This last week, ARRM saw movement on key pieces of legislation. Below, please find a status of where all of ARRM’s bills are as well as a look at next week:
ARRM’s Policy Bill (SF 3117/ HF 3206)
Our policy bill was heard in the Senate Human Services Reform and Finance committee this last Wednesday, February 19th. The bill was amended with some technical changes and was referred to the Senate General Orders. This means that the bill is moving separate, outside of the Omnibus bill process. The next step is for the bill to be taken up on the Senate floor for a vote from the entire Senate body. In the House, we will work with our author, Rep. Patty Acomb to secure a hearing and ensure that the bill takes the same path and is passed as a separate bill.
ARRM’s DWRS Bill (SF 3118/ HF 3207)
Our DWRS bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Human Services Reform and Finance Committee this coming Monday, February 24th. The bill will have a cost to it and therefore cannot move as a separate bill. The bill will be laid over for possible inclusion in an Omnibus bill which the chair will put together once he knows his budget target for the session. We are still awaiting a hearing date in the House.
ARRM’s ICF Bill (SF 3116/ HF 3130)
Our ICF is also scheduled to be heard in the Senate Human Services Reform and Finance Committee this coming Monday, February 24th. Similar to the DWRS bill, this bill will also have a cost and will be laid over for possible inclusion in an Omnibus bill.
On Friday morning, February 21st, I sent an email to our ICF providers, asking them to reach out to their Senator by Monday, sharing the need to pass an ICF rate increase this session. If your organization has ICF services but you did not receive an email from me, please let me know and I will forward you the relevant information.
Best Life Alliance Legislation
The Best Life Alliance DWRS legislation was officially introduced this week. Bill numbers for this session are SF 3353/ HF 3551. This morning, during the Best Life Alliance Grassroots Advocacy call, we asked folks to reach out to their House member and ask them to sign on as a co-author to HF 3551. If you would like more information on how to take action please let me know.
Additionally, we now have the Senate and House jackets for our Best Life Alliance tax credit legislation. We will be working this coming week to get legislators signed on to that bill and hope to have it introduced next week.
And finally, the third bill that the Best Life Alliance is supporting, SF 2080/ HF 2182, which creates a Direct Service Corp Pilot project will be heard in the Senate Human Service Reform and Finance Committee this coming Monday, February 24th.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to next week, we will be focused on getting our bills through committee on Monday and getting hearings scheduled in the House for all of our legislation. Additionally, next Tuesday, February 24th is Precinct Caucus night. Please watch for ARRM’s Monday newsletter which will include a resolution from the Best Life Alliance, supporting higher wages for Direct Support Professionals that folks can bring with them to their local caucus.
Additional Resources
If you want to keep track of the progress of all of ARRM's legislation as well as other bills we are tracking, make sure to check out our brand new bill tracker tool here.
Please contact me with any questions.
--Sara Grafstrom, Director of State and Federal Policy