacting long-term services and supports.	Caregiving services, approval of caregivers, and abuse prevention strategies must be continued to ensure continuity of care.	Referred to Committee on STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL RELATIONS
HB 1182	Enhancing and expanding behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis response services.	Creating a separate behavioral health crisis response system from the existing 911 system. This will allow for behavioral health professionals to respond to non-violent behavioral health crisis’. name: 988	Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM
SB 5071	Creating transition teams to assist specified persons under civil commitment.	Creating transition teams to support those exiting the state hospitals.	Governor signed. Chapter 263, 2021 Laws. Effective 7/25/2021.
SB 5073	Concerning involuntary commitment.	Changing language to reflect integration of behavior health and embedding mental health advance directives.	Governor signed. Chapter 264, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1477	Implementing the national 988 system to enhance and expand behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services.	People with disabilities are often met with police violence in behavioral crisis response situations. Therefore it is important to establish a separate system that does not rely on law enforcement to respond to a behavioral health crisis.	Governor signed. Chapter 302, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5209	Enhancing and expanding behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis response services.	People with disabilities are often met with police violence in behavioral crisis response situations. Therefore it is important to establish a separate system that does not rely on law enforcement to respond to a behavioral health crisis.	Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care at 10:30 AM on Jan 29
SB 5397	Improving access to behavioral health treatment in certified crisis facilities.	People with multiple disabilities and complex needs are frequently declined services from evaluation and treatment facilities and put into single bed certifications. This would require E&Ts to report why they were denying services if beds are available.	Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care 2/12 at 10:30 AM
HB 1499	Providing behavioral health system responses to individuals with substance use disorder.	Many people experiencing a psychiatric disability use substances as a coping mechanism. This bill would decriminalize the possession of substances for personal use and instead provide treatment options. Name: Treatment First	Executive action taken in the House Committee on Public Safety at 1:30 PM. PS – Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. Referred to Appropriations.

 

Housing

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1035	Providing local governments with options to grant rent relief and preserve affordable housing in their communities.	Access to affordable housing is a crucial component of disability rights and critical in keeping people with disabilities in their communities and out of institutions.	Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Finance 2/18 at 9:00 AM
HB 1490	Maintaining residential electricity and heating service for low-income households and households with people with disabilities.	Assistance with electricity and heating utilities for low-income households and households with people with disabilities.	Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy 2/12 at 10:00 AM
SB 5007	Temporarily reducing compliance and tax burdens on electric utilities to lower costs and support utility assistance for low-income customers.	Access to electric utilities is vital for people with disabilities, some of whom rely on electric-power equipment and assistive devices, such as motorized wheelchairs, oxygen generators, and refrigerated medications.	Referred to ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
SB 5012	Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing programs.	Access to affordable housing is essential for people with disabilities who may otherwise face institutionalization or homelessness.	Referred to Ways & Means
HB 1083	Concerning relocation assistance for tenants of closed or converted manufactured/ mobile home parks.	People with disabilities may have limited financial resources, and should never be put in jeopardy of losing their home due to circumstance or financial status.	Governor signed. Chapter 28, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5139	Limiting rent increases after expiration of the governor’s eviction moratorium.	People with disabilities struggle to find accessible and low-barrier housing. Secure housing is a crucial component of staying safe during the pandemic. The expiration of the eviction moratorium would mean wide spread eviction and rent increases, which could perpetuate housing insecurity and risk the health of vulnerable populations.	Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government 2/11 at 8:00 AM
SB 5117	Concerning rental vouchers to eligible offenders.	People with disabilities are disproportionately incarcerated and it can be difficult to find housing if individuals have a criminal record. Equal access to safe and affordable housing is important for incarcerated people to have successful reentry.	Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means 2/1 at 4:00 PM

