State Senate committee hears bill to extend COVID unemployment benefits to undocumented workers

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A state Senate bill that would extend COVID unemployment benefits to undocumented workers got a committee hearing in Olympia yesterday.

Seattle Senator Rebecca Saldanya, a Democrat, is a primary sponsor of the bill intended to cover 270,000 persons in Washington.

Senate Bill 5438 is co-sponsored by 40th District Senator Liz Lovelett, also a Democrat.

Separately in October, the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund began accepting applications for one time direct payments of $1000 to undocumented immigrants.