You can find legislators’ emails and phone numbers here on the state legislature’s site. If you’re not sure what legislative district you’re in, you can look it up with the District Finder on the legislature’s site.
The Washington legislature is in session from January 9 – April 23 and there are some exciting privacy and tech justice bills on the table. Here’s several that we’ll be focusing on.
- My Health My Data (HB 1155 / SB 5351), a new health data privacy bill from Rep. Vandana Slatter and Sen. Manka Dhingra, working with the Attorney General’s office. A broad coalition of reproductive justice, gender justice, immigrant rights, privacy, and civil liberties groups support My Health My Data. The article Proposed Washington law puts period-tracking apps on notice has more about the bill, and A very encouraging first step covers its first hearing.
- The Shield Law (SB 5489 / HB 1469 ), from Sen. Yasmin Trudeau and Rep. Drew Hansen, also supported by the broad coalition of groups supporting My Health My Data.
- The People’s Privacy Act (HB 1616), from Rep. Shelley Kloba and Rep. Carolyn Eslick, and originally drafted by the ACLU of Washington working with the Tech Equity Coalition.
- Automated Decision Systems (ADS) Regulation (SB 5356) from Sen. Bob Hasegawa, supported by the ACLU of Washignton and the Tech Equity Coaltion.
- Nothing About Us Without Us (HB 1541), from Rep. Darya Farivar (D), supported by disability justice advocates including Disability Rights Washington.
A much more favorable environment, but a lot of complexity Washington state privacy legislation 2023, on The Nexus of Privacy, is an overview of the situation and has some of the backstory.
You can find legislators’ emails and phone numbers here on the state legislature’s site. If you’re not sure what legislative district you’re in, you can look it up with the District Finder on the legislature’s site.