“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith.” 1 Corinthians 16:13a
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These bills are for Thursday, April 3rd, 2025.
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Health Care
A hearing on HB 1162 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1162 is another example of government overreach – particularly in the health care arena. This bill mandates that each health care setting develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan, which must be updated at least once a year. The plan should address various factors contributing to workplace violence, including security measures, staffing patterns, job design, and employee training. The vast majority of health care entities in Washington State are not government facilities; therefore, they should not be mandated by state government to follow through on this “order”. Democrats need to stay out of the health care realm altogether. They can’t even manage government well.
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Housing
A hearing on HB 1183 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1183 overrides essential local zoning and development standards, weakening the ability of cities and counties to regulate building height, setbacks, and density in a way that reflects neighborhood character or infrastructure limits. It also mandates broad exemptions to off-street parking requirements, even in areas where transit service is minimal or unreliable, potentially leading to overcrowded streets and reduced accessibility for emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, and residents. Additionally, HB 1183 imposes arbitrary caps on affordable housing unit sizes, disregarding the diverse needs of low-income families. Finally, the bill’s provision allowing large rooftop solar panels to exceed existing height limits by up to four feet may create conflicts in areas with height-sensitive view corridors or sunlight access. HB 1183 is a one-size-fits-all solution that fails to respect the unique charm and variety of Washington communities.
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Taxes
A hearing on HB 1261 has been scheduled:
HB 1261 is a tax cut for farmers. It’s a practical piece of legislation that strengthens Washington’s commitment to preserving farmland while supporting the economic viability of local farms. This bill provides vital tax relief to farmers by clarifying and expanding the kinds of incidental activities that can legally take place on open space farm and agricultural land without risking a loss of special tax classification. It recognizes that modern farms are increasingly turning to agritourism—such as educational tours, seasonal festivals, weddings, and harvest-your-own operations—as a way to generate much-needed supplemental income. Rather than penalizing these creative uses, HB 1261 supports them. By supporting this bill, we help to protect our farmers, our rural land, and our local economy.
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Education
A hearing on HB 1273 has been scheduled:
HB 1273 assists high school students looking to get ahead by earning college credit while still in school. By streamlining dual credit programs and making them more accessible, this bill ensures that students—especially those pursuing career and technical education—can smoothly transition from high school to college or apprenticeships without unnecessary barriers. With better data tracking, improved statewide articulation agreements, and expanded support from educational service districts, HB 1273 removes red tape and helps students claim the credits they’ve worked hard to earn. This means less confusion, fewer wasted credits, and more opportunities for young people to enter high-demand, high-paying careers with a head start.
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Education
A hearing on HB 1279 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1279 is a key step toward protecting Washington students from deceptive or predatory practices by higher education institutions, especially those offering online and out-of-state programs. In an increasingly digital world, where more students enroll in distance learning or online universities, it’s essential that the same consumer protections available to in-state students also extend to those studying remotely. HB 1279 ensures exactly that by strengthening the Washington Student Achievement Council’s (WSAC) authority to hold all institutions—regardless of their location—accountable for the quality and transparency of their programs. Please register PRO.
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Environment
A hearing on HB 1294 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1294 extends the life of the agricultural Pesticide Application Safety Committee to July 1, 2035. The committee’s main tasks include researching pesticide data collection, exploring safety improvements, and recommending policy changes. An advisory work group will assist the committee, providing expertise on agricultural pesticide application. The bill also expands funding for agricultural pesticide applicator training programs.
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Health Care
A hearing on HB 1392 has been scheduled:
HB 1392 is another attempt for government to run health care and expand the welfare state. It introduces a flawed and risky funding structure that could hurt both patients and the broader health care system. The bill proposes creating a Medicaid Access Program Account funded by a “covered lives assessment” — essentially, a new tax on every person enrolled in private insurance and Medicaid managed care. For Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), this could be up to $18 per member per month, a steep cost that will likely be passed down to consumers in the form of higher premiums, increased deductibles, or reduced coverage. Rep. Jim Walsh (R) stands against the bill and also points out the proposal hurts private health insurance in order to cover a growing Medicaid program. Please register CON.
