Legislative Roundup: Several Bills Advance Out Of WA House This Week

OLYMPIA, WA — With this year's legislative session about half over, House lawmakers have been busy this week passing several bills out of the chamber.

Some of the bills that cleared the House this week and now sit before the Senate include a bipartisan bill to boost state trooper recruitment, legislation to strengthen protections against robocalls, millions in funding to support food assistance programs, and an update to the state's climate resiliency plan.

Here's the rundown on a few of them:

• SHB 1784: Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-SeaTac)'s bill passed the House with unanimous support, looking to secure $28 million to extend food assistance that was previously covered by a federal pandemic-era program. Gregerson said the funding is temporary and meant to fill a gap in benefits until the next state budget.
• HB 1085: Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma)'s bill is a new effort to reduce plastic pollution by requiring new buildings with drinking fountains to also provide bottle-filling stations by 2026. It also would require larger lodging facilities to move away from toiletries packaged in small plastic containers or wrappers.
• HB 1222: Rep. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines)'s legislation would require large group health plans to cover hearing aids and related assessments starting next year, up to $3,000 per ear. It passed the House on an 89-8 vote.
• HB 1051: Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place) and Attorney General Bob Ferguson's "Robocall Spam Protection Act" passed the House unanimously, which would allow for civil litigation against companies and people who intentionally initiate illegal robocalls under the Consumer Protection Act.
• SHB 1638: Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma)'s bill is designed to improve recruitment for Washington State Patrol by making changes to hiring practices and training programs for lateral hires and offering two-stage bonuses to cadets and hires. Fey said WSP used to attract 400 applicants a month, and now averages just over 50.
• HB 1452: Rep. Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham)'s legislation to create a state emergency medical reserve corps also passed the House unanimously, designed to allow the state to assemble experts across the state to spring into action during public health emergencies.

Each of the bills now sits before the Senate. The legislature will adjourn for the year on April 23.