Lawmakers have until Wednesday to pass bills from the other chamber. Here’s some of what’s passed

There are only two weeks of the Washington state legislative session left, and lawmakers have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to vote bills out of the opposite chambers from where they originated.

After that cutoff date, lawmakers will then need to review changes made by the other chamber on bills that are returned. If any amendments from the opposite chamber were added, lawmakers in the chamber where bills were initially introduced must go back and agree to those changes.

The last day of the legislative session is April 23.

Here are some of the high-profile bills that already have been approved by the opposite chambers.

Assault weapons

House Bill 1240: Senate lawmakers voted on Saturday, April 8, to advance a bill that would ban the purchase, sale, offer for sale, importation, manufacture and distribution of “assault weapons” in the state of Washington. The bill does not regulate current possession, and an exception was made in the bill for those inheriting weapons. Lawmakers define assault weapons in several ways. The bill passed the Senate by a 27-21 vote.

Because several changes were made to the bill in the Senate, such as exempting active-duty military members on orders to the state, as well as military retirees who move to Washington, the proposed legislation must now go back to the House for concurrence. If signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, the bill has an emergency clause that would make the bill law immediately.

Abortion

Senate Bill 5242: On Friday, April 7, House lawmakers voted 57-39 to pass legislation that would prohibit cost sharing for abortions on health plans that cover maternity services. The legislation was part of a sweeping package of abortion-related proposals this session, and does not need to return to its chamber of origin for concurrence.

The bill now heads for Inslee’s desk, and if signed would become effective on Jan. 1, 2024. Plans issued or renewed after that date must include abortion coverage.

Cannabis

Enhanced 2nd Substitute Senate Bill 5367: This law clarifies definitions for cannabis products, and is aimed at limiting youth access to such products. The bill would also regulate the sale of products such as delta-8, which currently can be purchased in gas stations and other stores. Additionally, E2SSB 5367 also prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of cannabis products without a state license.

This legislation passed the House on Friday, April 7, by a 90-6 vote, and will have to be returned to the Senate for concurrence. The bill would go into effect 90 days after the session adjourns if signed by the governor.

Advisory votes

Senate Bill 5082: On Friday night, House lawmakers voted 54-43 to prohibit advisory votes from being placed on Washington ballots. Advisory votes are non-binding, meaning that voters have no power to approve or reject the measures they are voting on. They were created to gauge voter opinion on tax increases that already have passed the Legislature. Anti-tax activist Tim Eyman sponsored the initiative in 2007 that first required advisory votes to be placed on Washington ballots.

Under the bill, voters instead would have access to a website that summarizes operating, capital, and transportation budgets. Expenditures for the most recent bienniums would be available in graph form online as well, and charts of local and state expenditures also would be provided.

If signed by the governor, the legislation will go into effect 90 days after the session adjourns.

Government transparency

House Bill 1533: On Friday, April 7, Senate lawmakers unanimously approved this legislation that would exempt state agency and K-12 public school employees who are survivors of domestic violence from public disclosure requirements under the Public Records Act. The bill has been controversial since its introduction, with news media outlets saying that it would prevent them from doing their jobs if certain records are hidden, so an amendment was added by Senate lawmakers that creates an exception to the exemption for news media requesting public records.

The legislation will have to be sent back to the House for concurrence. If signed by Inslee, the law would go into effect immediately.

Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women and People

House Bill 1177: This legislation would create a cold case investigation unit for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People in the state of Washington under the Attorney General’s Office. It passed the Senate unanimously on Saturday. The bill also previously passed the House unanimously.

The introduction of this bill comes a year after lawmakers in Washington voted to create the country’s first alert system for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People.

The bill will be sent back to the House for concurrence and will go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session, if signed by the governor.

Drug possession

Enhanced House Bill 1209: Senate lawmakers voted unanimously on Wednesday, April 5, to restrict the purchase, sale, and possession of pill presses in the state of Washington, which lawmakers say are being used to make counterfeit pills, many containing deadly fentanyl. The legislation would make the purchase, sale and possession of these devices a Class C Felony. House lawmakers also voted unanimously to pass the bill from the chamber.

The bill now heads for Inslee’s desk and if signed would go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session.

Hospital safe staffing

Enhanced 2nd Substitute Senate Bill 5236: The Senate approved this legislation requiring hospitals to establish safe staffing committees by Jan. 1, 2024. Those committees must be 50% comprised of non-managerial nursing staff, and 50% hospital administration. Starting in January 2025, safe staffing plans must be submitted to the Department of Health and those plans must be implemented starting on July 1, 2025. If a hospital is less than 80% compliant with that plan, they must report to DOH.

The law contains several other provisions including the ability of the Department of Labor and Industries to penalize hospitals for non-compliance.

The bill passed the House with a 92-6 vote and now heads for Inslee’s desk.