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Environment
A hearing on HB 1563 has been scheduled:
HB 1563 establishes a prescribed fire claims fund pilot program in Washington to address the increasing risks of wildfires and promote the use of prescribed and cultural burning as effective forest management tools. The program aims to provide financial coverage for losses incurred during these controlled burns, which are essential for improving forest health and reducing hazardous fuel accumulation. The legislation recognizes the historical significance of fire management practices by tribal peoples and emphasizes the need for a five-fold increase in prescribed burning to mitigate wildfire risks.
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Health Care
A hearing on HB 2041 has been scheduled:
House Bill 2041 cuts vital health care coverage for postpartum individuals in Washington, reducing eligibility from 12 months to just 6 months after the end of a pregnancy. This rollback is not just a budget decision—it’s a potential threat to the health and wellbeing of new parents and their babies during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. The current 12-month coverage under Apple Health ensures that postpartum individuals—especially those with low income—have access to essential medical services like mental health care, follow-up appointments, contraception, and treatment for chronic conditions that may arise or worsen after childbirth. Halving that coverage window could lead to untreated health conditions, increased maternal complications, and even higher rates of maternal mortality.
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Taxes
A hearing on HB 2047 has been scheduled:
HB 2047 eliminates the Employee Ownership Program—an initiative barely off the ground—that was created to help businesses transition to employee ownership models. Specifically, the program was designed to help business owners looking to retire, or close, or sell to out-of-state firms, by giving workers a chance to become owners themselves. In fact, the Employee Ownership Program is a pro-worker initiative that offers a powerful tool for preserving small businesses, retaining local jobs, and building long-term wealth for workers. Employee ownership has been shown across the country to boost worker satisfaction, reduce layoffs, and build more resilient companies, especially during economic downturns. Citizens should reject HB 2047 to preserve and build upon the Employee Ownership Program, which has the potential to transform how businesses are passed on and how workers build wealth in our state. Please register CON.
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Taxes
A hearing on HB 2050 has been scheduled:
HB 2050 is a back-end budget trick that will harm schools, especially in rural communities. It modifies the monthly schedule by which the state distributes education funds to districts, redistributing payments in ways that could delay critical resources during the school year. For example, it reduces the amount of funding schools receive in key operational months such as February, March, and April, while pushing a larger chunk of funding to late summer (August)—a time when many schools are preparing to reopen and most annual expenses have already been incurred. This seemingly minor accounting change could create cash flow problems for districts, particularly smaller ones without large financial reserves. Schools rely on consistent, predictable funding to pay teachers, staff, and vendors. Altering the timeline—even slightly—could force them to take out short-term loans, pay interest, or delay critical purchases and repairs, all under the guise of “efficiency.”
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Health Care
A hearing on HB 2051 has been scheduled:
HB 2051 removes the requirement that hospitals be reimbursed for caring for Medicaid patients who no longer meet inpatient care criteria but have nowhere else to go—through no fault of the hospital or patient. Currently, when a Medicaid patient is medically ready to leave the hospital but cannot be discharged due to the unavailability of a nursing home or residential care setting, hospitals receive an “administrative day rate” to cover the ongoing costs of housing and supporting that patient. HB 2051 eliminates that support. Without this reimbursement, hospitals are effectively asked to provide room, care coordination, and basic services for free, which is unsustainable. Rather than addressing the root issue—a lack of transitional and long-term care capacity—HB 2051 punishes hospitals for system-wide failures outside their control. It risks creating bottlenecks in emergency rooms, prolonging patient suffering, and overwhelming already strained health systems.
