From the Office of Rep. Steve Bergquist

Every session gets its share of bills that people tend to have very strong opinions about; these are a few of the ones introduced this year.

The bills are listed in bill number order and I've included the digest, which is a very brief description of the bill's intent. If you want more information on any of them, click on the bill number to go to the bill status, history, and available documents.

NOTE: Inclusion on this list does not indicate that the legislation is progressing through the legislative process, only that it has been introduced this biennium.

Question Title

* 1. HB 1659: Making higher education more affordable and accessible for students by bridging the gap between cost and need to reduce barriers, improve opportunity, and advance economic security
Creates “bridge grants” of $1,000 a year for students at or below 70% of the median family income and increases the amount of funding most students would receive from the Washington College Grant, our state’s largest financial aid program.

Question Title

* 2. HB 1664: Concerning prototypical school formulas for physical, social and emotional support in schools
Increases access to school nurses, social workers, psychologists and guidance counselors for students.

Question Title

* 3. HB 1720: Protecting the right of every Washington resident to decline an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19
Prohibits requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for work, school, travel or entering a public place.

Question Title

* 4. HB 1732: Delaying the implementation of the long-term services and supports trust program by 18 months
Extends the rollout of the WA Cares Fund by 18 months, during which businesses will not have to collect premiums. It also allows for the refunding of prematurely collected premiums.

Question Title

* 5. HB 1735 / HB 2037: Modifying the standard for use of force by peace officers
Clarifies that officers can use force, subject to the newly established reasonable care standard, in behavioral health circumstances, for involuntary treatment commitments, in instances of child welfare and other related circumstances. Essentially, ensures officers have the certainty they need to respond to community caretaking calls. Defines physical force and allows officers the ability to use force to prevent a person from fleeing a temporary investigative detention.

Question Title

* 6. HB 2018: Creating a three-day shop local and save sales and use tax holiday to benefit all Washington families for certain items $1,000 or less during the month of September
Exempts certain items under $1,000, including clothing, school supplies, computers, health care equipment and energy efficient appliances, from sales taxes on Sept. 3, Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.

Question Title

* 7. HB 2089: Modifying the bond authorization for the Interstate 405 and state route number 167 corridor and the Puget Sound Gateway facility
Due to price increases, projects are becoming more expensive. This bill would allow more funds to be used to support projects in the I-405/SR 167 corridor.

Question Title

* 8. SB 5047: Reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty and instead requiring life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole as the sentence for aggravated first degree murder
Eliminates the death penalty in state law and replaces it with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release or parole.

Question Title

* 9. SB 5623: Protecting consumers by limiting the ability of insurers to use credit histories to increase personal insurance premiums at renewal, but not prohibiting the use of credit history by insurers
Prohibits insurers from using credit histories to increase rates or premiums at renewal, but allows insurers to resume using credit histories.

Question Title

* 10. SB 5909: Concerning legislative oversight of gubernatorial powers concerning emergency proclamations and unanticipated receipts
Adds legislative oversight to declarations of states of emergency and prohibitive emergency orders during legislative interim.

Question Title

* 11. What do you think?
   Leave a comment with your thoughts, feedback and suggestions.

Question Title

* 12. Your responses are anonymous, so if you'd like a personal reply:
    1. Send me an email; or
    2. Leave your name and phone number (optional)

T