Spokane holds first readings of hiring and gender-affirming care ordinances

City Council Member Lydina Barrete said the council held first readings of two ordinances: one she described as the "Bridal Address" ordinance, which Barrete said would expand fair-chance hiring practices for people experiencing homelessness by ensuring qualified applicants are not excluded solely because they lack a brick-and-mortar address or housing status; the other would affirm the right to seek gender-affirming care and add language to the Spokane Municipal Code to ensure city-provided health-care coverage extends to gender-affirming treatment that is legal in Washington state.

Barrete summarized the hiring measure by saying, "An employer will not be able to require an applicant to provide an address or residence history until after granting provisional offer of employment." According to her remarks, the ordinance is intended to prevent disqualification of applicants who lack a permanent address.

On the health coverage ordinance, Barrete said the proposed code addition affirms the right of individuals to seek gender-affirming care, calls for periodic policy review to ensure inclusivity and equity, and would require that city-provided health care cover legal gender-affirming treatments in Washington state. The transcript does not record ordinance numbers, specific code sections to be added, vote tallies, or whether the first readings advanced the ordinances to a second reading.

Because these were first readings, further committee review, amendments, and final votes are possible; the meeting excerpt did not specify next steps, timelines, or the departments responsible for implementing changes to city employment practices or health-care coverage.