[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6364094,"mediaKeyId","2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f","parentId",2165369,"title","Committee Hears Support for Creating Washington State Commission on Middle Eastern and North African Americans","audioSeconds",1388,"startMs",1393000,"endMs",2781000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f&start=1393&end=2781","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f/thumbnail_1393000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364094/Washington/Committee-Hears-Support-for-Creating-Washington-State-Commission-on-Middle-Eastern-and-North-African-Americans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364094-eaa376616b25e359aad25ec20697e832/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163982&Signature=Sut9nK0Jt7LKDIQ5uEYUNVyLiGcsLUi4reXpvdsYWZ3~o9NixxZC1qHO79HHboOgng8kc8nSXxB6TydX2iYV3due4KDZMiQEghzpd1vSJZ0pSgfueqmSnoesM81pCbnuQ3KsRLTBfQIlnyrC3gFLriHy8G2yaPK8Gw40racpQ9auFlw73dPueM1zQ-uFMC6XjpRHiTv077jIJ6kR4xJE4ChaCbX95GOi5aSr2GAR8UD-fUTkU54zZIr4qfz3824wdmrwQiIHWOro9nFcOpz1at8GlEgzEDWYKxUuhrHQmQDJUx9HQ3VT0dpBo9hkUB1fx43dLmXEUlTMWLMtn2jSGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House State Government & Tribal Relations","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1412, which would create the Washington State Commission on Middle Eastern and North African Americans within the office of the governor. Committee staff described the commission's duties, membership rules and the bill's designation of April as Middle Eastern and North African American Heritage Month.

Representative Daria Farvar, the bill's prime sponsor, said the commission would provide a permanent channel for MENA communities to advise state agencies and the legislature and would improve data collection, cultural awareness and interagency coordination. Committee staff told members the commission would consist of 12 governor‑appointed members and an executive director; the governor would be required to consider geographic, ethnic, gender and occupational balance when making appointments. A fiscal note had been requested but not yet received during the hearing.

A large number of in‑person and remote witnesses testified in support. Researchers and service providers told the committee that gaps in data have obscured MENA communities' health, education and economic outcomes. Samira Ibrahim, a researcher at the University of Washington Tacoma, said the cited study interviewed 144 MENA individuals and service providers and found gaps in housing, employment and culturally competent health services: \"There is a serious lack of data that captures the experiences and well‑being of MENA populations in the state of Washington.\" Witnesses also described the commission as a resource for state agencies seeking culturally informed outreach and services.

Supporters framed the proposal as recognition and practical policymaking: testifiers asked the state to ensure the commission's staffing and data collection capacity, and several speakers cited the commission's potential to improve health screening, education programs and civic outreach. No committee vote was taken; the committee continued the hearing for additional testimony and follow‑up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House State Government & Tribal Relations - 1/29/2025 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1412 would create a governor's office commission to collect data and advise on issues affecting Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities; sponsor Rep. Daria Farvar said the commission would give a permanent, accessible voice to a historically undercounted population.","taxTitle","State Government & Tribal Relations, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20271,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364099,"Committee Reviews Bill to Bar Unfederalized Armed Forces from Entering Washington Without Governor's Consent",591,726000,1317000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f&start=726&end=1317","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f/thumbnail_726000.jpg","/articles/6364099/Washington/Committee-Reviews-Bill-to-Bar-Unfederalized-Armed-Forces-from-Entering-Washington-Without-Governors-Consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364099-f6f2c2a6a98fbe9c7bea6fc33c4723fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163982&Signature=WGFlTYTjyv1fnY22Kf3o6vj6aNcPuCH-z-CiCLCFg9HRbhLrsZpTN2eoTB5RxeSEF-k6Wiv1VlS8pUn2LHwadehgPiFdz1kMFnaRUSuSfRpaYj8X-Qw2HeLz4ynEu8qCqTEEPhEgPX6D1qOFQodbSsCRkGT4oUk7sn-o86hEZUBdKfJUAkG7ZGsdpOa~Gfr0M9tRPyHhASkXbFOpfGUc7MVqoplN47F9rVuSLAroq1KRsm9wYu1m~NbMUhBna647DnpA19RVtb6uyqfa1PXTKBpUNGjSS8dtv3NyJACqaKWuIlr8iDJ2hKDWIj9qdzhJbMBhC7e9MobcewO7ur5Ygg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1321, a substitute that would prohibit armed military forces from another state, territory or district from entering Washington for the purpose of performing military duty without the governor's permission unless the force is federalized under Title 10 of the United States Code.

Connor Schiff, counsel to the committee, summarized federal law and the concept of federalization under title 10, explaining that National Guard units operate under state authority unless called into federal service. Schiff said the proposed substitute would bar entry by armed forces from other states for military duty unless the governor permits it or the force is acting under presidential authority.

