More than 100 bills were signed into WA law in the last week. Here are some key ones

On the heels of the news that Gov. Jay Inslee would not seek re-election to a fourth term, the governor signed more than 100 bills into law last week.

So far, over 300 bills have been signed into law from the 2023 legislative session that ended on April 23.

Inslee also announced on Wednesday that he is calling a special session scheduled to start on May 16 so that state lawmakers can come to an agreement on a new statewide drug possession law before the current law is set to expire on July 1.

Here are some of the bills signed by the governor last week:

Police pursuits

Senate Bill 5352: The new law lowers the threshold for when police can chase down suspects fleeing in a vehicle. Police need only have reasonable suspicion for police to pursue drivers they believe have committed one of six particular crimes: violent offenses, sex offenses, vehicular assaults, escapes, assault involving domestic violence, and driving under the influence. The bill was sponsored by Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, and goes into effect on July 23.

Health care

House Bill 1576: This bill will reduce workforce barriers between states by creating a Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. Licensed dentists and dental hygienists will be able to practice in other states under the agreement, and those licensed in other states also can work in Washington. Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, was the bill’s prime sponsor and the law will go into effect July 23.

Senate Bill 5218: Motorized wheelchairs and other “mobility-improving” equipment will be tax-exempt in the state of Washington under this law. Signed Thursday, this bill was sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane, and goes into effect on July 23.

House Bill 1222: Coverage for hearing instruments must be provided by non-grandfathered large group health plans as well as health-care plans for public employees and their dependents in Washington after Jan. 1, 2024. The coverage includes hearing instruments, the initial assessment, fitting, adjustment, auditory training, and ear molds. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines.

Newspaper tax relief

Senate Bill 5199: This legislation exempts newspapers that print and publish in Washington from the current 0.35% preferential B&O tax rate. All amounts received from printing or publishing will be exempt starting on Jan. 1, 2024. The bill was requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson and sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah.

Housing

Senate Bill 5058: Buildings with 12 or fewer units and no more than two stories high will be exempt from the definition of “multi-unit residential buildings,” making it easier for smaller condominiums to be built. Also sponsored by Padden, the law goes into effect on July 23.

House Bill 1042: The law allows developers to build new housing in vacant buildings that already exist, and removes barriers to streamline the process of converting vacant buildings into residential housing. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Amy Walen, D-Kirkland, and goes into effect on July 23.

Criminal justice reform

Senate Bill 5046: This law allows post-conviction access to counsel for adults and juveniles who are unable to afford it, and it will be provided by the Office of Public Defense. Sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, the bill goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Jury duty requirements

House Bill 1312: Washingtonians 80 or older can now be excused from jury duty if they attest that they are unable to serve because of health reasons. Courts must grant the request, and doctors’ notes are not required. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, and goes into effect on July 23.

Alcohol and cannabis

House Bill 1772: This bill prohibits the manufacture, import, offer, or sale of drinks containing both alcohol and cannabis or any form of tetrahydrocannabinol. Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson, the law will go into effect on July 23.

Senate Bill 5448: During the pandemic, bars and restaurants were allowed to sell to-go cocktails along with takeout orders, and this bill will permanently allow that practice in Washington. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, and since the current law regulating the service is set to expire in late June, the new law will go into effect July 1.

State dinosaur

House Bill 1020: Signed Thursday, this law will designate the Suciasaurus rex as the Washington state dinosaur. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Melanie Morgan, D-Parkland, at the request of fourth-grade students at Elmhurst Elementary in the Franklin Pierce School District.

School recess

Senate Bill 5257: This law requires public schools to provide at least 30 minutes of recess to K-5 students, and sixth grade students if they attend an elementary school. The law is required to begin in the 2024-25 school year in Washington schools. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles, D-Fircrest.

Hazing

House Bill 1002: Penalties for hazing are increased from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor. Cases that involve substantial bodily harm are upgraded to a class C felony, and felony hazing is added to statutory lists of crimes against persons and crimes of harassment. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, and goes into effect on July 23.

Sex trafficking and prevention

Senate Bill 5355: School districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools are mandated under this law to teach students in grades 7-12 about sex trafficking and its prevention starting no later than the 2025-26 school year. Each student would be required to learn the curriculum at least once before they get to grade 12. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn.

Sexual assault kits

House Bill 1564: Over-the-counter sexual assault kits will be prohibited from sale or offering for sale in the state of Washington under this bill signed into law Thursday. The kits are inadmissible in court, and hospitals in the state do not charge sexual assault survivors for their kits. Sponsored by Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, the law goes into effect on July 23.

Hope cards

House Bill 1766: Survivors of domestic violence will be allowed to carry wallet-sized “Hope Cards” in place of paperwork documenting a protective order under a bill signed into law Thursday. The law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Clean energy

On Wednesday, the governor signed seven new pieces of legislation regarding clean energy while on a visit to Tri-Cities.

House Bill 1416: Under this bill, customers of investor-owned and consumer-owned utilities are covered under customer provisions of the Clean Energy Transformation Act. Sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia, the bill goes into effect on July 23.

Senate Bill 5447: This bill incentivizes the production of sustainable aviation fuel in Washington, and was sponsored by Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, along with several Democrats and Republicans. The bill has multiple effective dates.

House Bill 1236: As transit agencies begin to transition from diesel buses to those that run on cleaner fuel, this bill allows those agencies to produce and use green hydrogen. Sponsored by Rep. David Hackney, D-Tukwila, the legislation goes into effect July 23.

House Bill 1181: This law requires local governments to take action to address climate change by adding climate change and resiliency goals into the state’s framework for growth management. The bill was requested by the governor’s office and was sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr, D-Bothell.

House Bill 1176: This legislation creates the Washington Climate Corps to expand service opportunities for young adults and veterans by connecting them with climate and clean energy career opportunities. The state will conduct clean energy workforce planning in partnership with unions and industries. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue at the request of the governor’s office.

Senate Bill 5165: Prepares the state for 100% clean energy by improving transmission planning efforts. Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, sponsored the bill at the request of the governor’s office, and the bill goes into effect on July 23.

House Bill 1216: This legislation is intended to provide up-front planning, early community and Tribal input, and efficient environmental review of new clean energy projects. Also requested by the governor’s office, the bill was sponsored by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, and goes into effect July 23.