Latest news with #HouseBill2068
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘A heartbreaking loss': Dolly Parton's Imagination Library loses funding in WA
This story was originally published on Washington's operating budget did not include funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, potentially stopping the delivery of monthly books to over 121,000 children, according to a news release from Imagination Library on Tuesday. 'This is a heartbreaking loss to our team, our 46 local Imagination Library partners, and, most importantly, the 121,000 children across Washington, who receive the gift of a free book each month,' Brooke Fisher-Clark, Executive Director of Imagination Library of Washington, stated via the news release. The program, which initially started as a local project in Parton's Tennessee home county in 1995, is now a nationwide gifting program aimed at sending free books to children from birth up to age five, regardless of income. The library expanded to Washington in 2022, making it the first West Coast state to do so. According to the organization, Imagination Library has relied on a public-private partnership model, with half of its funding coming from the state and the other half coming from local partners. But with the legislative session coming to a close, the state operating budget for 2025-2027 was released and will not include any funding for the library. In a letter to the public, the local branch's Executive Director, Brooke Fisher-Clark, wrote that without funding, the future of the program is now 'in jeopardy.' The lack of funding came as a shock to the organization, following explicit support from the state in previous years. In 2022, House Bill 2068 passed, creating a 50/50 partnership between the organization and the state government. In 2023, Parton personally showed her support for the state program by visiting Tacoma and attending a fireside chat on the success of the program in Washington. According to the Imagination Library of Washington, more than 118,000 children in the state are currently getting monthly books from the program. All children eligible can register and receive books for free, but it costs the program roughly $26 per month per child to deliver books. Without the funding in 2025, Clark said they must receive at least $2 million in order to continue operating the program. The Imagination Library of Washington is now turning to the public for support, asking for donations.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
They send WA toddlers a book a month. That could end after state funding cuts
Washington lawmakers have cut funding for a children's literacy program that serves more than 121,000 children in the state. The Imagination Library is a literacy program run by The Dollywood Foundation; founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, the program mails enrolled children a monthly book from birth to five years of age at no cost to families. Washington state lawmakers ended their legislative session on April 27, finalizing the state's 2025–2027 operating budget. Although the state had previously indicated it would provide funding for the expansion of the Imagination Library, its funding was omitted from the final budget, according to a release the Imagination Library sent on April 28. According to 2023 U.S. Census data, there are just under 504,000 children age five and under in Washington state, meaning nearly one in four receive books from the Imagination Library. Brooke Fisher-Clark, executive director of the Imagination Library of Washington, said lawmakers had previously partnered with the foundation with House Bill 2068, which passed in 2022 and established the Imagination Library as a statewide program, providing about $2.5 million in state funding for the 2022-2024 biennium. The Imagination Library uses a public-private partnership model that receives a 50% funding match, with half from local partners and half from the state, according to the release. Now, the foundation hopes to rally the public to donate, with a goal of $2 million in order to keep the program running past June for the more than 121,000 currently enrolled Washington children, Fisher-Clark said. Factoring in expected growth of the program, the fundraising goal lies around $3.2 million, she added. In 2024, a research survey conducted by the Imagination Library of Washington in partnership with Longview Public Schools in southern Washington found that children participating in the Imagination Library before kindergarten performed better on the WaKIDS Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in eight learning objectives pertaining to literacy. Fisher-Clark said the foundation and its dozens of local program partners — which include school foundations, service clubs and nonprofits — advocated for continued funding, and asked for $7 million for the upcoming biennium to support existing enrollment and projected growth. Despite these efforts, the legislature faced a large budget deficit and couldn't find room for the program, she said. The majority of children enrolled are in the two to four age range — should the foundation fail to raise the funds necessary to continue operations, local program partners will have to decide whether to continue or pause the Imagination Library's operations and registrations in their area based on their own budgets, Fisher-Clark said. 'We are currently only able to support sending children their June books,' she said. 'Unless we get some significant support from the public, that is it for us being a statewide partner program, and it could be the end for the majority of our local program partners offering this program.' Since announcing the funding cut on Monday, the program has seen donations coming in and is hopeful to work towards their goal, Fisher-Clark said, adding that on Tuesday, the foundation was excited to receive a $40,000 anonymous donation, the bulk of about $45,000 they have raised so far. Contributions can be made at 'We really hope that the public rises to the occasion here and can save this wonderful program that was collectively built by so many people that love children and love early literacy around the state,' she said.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Effort to ban flavored tobacco products in WA revived in legislature