Representative presenting the bill said the measure is intended to protect Washington's autonomy and cited similar statutory language used in other states. Nathan Bays from the governor's office testified that Governor Jay Inslee (Governor Ferguson in the transcript) strongly supports the bill and that the Washington Military Department expects no adverse effect on training, readiness or mutual‑aid disaster responses. Bays said the bill preserves interstate training and mutual‑aid deployments that occur at a governor's request.

A remote testifier, Jeff Bock, a former U.S. Marine Force Recon member, warned the committee that the term \"militia\" has a broader historical and constitutional meaning than the National Guard and urged the drafters to use precise language: \"Militia does not have the meaning that you folks are using for the for this, this particular wording here.\" Committee members asked questions about scenarios that prompted the bill; sponsors characterized it as precautionary and pointed to other states that have enacted similar restrictions.

No committee vote was recorded during the hearing. Staff said a fiscal impact was not expected and that the bill is consistent with approaches adopted in several other states; more detailed legal analysis and drafting could be required if members choose to move the bill forward.","House Bill 1321 would prohibit armed military forces from another state, territory or district from entering Washington to perform military duties without the governor’s permission unless federalized. Staff cited Title 10, witnesses included the governor’s office and a military veteran who cautioned about the term \"militia.\"",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364104,"Committee Hears Broad Public Support for Bill to Recognize Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha",5661,96000,5757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f&start=96&end=5757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165369-8390100f144773c5745b4019dbbb8d4f/thumbnail_96000.jpg","/articles/6364104/Washington/Committee-Hears-Broad-Public-Support-for-Bill-to-Recognize-Eid-alFitr-and-Eid-alAdha","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364104-75f5b5c9f0a0052ae8c0ab77c462e46a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163982&Signature=IiHm49r0U9-K26Cnmtb9ox27dJSg6kLZptnabesoLWeQaRmH25rM5PH3rwC8WRxisqiTldZ6Mt9e2jwO7bfSvxc8v-ezFqGPpJrjIzpJLzAiadJQP7jM9esbHlLuGn9CQD6zTu56T0PU-aX9kX8HD8XHfDveNEU5KSsy8ruW6h~Sex7hFu3obx1xl0lwpYuqmRg4Ns-oZbcIodco-YkCRv4oAUCOL~oHsaC0rO3UI4bg8cqxO0Qecm4pGLlsTjYhqvEFUPfrjP2WXw66pEjuVc2FOP~qYTVsNhvmhRKepwafc1lZNzWlm4ADFQfNF4ESPfR0VKA1bFET5~78n5Os2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1434, a measure to legislatively recognize Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha; Representative Osman Salahuddin, the bill's prime sponsor, told the committee the measure does not add paid holidays but seeks formal recognition of the days.

Committee staff summarized the proposed substitute and its calendar-based approach. Desiree Omley of the Office of Program Research told members the substitute designates dates on the Islamic calendar for legislative recognition and noted staff would answer questions about the substitute text. Representative Salahuddin framed the bill as a step toward inclusion, saying the measure recognizes the religious and cultural significance of the two holidays for Washington's Muslim residents and their families.

The committee heard testimony from dozens of residents, educators and community leaders. Several speakers described practical effects on school attendance and workplace scheduling. Ahmed Tirhi, an assistant principal in Federal Way Public Schools, said large numbers of students miss school for Eid observance and that schools respond by limiting testing or changing assignments on those dates: \"On a day, we struggle because we don't have a lot of our kids here.\" Other witnesses — students, parents and educators — said formal recognition would make Muslim students feel seen and reduce the need to choose between religious observance and school or work commitments.

Legal and civic witnesses framed the bill as consistent with religious‑freedom principles. Attorney Mehreen Nadim told the committee recognition aligns with constitutional protections for religious exercise and said the designation would acknowledge Washington's religious and cultural diversity. Rep. Salahuddin noted the bill intends to recognize the holidays legislatively without mandating paid time off: \"this bill does not ask for any additional paid state holidays. Rather, it's simply asking for legislatively recognized days.\" Supporters cited estimates offered in testimony that Washington is home to roughly 80,000–100,000 Muslim residents and emphasized a long history of Muslim presence in the state.

The committee suspended and later resumed the hearing to take testimony from those online; staff recorded that about 300 people had signed up to testify. No committee vote or final action occurred during the session; the hearing record closed after public comment and no fiscal note or final amendment was reported on the floor of the hearing.","Lawmakers heard hours of testimony on House Bill 1434, which would legislatively recognize the two major Muslim holidays; sponsor Rep. Osman Salahuddin said the bill would not add paid holidays but would formally acknowledge the dates. Supporters emphasized inclusion, students' attendance challenges, and the need for better cultural recognition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee Hears Support for Creating Washington State Commission on Middle Eastern and North African Americans

Committee Reviews Bill to Bar Unfederalized Armed Forces from Entering Washington Without Governor's Consent

Committee Hears Broad Public Support for Bill to Recognize Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha