New Washington state laws go into effect Sunday. Here are some of the key ones
Sunday, July 23, is 90 days since the adjournment of the 2023 legislative session.
That means that a number of new laws will go into effect, including the creation of an aviation work group to find a suitable location for a new airport in Washington and a law to address the fentanyl crisis in the state.
Here are some of the new laws that go into effect Sunday:
Aviation work group
This law replaces the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission with the Commercial Aviation Work Group as lawmakers continue to consider plans for a new airport. The work group is responsible for evaluating the long-term aviation needs in the state. The group is also tasked with considering all the possible impacts of a new airport in Washington, and is required to submit progress reports by July 1 of every year.
Addressing the fentanyl crisis
Also known as the Tyler Lee Yates Act, this legislation makes the purchase, sale and possession of pill presses a Class C felony in Washington. Both House and Senate chambers passed the bipartisan-sponsored bill unanimously after lawmakers said the presses have been used to make counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
Death with Dignity Act expanded
Washington voters first approved the Death with Dignity Act in 2008 for those with fewer than six months to live. Under the new law, access to providers who have authorization to assist is expanded to include advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Additionally, the new law allows the medication used in the process to be mailed and eliminates waiting periods after medication is requested.
Landlord’s claims for damages
This law does several things, including extending the timeline landlords have to provide documentation showing that they are right in retaining all or part of a tenant’s deposit. That timeline is extended from 21 days to 30 days.
Additionally, landlords must provide documents or receipts to substantiate damage costs withheld from a tenant’s deposit. It also prohibits landlords from keeping a deposit in certain instances, such as normal wear and tear, or replacement of fixtures, appliances and equipment if the condition of those items was not documented during the tenant’s move-in.
Name changes for transgender residents
This new law changes the way that individuals can request name changes in the state and also changes the law so that individuals can request a name change in any district court and not just with the district court in the area where they live.
The law will not only make it easier for transgender individuals to change their names, but will ensure that those records can be sealed to protect the privacy of people who go through the transition process.
Runaway youth services
Easily one of the most controversial bills from this year’s legislative session, this bill has faced some tough backlash as well as an attempt to gather signatures for a referendum before it even goes into effect on Sunday.
As the existing law is written, runaway youth must be reported to their parents by a shelter within 72 hours unless a compelling reason such as abuse or neglect exists not to do so. The Department of Children, Youth and Families must intervene if a compelling reason exists and find placement for the youth.
Under Senate Bill 5599, shelters would still have the requirement to contact parents unless a compelling reason exists, but seeking or receiving protected health care services, including gender-affirming treatment, would be included as compelling reasons. If the runaway youth is being served by the shelter without permission from their parents, DCYF is obligated to offer to make referrals for appropriate behavioral health treatment and DCYF must try to accomplish reunification of the family by offering services that are designed to resolve conflict among the family members.
Licensed host homes do not need to contact parents of runaway youth if a compelling reason exists, but they still must report runaway youth to DCYF within 72 hours. DCYF must then make contact with families to attempt to resolve the conflict with the ultimate goal being reunification. If youth and families aren’t reunified, DCYF must provide case management for the youth outside of their host homes.
Creation of psilocybin task force
Under this law, the Washington Health Care Authority must establish a psilocybin task force with requirements for who can sit on the board set in statute. The task force will review all research surrounding psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic drug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi, and will have to submit a final report to the governor as well as the Legislature by Dec. 1.
Another part of the new law states that pilot programs offering psilocybin services in treatment settings must be available by January 2025.
Increasing access to ADUs
Under this bipartisan-backed bill, cities and counties in urban growth areas can now allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, which are secondary housing units on a single-family residential lot. They can be attached to the primary home or detached.
The bill eases some of the barriers to ADU construction. Additionally, cities and counties can incentivize development of ADUs.
