March 26th 2025
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The LEOFF 1 Coalition Is The Only Statewide Organization That Represents Retired
LEOFF 1 Members Deputy Sheriffs • Police Officers • Fire Fighters |
URGENT TAKE ACTIONDoes a bill proposed in Olympia upset or inspire you? TAKE ACTION: • TESTIFY: You can make your voice heard easier than ever by testifying in person, remotely, in writing or by simply signing in and stating whether you are pro or con. Here is the legislature's step by step guide. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
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Watch The Public Hearing of Bills HB2034 & SSB 5085HB 2034: Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system. SSB 5085: Concerning three of Washington states closed retirement plans. |
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Join the LEOFF1 Coalition Protect Your Retirement Plan and Medical BenefitsThe Coalition is the only state wide organization that exclusively represents retired LEOFF1 Members and Beneficiaries. Membership FormsClick here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION Click here for the MEMBERSHIP & CONTRIBUTION form - PDF VERSION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ How To Register To Testify?Use the Legislature’s Committee Sign-In program! You can use a web-enabled device to go to or use one of the sign-in kiosks located on the Capitol Campus.
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URGENT! Let Your Voice Be Heard!March 13 Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM (Subject to change). (Committee Materials) https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2034&Year=2025&Initiative=fa Sign up to testify: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi HB 2034 - 2025-26 Sponsors: Ormsby, Fitzgibbon, Gregerson, Macri |
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Senate Floor Debate on TVW.orgClick HERE to watch. Regarding SSB 5085, passed the Senate 28 ya and 21 no. SSB 5314 Capital Gain Tax, passed the Senate |
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Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act Qualification |
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Hearing for SB 5085SB 5085 Concerns Merger of LEOFF1 Retired Teachers and Retired State Employees. Dennis Lawson, President WSCFF, Joyce Willms, LEOFF1 Coalition Executive Director, Teresa Taylor, Executive Director WACOPS and Michael Duchemin, President RFFOW testified during the hearing. CLICK HERE to watch the testimonies |
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Call The Legislators Today, Jan. 23rd!The Merger Will Take ALL of LEOFF1 Assets.Senate Ways & Means Committee Hearing is at 4:00 pm, Room 4 in the John A. Cherberg Building, also called JAC NO Merger, LEOFF 1, Retired Teachers & Retired St. Employees Call the Bill Sponsors and Senator T'wina Nobles 360.786.7654 Click HERE to watch live |
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How To Register To Testify?Use the Legislature’s Committee Sign-In program! You can use a web-enabled device to go to https://leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/session/how-to-testify-at-a-committee-meeting/ or use one of the sign-in kiosks located on the Capitol Campus. |
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The State Legislators are after the LEOFF 1 Pension againLEOFF 1 Members and Beneficiaries, We need to work together to kill SB-5085 Click here To Read SB-5085 |
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Inslee Releases Budget Proposal; Includes merger of LEOFF1 and LEOFF2 Pension PlansGov. Inslee releases future-focused budget proposal, highlights the growing costs of income inequality. This includes the merger of LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 Pension Plans! Excerpt:
Efficiency cuts and a new wealth tax
Earlier this month, Inslee directed a freeze on non-essential hiring and spending, a move that will result in savings while the Legislature considers spending plans. Overall, Inslee is proposing about $2.0 billion in reductions or delayed implementation of certain programs over the next four years.
Reductions include closure of Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women due to decreasing need for lower-security beds. Inslee proposes closing two residential habilitation centers and helping residents move to other community-based settings. The state would also close three reentry centers where demand for services is low.
To address the remaining gap, Inslee proposes a merger of the state’s LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 pension plans which allows a one-time shift of $1 billion to the general fund while still leaving a surplus in the combined LEOFF system. He is also proposing a new wealth tax and B&O tax changes. Over four years, the wealth tax would generate $10.3 billion and the B&O tax would raise about $2.6 billion.
Please click link to read entire article. Read Full Article Here
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2025 Updates on Signing In to Testify in CommitteeFor those interested in testifying on a bill in committee, here are ways to testify for a committee hearing remotely. I sent comments in support of Operating and Capital Budget items this way. With funding/budget bills all introduced this week, the policy bills are next. How to register to testify?Use the Legislature’s Committee Sign-In program! You can use a web-enabled device to go to www.app.leg.wa.gov/csi or use one of the sign-in kiosks located on the Capitol Campus. Updates for 2025:• More Testimony Options - You now can testify either in person or remotely. All testifiers are automatically registered for Zoom and will receive a link in case their plans change. • Longer Registration Period – Registration is no longer limited to the day of the hearing. You may now register as soon as a bill is scheduled for public hearing until 1 hour before the meeting is scheduled to begin (you will not be able to register after this deadline has passed). • Easier to Register – Registration locations are no longer limited to the Capitol Campus. You may now register to testify from any location, even from home. • Easier to Submit Written Testimony – You may submit written testimony online from the time a bill is scheduled until up to 24 hours after the start of the hearing (committees are paperless and hand-outs are no longer accepted). |
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Governor's actions:The Governor reviews the bill. Click Here to Read More |
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Pension and InvestmentsWashington state high court rules pension benefit reductions are constitutionalClick here for more details. |
The LEOFF 1 Coalition website contains some files that come in a "pdf" format which requires Adobe's Acrobat Reader in order to view and search through the documents. If you don't already have it, you can download it here. It's free from Adobe.
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Legislator Information! |
Join the Leoff 1 Coalition
The Coalition is the only state wide organization that exclusively represents retired LEOFF1 Members and Beneficiaries. MEMBERSHIP FORMSClick here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION Update Your InformationContact Joyce Willms at joyce@leoff1coalition.org or by calling the Coalition office at 360-570-1035. |
Keep Track with What's Happening at the Capital!Washington State Wire - Click Here! The Olympian: Politics/Government - Click Here! The Seattle Times: Olympia Politics - Click Here! The News Tribune: Politics & Government - Click Here! The Columbian: Politics - Click Here! The Spokesman: Washington Politics - Click Here! |
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Swisher v. City of Moses Lake
Swisher v. City of Moses Lake Case letter from Joe Fischnaller, Atty - Click here Finding of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order - case document filed Feb. 5, 2010 - Click here Order of Motion for Summer Judgement - case document filed Oct. 9, 2009 - Click here Superior Court of Washington for Grant County, Elvis T. Swisher vs City of Moses Lake - July 7, 2008 - Click here
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State LegislatorsPlease read thisBakenhus Decision 1956 |
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RETIREMENT LAWS Medical Benefits For Plan1 Members Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Plan 1 Hand Book Contact - 1-800-547-6657 Department of Retirement Systems Leoff1 Plan Disability Benefits Leoff1 Plan Disability Board Guidelines What To Do When Contact - 1-800-547-6657 ext.47081 Washington State Department of Retirement Systems Annual Inflation Lifetime Retirement For more government information and phone numbers, Click Here! Social Security |
Veteran’s Benefits |