With the deadline for passing bills out of their house of origin looming this week, lawmakers in Olympia spent long hours debating and voting on hundreds of bills in House and Senate floor action last week.
So far this session, one scheduled to end March 10, lawmakers have passed 275 bills — 130 in the House and 145 in the Senate — and sent them to the opposite chamber for further consideration. Only two bills, HB 1732 and HB 1733, to delay collection of the unpopular long-term-care payroll tax and to create additional exemptions, have been signed into law.
On Feb. 8, the Senate approved House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 4407, making several dozen small adjustments to the Congressional and Legislative District lines drawn up by the state’s Redistricting Commission. The House passed the measure the week previous, meaning that, barring legal challenges, the redistricting process that is required every 10 years following the U.S. Census is now complete.
While the House approved HCR 4407 with an 88-7 vote, the Senate passed it by a much closer 35-14 margin, barely meeting the two-thirds majority vote requirement for passage of concurrent resolutions. The closer vote in the Senate followed sharp debate by several Republicans and Democrats who were critical of the way some district lines were drawn.
On Feb. 9, Senate Democrats brought a bill to restrict gun rights to the floor for a vote. SB 5078, titled “Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety,” would ban the manufacture, distribution and sale of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Following debate late into the evening, the bill passed along partisan lines by a 28-20 vote.
If passed by the House and signed by Gov. Inslee, the ban would limit not just high-capacity magazines for rifles, but also for semi-automatic pistols that often hold more than 10 rounds.
During the 2020 session, House Democrats proposed a similar bill (2020 Session HB 2240) but decided not to bring it to the floor for a vote after Republicans offered 120 amendments. Debate on these amendments would have likely taken up too much time just ahead of a legislative deadline. This time, Republicans sponsored just over a dozen amendments, which were voted down by Democrats following spirited floor debate.
In other action, the House on Feb. 9 approved a bill (HB 1953) that would exempt voter information on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations and signature correction forms from public disclosure. The bill passed by a 69-29 bipartisan vote.
Currently, images of election ballot return envelopes can be requested by members of the public under public records laws. Those images contain voter signatures, phone numbers and emails. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Volz (R-Spokane) would protect such personal information from being disclosed.
How our legislators voted
Senate Bill 5078 — Addressing firearm safety measures to increase public safety
Passed the Senate on Feb. 9 by a vote of 28-20 (one member excused)
This bill would ban the manufacture, distribution and sale of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. If passed by the House and signed by Gov. Inslee, the proposed ban would limit not just high-capacity magazines for rifles, but also for semi-automatic pistols that often hold more than 10 rounds. The bill, as passed, removed a provision in the original bill that would have prohibited the possession of such magazines by persons who already owned them. It would also exempt law enforcement agencies and armed services from the restrictions. Republicans proposed more than a dozen amendments to the bill that were voted down by majority Democrats. The bill now goes to the House for further consideration.
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) Yes
House Concurrent Resolution 4407 — Amending the redistricting plan for state legislative and congressional districts
Passed the Senate on Feb. 8 by a vote of 35-14
This measure proposed several dozen small adjustments to the Congressional and Legislative District lines drawn up by the state’s Redistricting Commission.
hile the House approved HCR 4407 with an 88-7 vote, the Senate passed it by a much closer 35-14 margin, barely meeting the two-thirds majority vote requirement for passage of concurrent resolutions. The closer vote in the Senate followed sharp debate by several Republicans and Democrats who were critical of the way some district lines were drawn.
Van De Wege Yes
Senate Bill 5583 — Requiring the adjustment of census data for local redistricting to reflect the last known place of residence for incarcerated persons
Passed the Senate on Feb. 8 by a vote of 28-21
This bill would require each unit of local government with a governing body elected by districts to redistrict using the last known place of residence of inmates in adult correctional facilities and residents of juvenile justice or involuntary commitment facilities. Under current Washington state law, persons incarcerated in state adult correctional facilities, committed to involuntary behavioral health treatment, or residing or placed in juvenile justice facilities are considered residents of their last known places of residence when calculating population for congressional and legislative redistricting. No corresponding provision, however, exists for local government redistricting, such as for city or county councilmanic districts. Proponents of the bill have said that it would correct the use of census data to over-represent areas with prisons—thus incentivizing building more prisons and mass incarceration. The bill was transmitted and referred to the Senate State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.
Van De Wege Yes
House Bill 1953 — Exempting sensitive voter information on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations and signature correction forms from public disclosure
Passed the House on Feb. 9 by a vote of 69-26 (three members excused)
This bill would exempt voter information on ballot return envelopes, ballot declarations and signature correction forms from public disclosure. Currently, images of election ballot return envelopes can be requested by members of the public under existing public records laws. Those images contain voter signatures, phone numbers and emails. The bill would protect such personal voter information from public disclosure. The bill was transmitted and referred to the Senate State Government and Elections Committee.
Rep. Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles) Yes
Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Port Townsend) Yes.