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Environment
A hearing on SB 5033 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5033 addresses the sampling and testing of biosolids (municipal sewage sludge) for PFAS chemicals, which are known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. The bill ensures that the WA State Department of Ecology rules align with federal regulations and requires the department to establish PFAS chemical sampling and testing requirements for biosolids by July 1, 2027, followed by an analysis of PFAS levels by July 1, 2028. By December 1, 2028, the department must submit a report to the legislature with a summary of the analysis and recommendations for future action. To ensure a collaborative approach, the bill mandates the creation of an advisory committee comprising representatives from farming, utilities, toxicologists, and other stakeholders to provide input on the sampling and testing requirements.
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Health Care
A hearing on SB 5124 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5124 aims to enhance patient access to timely and medically necessary post-acute care. This legislation will establish network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals – within managed care contracts – for medical assistance programs in Washington. The bill mandates the authority to develop and adopt these standards by January 1, 2027. The standards will consider factors such as provider availability, timeliness of care, and compliance with federal Medicaid regulations, while also ensuring that care remains local to the enrollee’s community. Stakeholder feedback will be solicited throughout the development process, involving hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, managed care organizations, and other relevant associations.
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Housing
A hearing on SB 5232 has been scheduled:
This bill expands eligibility for the Essential Needs and Housing Support (HEN) program to a broader group, including people who are no longer qualifying for federal benefits or have transitioned off programs. This will likely increase reliance on state-funded programs without clear safeguards to ensure that resources are effectively allocated to those who are truly in need. Furthermore, the bill raises the administrative rate from 7% to 15% and diverting funds away from direct services to those in need. The bill allows for direct cash assistance through debit cards, transportation vouchers, and gift cards, among other methods. Providing direct cash assistance will most assuredly lead to misuse or lack of accountability. The lack of oversight on how funds are spent, particularly if recipients use the funds for non-housing-related needs, undermines the intent of the program. Additionally, the bill reduces the frequency of eligibility verification from every three months to every 12 months. This reduction in frequency allows individuals who no longer meet the criteria for assistance to continue receiving benefits. Lastly, the bill does not include any new funding or appropriation, raising concerns about how existing resources will be stretched to meet the increased demand.
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Health Care
A hearing on SB 5351 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5351 aims to reform Washington State’s dental insurance system by increasing patient protections and transparency. The bill seeks to improve access to care, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and prevent insurers from prioritizing profits over patient needs. Key provisions include mandating minimum medical loss ratios, allowing patients to choose their dentists, and ensuring fair reimbursement rates for providers. The bill also addresses regulatory requirements for insurers, including reporting and rate review processes. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to create a more equitable and fair dental insurance market in Washington.
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Health Care
A hearing on SB 5463 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5463 amends existing laws regarding the responsibilities of self-insured employers and third-party administrators for industrial insurance in Washington State. The bill introduces a new requirement that a self-insurer can have their certification withdrawn if they violate their duty of good faith and fair dealing three times within a three-year period. It stipulates that penalties for violations can range from one to 52 times the average weekly wage, depending on the severity of the infraction and the act applies to all claims regardless of the date of injury. This bill adds additional layers of regulation and compliance requirements for self-insured employers and third-party administrators (TPAs). With the expanded enforcement and penalties, small employers may be forced to reconsider their self-insurance status or may choose to pass on the cost to employees or consumers, thereby weakening their competitive position in the market.
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Freedom
A hearing on SB 5484 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5484 establishes a new program to compensate registered tow truck operators for releasing vehicles to indigent individuals, outlining eligibility criteria such as legal ownership, proof of indigence, and certification of inability to pay for towing services. Vehicles impounded due to the owner’s arrest are excluded from this program. Registered tow truck operators can apply for payment for eligible impounds, and the D.O.T. is responsible for creating a certification form for both vehicle owners and tow truck operators. The bill also amends existing laws to allow vehicle release without payment of towing and storage fees, provided the necessary forms are completed, and it mandates annual reporting on the program’s effectiveness. The act is set to take effect on February 1, 2026.
