Thats a Wrap 2020

Session Wrap Up & Review

We know this review is a bit late in coming. After the 2020 legislative session ended we all breathed a sigh of relief. Shortly thereafter we were assaulted by a new force, Covid-19. We are all struggling to come to grips our current situation, but in trying to focus on the positives we thought it might be nice to share our successful legislative season.

In Jan 2020, our newly formed Cosmetologists United Trade Association worked to ready Advocates and COWU community members for an extremely short legislative session. Due to it not being a budget a year, the length of session in 2020 was 60 days total. Session officially ended March 12th.

The first week of WA Legislative 2020 session went fast and furious with unmoved 2019 bills being automatically re-introduced. We all had a mini heart attack when the dreaded SB 5326 Booth Rental Ban that set cosmetologists on fire last year was brought back to the table. That was when we learned that all bills automatically have a 2 year life span.  Other bills still in the fray regarded independent contractor legislation that could jeopardize booth rental, self employment and/or small business in the cosmetology industry.

These bills remained dead and did not make it out of committee in 2020.

In the following weeks, COWU leadership highlighted newly introduced and potentially harmful bills to community members. We developed resources in attempt to explain the dangers of the new legislation and how these bills could impact the cosmetology sector within different business structures. As we neared the anniversary of our dramatic impact on Jan 28, 2019 in Olympia- leaders brought back a call to action that proved effective in our previous fight. 

VALENTINES to LEGISLATORS! Industry Professionals from all over the state sent messages of love and hope to their district legislators regarding harmful legislation. These messages contained a bobby pin and sometimes a little glitter. You can say one thing about our efforts – we make sure they never forget the strength and impact of our voices.

February 4th we convened on the capital to protest SB 6276. In a surprising swing of events the day before the bill was scheduled for public testimony the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee removed the bill from the Agenda. Those of us who could make it to the capital met anyways to remind legislators that we would always be watching, and remain ready to fight for our businesses.