Now that the state House and Senate have adjourned sine die for the session, we can take a breather and talk about what all went down. I tried to stay current on Mastodon, but it’s been moving fairly quickly in the past few weeks and I didn’t have time to blog about it. As it is, the end result has been excellent, so I’m not even particularly frustrated about it!
Okay, so what happened here?
Data science, yes please
The LCB’s research arm is assembling a dataset on lewd conduct enforcement over the history of the rule. (I know, it’s the prohibited conduct rule, but … I like this term better.) They’ve noted this is taking some time, due to the numerous different archives they have to integrate–and a desire to make sure that it’s defensible. A focus on data quality is admirable and I appreciate that the agency’s researchers are getting the opportunity.
Meanwhile, rulemaking has been opened and they’re actually planning to address the petitions to repeal the WAC next week. In all, the agency’s following through, and I’m quite impressed.
We really meant it
The original version of SB 6105 didn’t address alcohol at all, really; the substitute bill added rules for allowing alcohol sales but had this funny phrasing so as to keep the lewd conduct rule. However, that was on the 29th–as the community response to the raids was just ramping up. By Wednesday, the LCB was readying a response as the community put forward an extremely large and loud statement. By the time the bill reached the House, we’d gotten an amendment instructing the LCB to strike the rule in its entirety.
Well, after a rewrite via striker amendment, and some additional language-smithing, we’ve got a final bill that established some of the firmest language it could protecting vulnerable workers at strip clubs, and which refines the LCB’s charter to explicitly remove regulating attire or behavior from its remit. This is fantastic; in the end, it seems the LCB’s actions are going to land first, but it’s comforting to see corresponding pressure on the board from the Legislature.
None of this work in the legislature would have happened without the engagement of Strippers Are Workers–Madison Zack-Wu and many other dancers presented excellent testimony, and the group has done the work to gather evidence and supporting data. This bill is, without a doubt, the result of their dedicated effort, and I just wanted to thank them for it.
Now what?
For now? I’m enjoying the attitude that we get from not having that rule looming over us. I love the freedom that we’re getting to see, and I’m having fun on nights out. I intend to keep doing that, especially since there’s a political aspect to them now.
So let’s dance.