Criminal Justice

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1044	Increases access to post-secondary education in prison and provides educational assessments and accommodations for people with disabilities	People with disabilities are disproportionately incarcerated, and thus may need access to special education services.	Governor signed. Chapter 200, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1054	Establishing requirements for tactics, such as the usage of chokeholds/neck restraints, and equipment (including the usage of military equipment, tear gas, and police dogs) used by peace officers	People with disabilities, are more likely to be victims of police violence, especially in behavioral health crisis response cases.	Governor signed. Chapter 320, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1071	Concerning bias-based criminal offenses	People with disabilities are more likely to be victims of violent crimes than commit them. However, people with disabilities are also disproportionately criminalized by the legal system.	Returned to Rules Committee for second reading
SB 5051	Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers.	People with disabilities disproportionately face police violence. Implementing oversight and measures of accountability concerning the practice of peace officers and corrections officers is essential to ensure the rights and safety of people with disabilities is protected. Companion of HB 1082	Governor signed. Chapter 323, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5164	Provides for resentencing for people who are currently incarcerated as three-strike “persistent offenders” due to Robbery 2 convictions; this makes last year’s bill on this issue, which applied prospectively,  apply retroactively to the almost 60 people who remain incarcerated for life due to a Robbery 2 conviction.		Governor signed. Chapter 141, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1082	Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers.	People with disabilities disproportionately face police violence. Implementing oversight and measures of accountability concerning the practice of peace officers and corrections officers is essential to ensure the rights and safety of people with disabilities is protected. Companion of SB 5051.	Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Public Safety 1/15 at 10:00 AM.
HB 1126	Limiting tolling of community custody terms	Among other changes, this bill eliminates the requirement that a person’s community custody term be tolled when absent from supervision. This is especially relevant for people who are hospitalized or arrested during a psychiatric emergency while under supervision, who often experience longer terms of supervision as a result.	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
HB 1169	Allows people to accrue earned time on sentence enhancements, permits court discretion in imposing stacked enhancements in the future, and allows for the resentencing of people who currently have stacked enhancements.		Returned to Rules Committee for second reading
HB 1202	Addressing meaningful civil remedies for persons injured as a result of police misconduct, including by allowing for an award of attorney fees in addition to damages and injunctive and declaratory relief.	Individuals who have been victims of police misconduct often times do not receive proper justice for their grievances, and considering that persons with disabilities disproportionately face such violence, it is vital their grievances are properly addressed.	Returned to Rules Committee for second reading
HB 1282	Allows people to earn 33% off their prison sentence through participation in positive programming. This earned time would be earned on enhancements as well as mandatory minimum terms of incarceration.		Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations 3/15 at 3:30 PM
HB 1344	Allows people who were convicted before the age of 25 to seek resentencing		Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Public Safety 2/15 at 1:30 PM
HB 1348	Providing medical assistance to incarcerated persons.	People incarcerated for less than 30 days will not have Medicaid suspended. This will allow for easier reentry into the community as Medicaid will not need to be re-activated.	Governor signed. Chapter 166, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1310	Concerning permissible uses of force by law enforcement and correctional officers.	Requires law enforcement to take “reasonable care” when determining whether to use force and while using force. Reasonable care includes taking disability status into consideration.	Governor signed. Chapter 324, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1413	Provides that points assessed for crimes committed as a juvenile are not counted in adult sentencing and provides for resentencing		Executive action taken in the House Committee on Public Safety at 1:30 PM. PS – Majority, do pass. Minority; do not pass. Minority; without recommendation. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
SB 5036	Expands the clemency board to include community stakeholders and provides a mechanism to review people for release who have served long sentences; this bill also expands the eligibility for extraordinary medical placement, which may allow release for people with chronic, serious medical issues		By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
SB 5119	Creates a process to review in-custody fatalities in jails and prisons and directs that the results of those reviews be made public.		Governor signed. Chapter 139, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5163	Directs the Special Commitment Center to conduct discharge planning and create less restrictive alternative placements in a state-wide manner for people releasing from the Special Commitment Center, many of whom have cognitive and physical disabilities and require specialized housing and supports.		Governor signed. Chapter 236, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5248	Establishing the joint task force on jail standards	Creates a taskforce that includes various stakeholders to identify and discuss potential for statewide jail standards. Approximately 40% of the jail population identifies as having a disability and people with disabilities are more often subject to restrictive conditions such as solitary confinement while incarcerated.	Referred to Ways & Means
SB 5293	Alternatives to total confinement for people with serious mental illness who enter the criminal legal system	Post-conviction community based sentencing program for people with psychiatric disabilities.	Governor partially vetoed. Chapter 242, 2021 Laws PV. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5413	Concerning solitary confinement. Companion to 1312.	Bans the use of prolonged solitary confinement in state prisons, limiting its use to 15 days and precluding vulnerable populations entirely, including people with mental health needs. At least 30% of the prison population identifies as having a disability and people with disabilities are disproportionately subject to solitary confinement.	Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation 2/9 at 1:30 PM
HB 1312	Concerning solitary confinement. Companion to 5413.	Bans the use of prolonged solitary confinement in state prisons, limiting its use to 15 days and precluding vulnerable populations entirely, including people with mental health needs. At least 30% of the prison population identifies as having a disability and people with disabilities are disproportionately subject to solitary confinement.	First reading, referred to Public Safety.
SB 5476	Addressing the State v. Blake decision.		Governor partially vetoed. Chapter 311, 2021 Laws PV. Effective date 7/25/2021.

