Senate Bill 6443, Repealing human rights commission rules on gender segregated facilities
Failed to pass in the Senate on Feb. 10 by a vote of 24-25
The bill would have repealed a new Washington Human Rights Commission rule that allows transgender persons to choose whether to use men’s or women’s public restroom and locker facilities.
Sen. James Hargrove (D-Hoquiam) N
Senate Joint Resolution 8211, Amending the Constitution to require a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes
Failed to pass in the Senate on Feb. 12 by a vote of 26-23
Despite Washington voters sending a clear message six separate times that they want a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to raise taxes, Senate lawmakers failed to approve Senate Joint Resolution 8211, although a majority of senators voted for it.
Proposed constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote of both chambers.
The measure was intended to restore the two-thirds vote requirement in Initiative 1366, adopted by voters in 2015 but declared unconstitutional by a lower state court.
Hargrove N
House Bill 2086, Concerning the hosting of the homeless by religious organizations
Passed the House on Feb. 11 by a vote of 53-43 (one member excused, one seat vacant)
This bill would provide more leeway for churches and other religious organizations that operate temporary encampments for the homeless, or allow people who live out of their cars to use their parking lots at night along with church facilities like bathrooms.
Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim) Y
Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) Y
House Bill 2681, Authorizing pharmacist to prescribe and dispense oral contraceptives
Passed the House on Feb. 11 by a vote of 67-30
Under this bill, the state health officer or a county health officer may enter into an agreement with a pharmacist in order for the pharmacist to initiate or modify drug therapy related to oral contraceptives in accordance with written guidelines and protocols previously established and approved for the pharmacist’s practice.
Tharinger Y
Van De Wege Y
House Bill 2465, Requiring health insurers and Medicaid to cover a 12-month supply of contraceptives
Passed the House on Feb. 11 by a vote of 91-6
The bill provides that a health benefit plan, issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2017, that includes coverage for contraceptive drugs must reimburse for a 12-month refill of contraceptive drugs obtained at once unless the enrollee requests or the provider instructs that the enrollee must receive a smaller supply.
Tharinger Y
Van De Wege Y
House Bill 2743, Requiring the issuance of a high school equivalency certificate as a Washington State high school diploma
Passed the House on Feb. 10 by a vote of 63-32
This bill requires high school equivalency certificates issued by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to be issued as a Washington State high school diploma, provided that the recipient is at least 18 years of age or has completed 18 or more credits in a 24-credit graduation system adopted in accordance with a resolution of the State Board of Education.
Tharinger Y
Van De Wege Y
House Bill 1541, Implementing strategies to close the educational opportunity gap
Passed the House on Feb. 4 by a vote of 50-47
The bill would, among other things, prohibit long-term suspension or expulsion as a form of discretionary discipline, limit all suspension or expulsion to the length of an academic term and require a reengagement meeting that includes the student’s family.
Tharinger Y
Van De Wege Y
House Bill 1745, Enacting the Washington voting rights act
Passed the House on Feb. 4 by a vote of 50-47
The bill passed previously in the House during the 2015 session, but did not advance in the Senate. It would create a state voting rights act that protects equal opportunities for minority groups to participate in local elections. The act would create a legal cause of action where local and district elections exhibit polarized voting between voters in a protected class and other voters, and where members of the protected class do not have an equal opportunity to elect their preferred candidate or influence the election.
Tharinger Y
Van De Wege Y
