Representative Jamila Taylor

In commemoration of our Elect Black Women project, we are celebrating the incredible candidates we supported in 2020 and the historic legislative wins they pioneered during 2021-22 legislative session.

Representative Jamila Taylor represents the 30th Legislative District of Washington State, which encompasses parts of King County and a small section of Pierce County, including the cities of Federal Way, Des Moines, Auburn, Algona, Pacific, and Milton, Washington. Rep. Taylor is a public interest attorney who earned her JD from the University of Oregon School of Law, and opened her own legal consulting practice in 2014. She has also served as statewide advocacy counsel for Northwest Justice Project, managing a team of attorneys representing domestic violence survivors and other victims of violent crime. In the State House, Rep. Taylor is vice chair of the Housing, Human Services and Veterans Committee, and serves on the Community and Economic Development and Transportation Committees. She also serves as chair of the Black Members Caucus. 

During the 2021-22 legislative session, Rep. Jamila Taylor was the prime sponsor on House Bill 1383, making changes to the licensing, supervision, and scope of practice for respiratory care practitioners (RCPs). The bill updates existing law to match recent guidance and scope of practice of respiratory care in the field, and allows for it to be delivered through telemedicine, enhancing practitioners’ ability to treat more patients -- especially given that the need for RCPs increased dramatically during the pandemic. It also establishes standardized requirements for the licensing of RCPs, including regulations regarding educational certifications, exams, experience hours, pharmacology, supervision, and practice settings, and defines the role more explicitly. Rep. Taylor has a personal interest in the standardization of respiratory care and the importance of deploying more practitioners specializing in respiratory therapy, stating, “I have a family member with chronic lung disease, who is at higher risk of COVID-19 complications. There are countless families like mine, and hundreds of thousands of patients who needed and still need these highly skilled health care workers.” The bill passed unanimously in the Legislature and has been signed into law by Governor Inslee, effective July 1, 2022.

Rep. Taylor was also the prime sponsor for House Bill 1425, expanding the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS). The bill brings more inclusivity to the scholarship program by amending the Career and Technical Scholarship -- removing the requirement for a student to have received a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate in Washington. “We need more people in these high-demand careers in STEM and healthcare, and this scholarship can help meet that need. The pandemic forced many families to reevaluate their career path, sometimes due to a loss of employment, and supporting expanded scholarships gives families an option to find that new job or career,” said Rep. Taylor. The bill was signed into law by Governor Inslee, effective July 25, 2021.

Another important piece of legislation that Rep. Taylor introduced in 2021-22 was House Bill 1514, increasing access to the state vanpool program. HB 1514 is aimed at saving commuters money, increasing access to rideshare programs, and reducing congestion and emissions. The bill eliminates weight and trip requirements, creates greater eligibility for tax exemptions and tax credits for rideshares, and reduces the minimum vanpool requirements of five persons, including the driver, to three. Rep. Taylor explained that “as more people return to their worksites, the need for comprehensive strategies to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions will grow, and this is one tool we can use to ensure people in Washington have access to a safe, affordable option to get to work.” The bill was signed into law by Governor Inslee, effective September 1, 2021.

Finally, Rep. Taylor was proud to introduce House Resolution 4603, honoring Black History Month. The resolution directs the Washington State House to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to the lives of Washingtonians, “not only in February, but throughout the year,” as the resolution reads. As a Black woman and the daughter of an esteemed history professor, Rep. Taylor understands deeply the importance of remembrance and commemoration of Black American excellence. In an era of growing public recognition of historic and ongoing racial inequity and injustice, it is vitally important we acknowledge the Black experience and celebrate Black lives and histories.