From Truthout:
The first bill that Tarra Simmons passed restored voting rights to formerly incarcerated Washingtonians. That was in 2021, the year after she was elected Washington’s first formerly incarcerated state representative.
“That was my freshman bill,” she told Truthout.
The following year, the state passed her bill to expand housing assistance vouchers from three to six months for people released from prison. Days later, another of her bills passed, expanding free hospital care to people making up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level (or $40,770 for a single person in 2022/ $47,880.00 in 2026). The new law also allowed sliding-scale hospital care to those making up to 400 percent ($54,360 for a single person in 2022/ $63,840.00 in 2026).
“When we did the analysis, [we found that] 2 million people in our state would benefit,” Simmons told Truthout. “I’ve gotten texts and calls from people who have been able to utilize that charity care at hospitals now because of that change. That was one of my most impactful bills.” Continue reading
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