The Brief Previously thought to be dead for the year, lawmakers heard legislation Monday that would ban flavored vapes and cigarettes. A new bill takes the extra step of increasing taxes on manufacturing, selling and buying all other tobacco products to bring in more revenue. OLYMPIA, Wash. - Efforts to ban flavored tobacco products in Washington got a breath of life, as a bill to do so got a committee hearing Monday after the effort was previously assumed dead. House Bill 2068 would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products like vapes and menthol cigarettes starting in July 2027 – with the exception of flavored shisha, which is used in hookah. "These products don't contribute to the social wellbeing of our communities," prime sponsor Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, told the House Finance Committee on Monday. "They definitely don't contribute to the health and wellbeing of our children. And I would love for you to join me in helping find a path forward to make sure that the next generation is not getting hooked on tobacco." Reeves pushed similar restrictions in another bill this session which failed to move forward. However, the new proposal goes a step further and increases taxes and fees around manufacturing, selling and buying tobacco products, with revenues going toward cancer research, tobacco use prevention and general operating funds. One of those increases is in the tax on a pack of cigarettes, going up by $2 under the bill and is adjusted to inflation every three years. The increased taxes backfills lost revenues from flavored products being off the market, Reeves said, while also funding efforts to get people away from the dangers of tobacco products, especially youth vaping. "The intent is really to ensure that we are getting at consumer education," she said. "That we're focusing on how we address youth prevention and adult cessation. And that we hopefully address some of the enforcement needs of the liquor and cannabis board to be able to address this uptick." A handful of high school students testified in support of the legislation Monday. They told lawmakers that teens are targeted by vapes' fruity flavors, contests and other marketing ploys, with the resulting addiction getting in the way of kids learning, playing and living healthy lives. "Flavored tobacco pulls teens in," said Jayce Hartman, a senior at Tacoma's Silas High School. "It smells like candy, looks like candy, and it feels harmless, but it's not. And I've seen students at my school – classmates, friends – get hooked before they even realize what's happening." Opponents to the bill argued flavored vape products are a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes and adults should have unrestricted access to them. They also point to federal data showing a decline in youth use of tobacco in recent years, with store clerks being responsible in keeping products away from kids. "We are the first line of defense, and our efforts are working," testified Yujin Ghim with the Korean American Grocers Association of Washington. "The current system of licensed retailers, strong minimum age laws and government oversight is working." Retail groups also argued the ban would cause a drop in revenue for businesses and force some to close their doors. They believe a ban would push the tobacco market underground and potentially cause more harm. "Increasing taxes doesn't necessarily limit or reduce people who are trying to access tobacco, or encourage cessation," said Crystal Leatherman with the Washington Retail Association. "Instead, it actually just forces them to purchase from an unregulated or illicit market." Lawmakers face a deadline on Tuesday to move legislation forward, but a spokesperson for the House Finance Committee chair said generally bills that include taxes are not subject to that cutoff. The Source Information in this story is from Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. Seattle driver plummets off multi-story parking garage, 77-year-old rescued Thousands attend Seattle 'Hands Off!' rally against Trump, Elon Musk Tacoma police shoot, kill carjacking suspect Saturday afternoon Sue Bird named to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Trump tariffs live updates: Global markets plunge as countries scramble to respond USPS mail delivery changes begin: Here's what to know To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Another bill to ban flavored tobacco products introduced in WA to curb youth usage
