The 2023 Washington State Legislative session will begin a long session (105 days) in January 2023. In preparation for the legislative session, the District has an opportunity to approve a legislative agenda in alignment with our values and priorities. In years past, the District has informally followed the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials (WSALPHO) legislative agenda with the Board of Health adopting resolutions in support of specific legislative actions. WSALPHO and the Washington State Department of Health priorities have not been drafted yet.

Successes in the 2022 WA Legislative session include:

• COVID-19 funding
• Historic and sustainable investments in Foundation Public Health Services (FPHS)
• Passage of Adult Mortality Review and Prevention System legislation

Conversations have been held with all three Board of Health committees, the Public Health Advisory Council, Community Equity Advisory Board, and staff on 2022 priorities. Based on these conversations, the following priorities are proposed for consideration:

• FPHS: Maintain current levels, limits on supplantation
• Investment in workforce recruitment, development and retention
• Environmental impacts on human health
• Support efforts to reshape, sustain, and advance health care systems, including mobile services and long-term care
• Improve understanding of linkages between despair and health
• Equity: Ensure equitable access to public health resources
• Support bans on the sale of flavored vapor products, and increase vape education and outreach
• Coverage and access to whole body care