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Property
A hearing on SB 5485 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5485 is bipartisan legislation that requires the Department of Agriculture to submit an annual livestock inspection program report. This report will be provided to relevant legislative committees and the livestock identification advisory committee. The livestock identification program helps track ownership, deter theft, and support the health and safety of the state’s livestock industry. The extension provided by SB 5485 ensures the program can continue operating without interruption, offering stability for producers statewide. Furthermore, the bill continues the current livestock identification fees, the Livestock Identification Advisory Committee, and the Livestock Identification Program report from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2030.
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Housing
A hearing on SB 5559 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5559 aims to streamline the subdivision process within urban growth areas in Washington State by amending existing laws related to subdivisions and short subdivisions. Furthermore, the bill requires cities, towns, and counties to adopt regulations for the summary approval of short plats and short subdivisions, including provisions for unit lot subdivisions. These regulations must ensure that land in short subdivisions cannot be further divided within five years without filing a final plat, while also allowing for certain exceptions. Additionally, the bill mandates that by June 30, 2026, all unit lot subdivisions must notify purchasers of their legal status. It also emphasizes the need for clear and objective design and development standards, which should be ascertainable by both permit applicants and public officials prior to submission.
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Transportation
A hearing on SB 5581 has been scheduled:
SB 5581 aims to improve active transportation infrastructure in Washington State by adopting a safe system approach, which focuses on creating a comprehensive network of shared-use paths and recreational trails. It authorizes the Department of Transportation to allocate funds for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of these facilities. While the intentions behind the bill may be commendable, there are significant concerns that must be carefully considered. The bill’s provisions will undoubtedly drive up the cost of road projects by tens of millions of dollars. Given the state’s already strained budget, this additional financial burden could divert funds from other critical infrastructure projects, leaving less room for addressing immediate needs in our transportation system. Additionally mandating additional infrastructure in areas where it is unnecessary could lead to wasteful spending and duplication of efforts. While safety for all road users is crucial, this legislation – as written – introduces significant costs and potential inefficiencies that could undermine the very goals it seeks to achieve.
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Freedom
A hearing on SB 5583 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5583 proposes a 38% increase in recreational hunting and fishing license fees. This is a heavy financial burden on residents and the increased fees make hunting and fishing less accessible to the public, particularly to low-income or middle-class individuals. This bill will also hurt local businesses that rely on outdoor enthusiasts, such as sporting goods stores, rental shops, and guide services. The reduction in participation may create a ripple effect throughout the economy, leading to job losses and a decline in revenue for these businesses. While the bill outlines how revenue from the fee increases will be allocated to various enhancement and research programs, there’s no guarantee that these funds will effectively improve the fishing and hunting experience or that they will be used efficiently. Please oppose this legislation which acts another tax on the citizens of Washington.
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Freedom
A hearing on SB 5649 has been scheduled:
By developing a program through the Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program Account, SB 5649 directly addresses Washington’s status as a top export state. Providing financial support to public ports and tribes will support job creation, greater access to international markets, and improvements in the supply chain, all crucial to support ongoing global trade. By creating a program focused on these regions specifically, SB 5649 ensures the distribution of resources, empowering tribal communities to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy. Additional benefits include transparency, with clear performance goals and metrics set collaboratively, ensuring accountability. This initiative also has no direct appropriation costs, utilizing existing transportation accounts to fund the grants and loans. Supporting SB 5649 will be an investment leading to improved port infrastructure, enhanced trade opportunities, and a more robust state economy, making it an effective and strategic choice for Washington.
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Safety
A hearing on SB 5746 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5746 establishes an advisory committee focused on addressing property crimes related to electric vehicle charger infrastructure in Washington. This committee will include members from law enforcement, the attorney general’s office, local government, and the electric vehicle services industry. The committee’s responsibilities include providing guidance on reducing electric vehicle charger property crime, responding to legislative inquiries, and reporting its findings and recommendations in the council’s annual report. The committee is required to meet regularly and will be active until its expiration date of July 1, 2027. The legislation has unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate.