Two Minute Activist–Have you signed up for AAUW’s Two Minute Activist notices? Did you know that it sometimes has state lobby campaigns and local activism? Sign up today to make a difference!
The Latest Branch Public Policy Report November 24, 2025
AAUW has an important role in policy advocacy to promote equality in our communities, states and nation. I am writing to inform you of the public policy activities of AAUW-WA and what you can do to contribute. As a member of AAUW, you are an important part of this effort and Advocacy Day (aka Lobby Day) is almost here. To get things going, I will send you updates every couple of weeks until the start of the legislative session in January. I will also post these blurbs on the public policy page of the branch website (check it out if you haven’t). WA-online.aauw.net.
1. Advocacy Day WA January 26, 2026
Again this year, this informative policy program will be on ZOOM (at no cost) , and will bring together members from across the state. The PP committee is starting to develop the program for the day. If you have any topics you’d like to see covered, let me know. We expect to have speakers and discussion closely related to the AAUW-WA policy agenda for 2026. The PP committee is working on that agenda now. The Washington legislature has a short 60 day session this year (they passed the biennial budget last year) and despite new taxes and spending cuts, another deficit looms, so do not expect any bills that cost money to get very far. There are other issues rising that are of interest to AAUW such as AI, child care, prostitution, reproductive rights, and economic security
REGISTER Early for Advocacy Day to be sure you get the support documents for the session—the invitation will come out in December
In the meantime, Get ready: Sign up for This Week in Olympia the weekly update of legislative activities and the fate of our AAUW supported bills. You can sign up here soon:
https://aauw-wa.aauw.net/legislative-tracking/
2. What is “Decline to Sign”?
Last year, the organization Let’s Go Washington sponsored several initiatives that AAUW-WA opposed. One of them—the Parents Rights Initiative—was adopted by the legislature, which added several amendments, which AAUW-WA supported, that protected the rights of students to privacy in medical records, etc. Now Let’s Go Washington is back with another initiative to overturn the legislative amendments passed last year. They have to get a certain number of signatures by January 2, 2026 to keep the proposal in play. In the meantime, there is a counter campaign to encourage people NOT to sign this initiative and some others, such as 26-126 which would make it more difficult to register to vote and one to ban transgender women from participating in high school and college sports. The League of Women Voters of WA has adopted a Decline to Sign campaign initiative. It’s part of the efforts to educate voters so they are aware of the effects of these initiatives. AAUW-WA supports this campaign.
3. Chilling news about Medicare. At the AAUW-WA Fireside chat last week, we learned some concerning information for people who have traditional Medicare. Pam Crone of the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action and former AAUW-WA lobbyist filled us in on the status and effects of the changes in the works. The new program is called WISeR. After January 1, 2026, WISeR will require prior authorization from some outside contractor hired by HHS, no doubt powered by AI, for 17 medical procedures. In a way, this is a trial run for Robert F Kennedy Jr, Secretary of HHS and Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of Medicare and Medicaid services and applies in just 6 states: Washington is one of them. To date, there has been no prior authorization for those on traditional Medicare although most Medicare Advantage Plans do have that policy. Some argue that this is a step toward privatization of Medicare. *************************************
BECOME AN AAUW ACTIVIST!
AAUW members have resources to be involved in policy issues all year long through the AAUW TAKE ACTION website. https://www.aauw.org/act/
Whether it’s learning about national issues pertaining to equity that AAUW is following, such as Title IX, the Paycheck Fairness Act, or discovering the pay gap in Washington State, you’ll find the information there. Take a deep dive into the substance of an issue, or review AAUW’s policy priorities. And you can have your say as well by signing up for the Two Minute Activist; the AAUW policy newsletter or text AAUW to 21333 for text alerts! You can also contribute by donating to the Action Fund which supports all AAUW’s advocacy efforts on behalf of equity for women and girls.
Two Minute Activist
Have you signed up for AAUW’s Two Minute Activist notices? Did you know that it sometimes has state lobby campaigns and local activism? Sign up today to make a difference!
The Crisis in Local News and Democracy
“The Decline of Local News and its Impact on Democracy” from the League of Women Voters in WA. This report has implications for all of us, especially AAUW in its work in the community and advocacy. It’s long but very reader friendly! Check it out at this link: The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy
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AAUW RESPONSE ON ABORTION ISSUE
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) strongly condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The decision overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that established abortion as a constitutionally protected right nearly 50 years ago and ignores the will of the American people, 80% of whom support legal abortion.
AAUW believes everyone has the right to make decisions about their own reproductive lives without government interference. Abortion access is vital to women’s ability to control their lives, bodies and futures. Without reproductive freedom, there can be no equity. For more see http://aauw.org
CAMPAIGN FOR EQUALITY
AAUW joins with other organizations to counter trends toward inequality in the U.S. We demand our legislators:
***Pass Voting legislation to guarantee access to the ballot box for all
***Confirm and publish the Equal Rights Amendment: it has been ratified by Congress and 38 states. It’s time to publish it as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
***Restore reproductive freedom for women and those who can become pregnant
https://wa-online.aauw.net/advocacy/