Five bills authored by 14th District Rep. Gina Mosbrucker have passed the Washington State House of Representatives and the state Senate and are on their way to the governor. The House concurred on Senate amendments to the final two bills Monday, clearing the path to the governor’s office.
“It’s been a team effort. I have an amazing support team of staff and legislators who have helped move these bills through the Legislature. Most of these bills came from ideas and suggestions brought to me by citizens. I was able to get sponsors from both sides of the aisle, and nearly all of these measures passed unanimously with bipartisan support,” said Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale.
Mosbrucker bills sent to the governor include:
- House Bill 1357 – Overseas voters: Would require county auditors to mail a statewide and local voters’ pamphlet to registered Washington voters overseas, including military voters. According to the Office of the Secretary of State, the measure is not an unfunded mandate. Passed the House and Senate unanimously.
- House Bill 1497 – Telephone solicitors: Would prevent telephone solicitors from making calls before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m., no selling of the called party’s name and information, removal of the called party from the solicitor’s list upon request, and no further calls within at least one year after that request has been made. Passed the House, 90-5, and the Senate unanimously.
- House Bill 1571 – Missing, murdered indigenous persons and survivors of human trafficking: Also known as the “Bring them home bill,” this measure would allow tribal members to pray over a deceased indigenous person without compromising the scene before an autopsy is conducted. It also creates a receiving center to provide help for trafficked victims. Passed the House and Senate unanimously.
- House Bill 1622 – Increasing availability of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) in rural areas: SANE nurses play a critical role in the detailed forensic investigations necessary to prosecute sex crimes. This bill would increase the availability of these nurses in rural and underserved areas by requiring the Washington State University College of Nursing to establish a SANE online and clinical training program and a regional SANE leader pilot program. Passed the House and Senate unanimously.
- House Bill 1623 – Electric adequacy: Directs the Department of Commerce and the Utilities and Transportation Commission to hold yearly resource adequacy meetings through 2029 with utilities, regional planning organizations and other stakeholders to discuss the current, short-term and long-term adequacy of energy resources. The bill would ensure the state continually addresses plans to help avoid energy blackouts, brownouts or other inadequacies of the electric grid. Passed the House and Senate unanimously.
House Bills 1357 and 1571 were amended in the Senate with minor changes, which were approved unanimously in the House on Monday.
“I worked very hard to get each of these bills through their respective committees in both chambers and to the floor. I’m very grateful for the support and thankful the Legislature is sending all five to the governor for his signature,” Mosbrucker added.
The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn Thursday, March 10.