Another legislative session has concluded. Despite a short session, advocates pushed legislators to pass several bills and craft a supplemental budget in the first months of 2024. At the beginning of March, legislators sent their budget proposal to the governor for final review and approval. Governor Inslee had 20 days to pass, partially veto, or veto the budget. Here’s how the Budget and Policy Center’s legislative priorities fared in the 2024 enacted supplemental budget.

Final budget allocations bolster existing direct cash programs

Legislators did not include funding for the Budget and Policy Center’s legislative priorities around direct cash and improving economic well-being: a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program, a Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) program expansion, or a baby bonds program. However, the final budget does include some funding for direct cash initiatives.

Despite not funding the Evergreen statewide GBI pilot program, legislators included $550,000 to design a direct cash program that specifically targets youth experiencing homelessness. While the funding will not help people struggling to make ends meet in the near term, this direct cash program design can incorporate elements of a GBI and pave the way for a broader GBI program in the future. Similarly, although legislators did not fund an expansion of the WFTC program, they did include $1 million to fund WFTC outreach. Less than half of eligible households received a refund last year, so ideally, the outreach funding will bolster participation in the program.

Advocates pushed lawmakers to pass much-needed funding for changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. First, the final budget includes $1.06 million for TANF time-limit extensions. Traditionally, eligible families receive TANF benefits for 60 months (about five years). However, households meeting a “hardship exemption” can qualify for additional funding after their first 60 months. The new legislation expands the qualifications for a “hardship exemption” so more families can continue receiving TANF.

Finally, the budget also includes $407,000 for a TANF child support pass-through program. Historically, households receiving TANF had to waive their right to receive child support while participating in the TANF program. In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation that allowed qualifying households to receive $50-$100 of their child support payment. This session, legislators amended the legislation so families can receive all their child support payments and TANF benefits.

Lawmakers pursue policies to support undocumented workers

The final budget includes funding for several legislative priorities related to immigration justice. Across Washington, immigrants are invaluable community members and vital contributors to the economy and well-being of communities. Legislators must fund programs that adequately support all people, regardless of immigration status. While the final budget falls short, advocates pushed legislators to include funding for several key programs.

The final budget includes $100,000 for a work group to identify a funding stream to support an unemployment insurance program for undocumented workers.

Legislators included funding for health care coverage options that would support people regardless of immigration status. First, the budget includes $229,000 for staffing a Medicaid-like program for people regardless of immigration status. Legislators also included $618,000 for health care for uninsured adults, covering uninsured adults of all immigration statuses. Finally, the budget also allocates an additional $25.5 million in programmatic funding for the Medicaid-like program, adjusting the total funding for the biennium from $45.6 million up to $71.1 million. This increase will mean that an estimated 12,000-15,000 people, regardless of immigration status, will have access to health care.

The budget also dedicates funds from the Climate Commitment Act to support immigration justice. One priority of immigrant communities across Washington, particularly immigrants living in rural communities, is pursuing improvements to homes so they are more energy-efficient, affordable, and healthier for their residents. The final budget includes $3 million from the climate commitment account to fund clean energy ambassadors who will help immigrants navigate the weatherization process.

Budget allocations support legal financial obligation reform, while continuing to fund LFO collections

This session, advocates pushed legislators to pass Senate Bill 5947, making uncollectable legal financial obligations (LFOs) unenforceable. In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting the imposition and collection of LFOs against a juvenile or that child’s parent or guardian. Unfortunately, the law did not remove the debt from an individual’s record. SB 5947 ensures that the debt is non-collectible and considered null and void. The final budget includes $51,000 to implement this technical change and $165,000 for the Washington State Center on Court Research (WSCCR) to continue its study of LFOs. Because Washington’s LFO landscape is difficult to understand, WSCCR’s ongoing research of LFOs sheds light on varying LFO practices in courts across the state – helping advocates to make more targeted asks of legislators.

While legislators included funding for LFO reform in their final budget, the budget also includes funding for collecting LFOs. Namely, legislators allocated $359,000 to disburse to County Clerk offices to collect LFOs. Despite allocations to collect LFOs, on average, superior courts in Washington impose 17 times more LFOs than they collect, indicating LFOs as an ineffective revenue source. Funds to collect LFOs would be better spent supporting formerly incarcerated individuals’ re-entry.

The final budget fails to incorporate progressive revenue measures

Legislators failed to pass any progressive revenue legislation this session. At the Budget and Policy Center, we believe that all people should be able to put food on the table, cover medical expenses, save for a rainy day, and seek out opportunities for joy. Progressive revenue is key in bringing about a Washington where every person has what they need. Next session, legislators must do more to ensure our state budget is funded equitably and chip away at our unbalanced tax code.

Advocates must build upon the small successes this session and rally to protect progressive revenue

Although lawmakers failed to fully fund the Budget and Policy Center’s legislative priorities in the 2024 enacted budget, there were many small victories. There is a growing momentum, in our state and nationally, for direct cash programs. Next session, lawmakers can build upon the proven successes of direct cash programs by expanding the Working Families Tax Credit and funding a statewide guaranteed basic income pilot. In the 2024 legislative session, immigration justice and legal financial obligation reform efforts saw significant gains, but work remains. In 2025, lawmakers should pass legislation ensuring unemployment insurance for undocumented immigrants and expand existing LFO reforms to include adults with LFO debt.

Next session, lawmakers must pass significant progressive revenue measures. Data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy confirms what we already know: progressive revenue measures make Washington’s tax code more equitable. We also know that Washington is home to extreme wealth. Lawmakers must tap these resources to ensure wealthy Washingtonians pay what they owe.

In the meantime, voters will decide on three initiatives this November that, if passed, threaten progressive revenue sources – like the capital gains tax. Voters must protect the capital gains tax at the ballot.