This story was originally published on Flavored tobacco products could be banned in Washington after Democratic lawmakers introduced new legislation to the state House and Senate. Inspired by multiple studies revealing that middle and high school students overwhelmingly prefer flavored tobacco, House Bill 2068 was brought forward to the Washington state Legislature to, once more, propose a ban. The new bill borrowed from previous legislative attempts to bar flavored tobacco products, and became combined with an increase in cigarette taxes. If passed, the ban would go into effect July 1, 2027. The cigarette tax, which would add $2 per pack, would begin Jan. 1, 2026. The first $5 million from the new cigarette tax would go toward preventing youth tobacco and vape use, while the rest would be deposited into the state's general fund. As it stands before any additional legislation and increased taxes on cigarettes are added, Washington has the eighth-highest tax on cigarettes of any state in the U.S., according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Hookah and shisha tobacco would not be included in the ban. How Washington voters feel about banning flavored tobacco products Polled at the end of November by FM3, it revealed that 63% of 910 Washington voters would support a ban on flavored tobacco products, while 33% said they opposed the idea. 4% were unsure. 'This research confirms strong public support for ending the sale of all flavored tobacco in Washington,' Andrew Estep, campaign manager of Flavors Hook Kids Washington, told The Northwest Progressive Institute. 'The tobacco industry is constantly finding ways to lure kids into becoming lifelong customers, and making their products taste like candy is nothing new. They added menthol decades ago to cigarettes to mask the harshness of tobacco. This relentless targeting of youth, Black and Brown communities, and other populations with flavored tobacco products has created a public health emergency unfolding right before our eyes.' According to The Washington State Standard, six other states have restricted flavored tobacco sales to varying degrees. The bill is expected to get a hearing from the House Finance Committee sometime in April.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed ban on flavored tobacco products is revived in WA Legislature
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Democratic lawmakers have revamped their approach to banning flavored tobacco products in Washington. In new bills filed Friday in the state House and Senate, the original prohibition on flavored vapes proposed early in the legislative session is combined with an increase in cigarette taxes. The measure's sponsor in the House, Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, said she hopes it becomes part of the smorgasbord of revenue measures Democrats are eyeing to fill the looming budget deficit. The new legislation, House Bill 2068, revives the ambitious and controversial prohibition that had made little progress in Olympia so far this year. Supporters hope it can curb youth smoking, as studies show middle and high school students overwhelmingly favor flavored options. Andrew Estep, the campaign manager for Flavors Hook Kids Washington, calls the new plan a 'holistic approach to bettering the health of Washington residents.' Critics of such bans have argued they would lead to increased cigarette use as consumers look for alternatives. And people who've turned to electronic cigarettes to quit smoking traditional cigarettes would no longer have flavored options. The ban on selling flavored e-cigarettes, also called vapes, and nicotine products, like menthol cigarettes, would begin July 1, 2027. The sale of nicotine pouches, like Zyn, to patrons under age 21 would also be prohibited. The initial proposal, House Bill 1203, would have banned the products beginning 90 days after the legislative session ends. This new approach allows the state to continue earning sales tax revenue from the products amid a budget deficit as high as $16 billion over the next four years. Flavored shisha, or hookah, tobacco would be exempt from the prohibition. The bill also adds a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes. That tax would rise with inflation. The first $5 million from the new tax would go toward preventing youth tobacco and vape use. The rest would go into the state's general fund. It also adjusts how vapor taxes are collected, adjusting the rate so it's based on the product's price instead of the volume of liquid. Advocates say this will increase revenue, with money going to the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment Fund, foundational public health services and the general fund. Reeves said Friday that if the Legislature is going to further tax these products, it should go toward funding 'the social outcomes we want.' The tax provisions would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The goal is to offset the lost sales tax revenue from the banned products. Washington smokers already face one of the nation's highest state cigarette taxes, totaling $3.77 between excise and sales taxes, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A separate cigarette tax proposal, also sponsored by Reeves, would increase the existing $3.03 excise tax on a 20-pack of cigarettes by 30 cents. For vape liquid, the tax on containers of 5 milliliters or more would go up a penny to 10 cents per milliliter, and the fee on other vapor products would rise three cents to 30 cents per milliliter. The new legislation under consideration would also up the license fee for cigarette and vapor product distributors and retailers. Businesses licensed to sell these products would be required to post signage noting the statewide ban. And the state Department of Health would run a campaign to build awareness about the harms of flavored tobacco products. About half a dozen other states restrict flavored tobacco sales to varying degrees. Since the proposal would bring in new tax revenue, it is considered 'necessary to implement the budget' and so is immune from deadlines that have already killed numerous bills this session. Sen. Noel Frame, the leading Democratic voice on new revenue this year, said the bill is intriguing not just because it generates money for the state but because 'it's good public policy.' Reeves expects the bill to get a hearing from the House Finance Committee in the next couple weeks. If it doesn't make it to the finish line this session, she sees the legislation as laying the groundwork for progress in 2026.
