Essential information on each bill is below. For more details, click on the bill number – e.g., “SB 5000.” The new page will show the progress of the bill, videos of debate, and the link to send a comment to your legislator about the bill.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5060 proposes a Washington state law creating a grant program to aid local and tribal law enforcement agencies in hiring new officers. This bi-partisan legislation allocates $100 million to the Criminal Justice Training Commission to fund up to 75% of entry-level officer salaries and benefits for up to 36 months, requiring a 25% local match. The program aims to increase community policing and public safety, with strict reporting requirements on application numbers, funding amounts, and hiring outcomes. The bill outlines specific grant application processes and criteria, including reporting requirements for grant recipients. Finally, the commission must annually report to the legislature on the program’s progress and effectiveness. Governor Ferguson has stated that funding law enforcement is a high priority.
Bill Summary
At the request of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek has introduced a bipartisan Senate Bill 5067 aimed at reducing the acceptable blood alcohol level for driving under the influence from .08% to .05%. This bill was initially introduced in 2023 and appeared again in 2024. Both times it received significant opposition from organizations that sell liquor by the drink and died on the Senate floor.
A 180 pound adult will typically be near the .05% blood alcohol level after two alcoholic beverages. FPIW strongly supports this bill.
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Safety
Concerning agencies, firefighters, prosecutors, and general or limited authority law enforcement, extending eligibility for employment to all United States citizens or persons legally authorized to work in the United States under Federal Law.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5068 states that applicants for limited law enforcement agencies, firefighters, prosecutors and civil service roles will no longer be required to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Instead, they must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law. This bill will open these jobs to DACA recipients and other non-citizens. Applicants must still meet existing qualifications such as being of suitable age, good health and English proficiency.
Law enforcement officers, prosecutors and others hold positions of public trust and should be U.S. citizens to ensure full allegiance to our country and eliminate concerns about divided loyalties. U.S. citizenship has historically been required for these positions due to the sensitive nature of their duties, including access to classified information, national security natters and criminal investigations. In addition, the bill could create legal conflicts with federal statutes. For example, federal law prohibits certain non-citizens from owning or possessing firearms, which could create legal ambiguity for non-citizen police officers or corrections officers. The bill could also lead to lawsuits challenging its constitutionality or conflicts with federal immigration and employment law. Furthermore, ICE and DHS may have restrictions on working with non-citizen officers, which could complicate local and state law enforcement cooperation.
Expanding eligibility to more non-citizens may require more complex background investigations, including checks for work authorization, criminal history in other countries and verification of legal status. Finally, citizenship should come with specific rights and privileges, including eligibility for certain public service jobs, and this bill weakens those distinctions and could lead to further weakening of standards in other government jobs.
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Taxes
Concerning prohibiting fees on certain acts of commerce to protect tipped wages for workers while reducing the financial burden on employers.
Bill Summary
In Washington State it is currently legal for a tipped employee to have 2-4% of credit card tips withheld by their employer to cover the costs associated with processing the credit card. Only when a merchant pays with cash can this charge be avoided. No amount of a tip should be taken from an employee to cover the businesses operating expenses.
Senate Bill 5070 aims to protect tipped wages for workers and alleviate financial burdens on employers by prohibiting fees on tips and gratuities collected through electronic payment transactions. It establishes that issuers, payment card networks, banks, and processors cannot charge merchants fees on the tax or gratuity amounts if the merchant provides this data during the authorization or payment process. Additionally, if a merchant fails to transmit this data, they can submit tax documentation within 180 days to receive a credit for the fees charged.
Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws regarding minimum wage, ensuring that employers must pay employees all tips and gratuities in full without deductions for fees. It specifies that tips and service charges are in addition to the employee’s hourly minimum wage. Violations of the new provisions can result in civil penalties of $1,000 per transaction. Unfortunately, if passed, the act will not take effect until July 1, 2026.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5075 is a strongly supported bipartisan bill. It is a step toward making prenatal and postnatal care more accessible and affordable for families across Washington. The bill prohibits health plans from imposing cost-sharing requirements, meaning expectant mothers will no longer face high out-of-pocket expenses for essential maternity services. This includes office visits, ultrasounds, prenatal screenings, lab work, prescriptions, lactation support, counseling, and post-C-section care. By eliminating financial barriers, this bill ensures that all mothers receive the necessary medical attention before, during, and after childbirth, reducing the risk of complications. Studies show that consistent and early prenatal care leads to healthier pregnancies and better birth outcomes, ultimately lowering overall healthcare costs.
The bill covers a full prenatal period of 270 days before delivery and a postnatal period extending 12 months after childbirth, ensuring comprehensive support for both mother and baby. The minimal increase in health insurance premiums—estimated at just a few cents to a dollar per month—pales in comparison to the life-saving benefits this bill provides. Additionally, SB 5075 ensures that health savings account (HSA) plans maintain their tax-exempt status, protecting financial flexibility for families. The bill supports working families, public employees, and underserved communities by ensuring equal access to care regardless of income. Health plans already cover maternity care, but copays and deductibles create obstacles that disproportionately impact low- and middle-income families. By passing this bill, Washington will join other states in leading the charge for maternal health equity.
Finally, some observers consider bills such as SB 5075 to be a ‘back-door’ pro-life bill. This type of coverage eliminates one more reason why a single mother facing a crisis pregnancy might choose abortion over life. This is how we ultimately make abortion ‘unthinkable’ without having to legislate life in a state that is currently abortion focused.