 

Support Services

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1061	Concerning youth eligible for developmental disability services who are expected to exit the child welfare system.	Youth with developmental disabilities aging out of the child welfare system may need support in transitioning to adulthood; this would allow them to receive support in applying for DDA services.	Governor signed. Chapter 56, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5284	Eliminating subminimum wage certificates for persons with disabilities.	Currently, people with disabilities can be paid according to “productivity.” This bill eliminates the ability for people with disabilities to be paid subminimum wage.	Governor signed. Chapter 97, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5213	Clarifying the authority and role of the office of developmental disabilities ombuds.		Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 8:00 AM on Jan 29
SB 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.	Implementing the Ruckelshaus recommendations except for the 120 bed nursing home on the grounds of Fircrest.	IN THE HOUSE – By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
SB 5304	Providing reentry services to persons releasing from state and local institutions.	People with disabilities are disproportionately incarcerated, and thus need to have access to adequate reentry services.	Governor partially vetoed. Chapter 243, 2021 Laws PV. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1349	Concerning peer specialists.	Certified peer specialists are people who have accessed behavioral health services. This bill would change the requirements to becoming a CPC.	Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness 2/15 at 10:00 AM

Voting

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1078	Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.	Disability is frequently criminalized which leads to many disabled people arrested and charged with crimes -and where the crime is a felony, losing the right to vote.	Governor signed. Chapter 10, 2021 Laws. Effective date 1/1/2022.
HB 1156	Increasing representation and voter participation in local elections.	Ranked-choice voting describes an electoral system in which voters rank multiple candidates in order of preference. This system allows for better representation and enables voters to pick candidates they think are best without having to worry about vote splitting.	Returned to Rules Committee for second reading
SB 5086	Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.	Disability is frequently criminalized which leads to many disabled people arrested and charged with crimes -and where the crime is a felony, losing the right to vote.	Referred to Committee on STATE GOVERNMENT & ELECTIONS.

Education

Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
HB 1085	Promoting a safe learning environment for students with seizure disorders.	Students with disabilities should have a fair and equal access to education. Ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment is important for fostering student success.	Governor signed. Chapter 29, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
HB 1153	Increasing language access in public schools.	When family members are engaged, statistics show that students have higher rates of graduation, display better performance in school, and have higher self-esteem. In order to equitably promote student success, family members with disabilities must have access to meaningful communication with schools.	Referred to APPROPRIATIONS.
HB 1295	Providing public education to youth in or released from institutional education Facilities.	People with disabilities accessing IEPs or accommodations in RHCs or juvenile detention centers should have access to free and appropriate public education.	Governor signed. Chapter 164, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5044	Concerning professional learning, equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism in the public school system.	Students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined. This is especially true for students of color with disabilities. Equal access to a fair and safe learning environment is critical for student success.	Governor signed. Chapter 197, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.
SB 5194	Providing for equity and access in the community and technical colleges.	Over half of SWD elect to attend a community college. This bill would recognize that students with disabilities have historically faced barriers to access and completion in CTCs and implement appropriate framework for resolving this, including minimum standards for counselors and counselor to student ratios.	Governor signed. Chapter 272, 2021 Laws. Effective date 7/25/2021.

State Budget

Bill Name	Bill #	Description	Importance to People with Disabilities	Status
House Capital Budget	HB 1080	By request of Office of Financial Management Concerning the capital budget.	This includes investments for Trueblood implementation, historic investments into housing, and investments into institutional settings in the form of a new forensic hospital and nursing facility at Fircrest.	Governor signed. Chapter 332, 2021 Laws. Effective date 5/18/2021.
Senate Capital Budget	SB 5083	By request of Office of Financial Management Concerning the capital budget.	This includes investments for Trueblood implementation, historic investments into housing, and investments into institutional settings in the form of a new forensic hospital and nursing facility at Fircrest.	“IN THE HOUSE – By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. “
House Operating Budget	HB 1094	By request of Office of Financial Management Concerning the operating budget.	Funding for programs which support people with disabilities including Trueblood implementation.	Referred to Rules 2 Review
Senate Operating Budget	SB 5092	By request of Office of Financial Management Concerning the operating budget.	Funding for programs which support people with disabilities including Trueblood implementation.	Governor partially vetoed. Chapter 334, 2021 Laws PV. Effective date 5/18/2021.