Last Updated: May 7, 2009
Issue Updates
Predatory Lending
Payday Lending
HB 1709 creates a payment plan for borrowers of payday loans when they are unable to pay back their loans. The original bill provided strong protections to help borrowers successfully repay the loan, including a 60-day minimum loan term and slightly lower fees. During legislative session, the original bill was compromised. ESHB 1709 now includes a repayment plan of 90-180 days without added fees and an 8-day minimum loan term. The legislature passed ESHB 1709 on April 22 and has been delivered to the Governor. View bill as passed by the legislature.
HB 1310 and SB 5164 place restrictions on payday lenders and check cashers'
collection tactics and practices when borrowers are overdue on their loans. SB5164 was signed into law by the Governor on March 25th and goes into effect July 26, 2009. View session law
Responsible Mortgage Lending
HB 1311 will help stop seniors who own their homes from falling prey to reverse mortgage scams. It includes increased regulation of reverse mortgages and strengthens disclosure standards. HB 1311 was signed into law by the Governor on April 21 and goes into effect July 26, 2009. View session law
SB 5810 and HB 1942 work to prevent foreclosure and protect renters who are impacted by foreclosures. HB 1942 died in committee. SB 5810 passed out of the Senate just before the deadline, and moved to the House. The Governor signed this bill on April 30 and goes into effect on July 26, 2009. View bill as passed by the legislature.
Healthcare
Children's Healthcare
HB 2128 expands the availability of children's health insurance for children in families
with household income over 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). HB 2128 also expands and improves outreach,
enrollment, and renewal efforts and renames the children's health program the Apple Health for Kids Program. On April 22, HB 2128 was passed by the legislature and was delivered to the Governor on April 23rd. View bill as passed by the legislature.
Criminal Justice
Voter Rights Restoration
HB 1517 would simplify the process of restoring voting rights for people with felony conviction, returning the right to vote after he or she has completed her time in jail. This would remove the requirement to pay all fees before they can restore their voting rights. The bill passed out of the House and moved to the Senate where it was amended. Under the amendment, the right to vote is automatically but provisionally restored to everyone who is no longer incarcerated, in work release or on probation or parole. The Governor signed this bill on May 4 and goes into effect on July 26, 2009. View bill as passed by the legislature.
Environmental Justice
Climate Change
HB 1819 and SB 5735 aims to reduce the pollution that causes climate change, and offset the costs of global warming to people with low incomes. The bills would create a "Cap and Invest" program, setting a cap on the amount of pollution allowed and establishing a process requiring polluters to pay the state for a "permit" to pollute. By gradually reducing the amount of permits available, the amount of pollution is reduced. When the state sells the permits, the revenue can be used to help low and moderate-income families pay their energy bills, train people for green jobs, and stimulate investment in a new, clean energy economy. Both bills are now dead.
Consumer Rights
Consumer Protection Act
Under current law, consumers find few resources as they struggle to fight against abusive lending practices. SB 5531, which provides incentive for lawyers to take cases against predatory lenders by raising the allowable damage level for consumer protection cases from $10,000 to $50,000. This would ensure that more attorneys could afford to fight for Washington consumers. This bill passed out of the Senate and moved to the House where the allowable damage level was dropped to $25,000. This bill was signed by the Governor on May 6. View bill as passed by the legislature.
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