ADVOCACY
WORKING FOR CHANGE
One of the most effective ways to achieve justice for consumers is to change harmful laws and policies. We work with and lobby legislators at the local, state, and national levels to effect change.
2025-2026 Legislative Agenda
Sponsored Legislation:
Protecting the family bank account.
NWCLC is the one of the primary organizations leading the effect to pass SB XXXX so that our state continues it's commitment to protecting low income families from poverty by ensuring that a basic amount for rent, childcare, healthcare, and other necessities is automatically protected in their bank accounts when facing garnishment.
- Renews and expands existing law to protect $5,000 in a bank account from garnishment on consumer debt.
- The current protection only covers $1,000 automatically and another $1,000 through a series of unnecessary and complex forms.
- Preserves judicial resources and relieves burden from banks, creditors, and individuals from a complex legal process by making the full exemption amount self-executing.
- The average price of rent in Washington State is $1,756 per month. This bill ensures working families can pay rent, afford groceries, and other necessities when in financial hardship.
Other Bills of Interest:
Preventing predatory earned wage advance loans.
Earned Wage Advances (EWA) are a type of short-term loan that allows consumers to access a portion of their earned wages before their regular payday. While they provide quick access to funds, EWA loans often come with high fees and/or high-interest rates, which can create financial strain if used repeatedly. Just like payday loans, EWA loans can lead to a cycle of borrowing, potentially causing further financial challenges for consumers who are already living paycheck to paycheck.
NWCLC supports legislation that would provide necessary consumer protections for EWAs.
Providing Affordable Access to Medical Records
SB 5254 aims to address the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by for-profit companies that charge exorbitant fees for accessing medical records. This practice is particularly harmful to those who require legal advocacy to obtain their records, such as survivors of domestic violence. The bill seeks to align Washington's regulations with federal laws like HIPAA, the HITECH Act, and the Cures Act to ensure that patients can access their records quickly and affordably, regardless of who requests them, thus removing financial barriers to justice.
The bill also seeks to correct the issue created by a 2020 court ruling that invalidated federal guidance, leading to confusion and allowing companies to resume charging high fees. SB 5254 ensures that patients will not pay more than the “patient rate” when records are requested by authorized representatives, eliminates outdated per-page fees, and awards attorney’s fees to patients who successfully challenge companies over access. The legislation reflects the federal intent to keep costs low and follows the example set by other states, ensuring that all patients, especially those in vulnerable situations, can access their medical records without undue financial hardship.
NWCLC supports passage of SB 5254 to protect consumers from facing exorbitant fees for accessing their medical records.
Limiting the Sale of Sodium Nitrate
SB 5178 seeks to regulate the sale and transfer of sodium nitrite due to its increasing use in suicide attempts. There are severe and lethal health risks associated with sodium nitrite ingestion, and its growing availability both online and in retail stores is alarming. The legislation aims to reduce suicides, particularly among adolescents, by restricting access to this lethal substance.
Studies show that limiting access to dangerous products, like sodium nitrate, can save lives. SB 5178 follows national trends of regulating sodium nitrite and includes provisions for proper labeling and penalties to help prevent its misuse.
NWCLC supports passage of SB 5178.
Legislative Wins
In only four short years, Northwest Consumer Law Center has led the effort to pass three vital pieces of consumer protection legislation here in Washington State. Read about our successes below.
Stopping predatory loans.
SB 6025 took effect on June 6, 2024, preventing out-of-state financial institutions from evading Washington's usury laws.
"Rent-a-Bank" schemes involve alternative financing companies partnering with banks to illegally bypass state interest rate caps. While the bank technically originates the loan, the alternative financing lender typically handles every aspect of consumer interactions, often charging high, predatory interest rates that are illegal in the borrower's state.
SB 6025, passed in Washington State in 2024, bans Rent-a-Bank schemes by prohibiting lenders from using banks to bypass state regulations on interest rates. This strengthens consumer protections by holding lenders accountable to Washington’s rate limits, preventing high-cost loans, and safeguarding consumers from predatory lending practices.
Keeping people in their homes.
Governor Inslee signed SB 5408 into law on May 12, 2021, raising the homestead exemption to the county median sale price.
The homestead exemption keeps people in their homes during tough times. When filing for bankruptcy, a debtor can protect the equity in their primary residence up to a certain limit. If the value of the home is less than the limit, the bankruptcy trustee cannot seize and sell the home. The exemption also protects small businesses struggling to stay afloat in the face of COVID-19 shutdowns.
At $125,000—a figure last updated in 2007—Washington's homestead exemption was one of the nation's lowest. The passage of SB 5408 helps restore homestead fairness to Washington by:
- Raising the homestead exemption from $125,000 to the median value per county of a single-family home.
- Ensuring bankruptcy filers won't lose their homestead exemption due to property value increases after the date of filing.
Protecting working families from poverty.
The Fair Shot Act (SB 5173) went into effect on July 23, 2023, protecting families' basic necessities when facing financial hardship.
When facing garnishment, personal property exemptions help people keep money in their bank accounts, keep their vehicles, and keep other necessities.
When filing for bankruptcy, a debtor can protect the equity in their personal property up to a certain limit. If the value of the property is less than the limit, the bankruptcy trustee cannot seize and sell the property. Exemptions also protect small business owners struggling to stay afloat in the face of COVID-19 shutdowns.
The Fair Shot Act ensures that:
- People keep enough money in their bank account to cover rent and necessities
- Working families keep their cars
- Couples (married or not) have individual security of their belongings.
- Small business owners keep the tools they need to run their business
- Injured persons protect their compensation for pain and suffering
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Questions about our advocacy work?
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