Six bills authored by Rep. Gina Mosbrucker that passed the House and are under consideration in the Senate remain alive and continue to advance following a major legislative policy deadline this week. Wednesday, March 29, was “opposite house policy committee cutoff.” Policy bills from the opposite chamber that did not pass from their respective committees where they were referred by that date can advance no further during the 2023 legislative session, meaning they likely will not become law this year.
In the case of Mosbrucker’s bills, all six under consideration have passed their respective Senate policy committees. Four of her bills are waiting to be pulled to the Senate floor for a vote. The two remaining bills have been referred to Senate fiscal committees for further consideration. The opposite house fiscal committee cutoff is Thursday, April 4.
“I’m grateful for the bipartisan support and the hard work of staff and legislators in both chambers to help move these bills through the process. Many were crafted from ideas that were brought to me by constituents in the 14th District. They are important policy changes to make Washington a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale.
The following is a list of Mosbrucker bills that have passed the state House of Representatives and policy committees in the Senate:
- House Bill 1114 – Sentencing Guidelines Commission: This bipartisan-sponsored bill addresses the state’s Sentencing Guidelines Commission membership, including adding four voting members to give more representative voices. Mosbrucker is a member of the commission. This bill passed the Senate Law and Justice Committee on March 22 and is now on the Senate floor’s second reading consent calendar awaiting a vote.
- House Bill 1117 – Power supply inadequacy: This bill passed the House and Senate unanimously last year, but when it arrived on the governor’s desk, he vetoed it. The measure would ensure the state continually addresses plans to help avoid energy blackouts, brownouts, or other inadequacies of the electric grid. Mosbrucker has met with the governor’s office to address his concerns. The bill passed the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on March 24. It is now in the Senate Rules Committee awaiting to be pulled to the Senate floor for a vote.
- House Bill 1171 – Motorcycle Safety Board: This measure would add two certified motorcycle riders to represent motorcycle safety instructors, one from the east side of the Cascade mountain range and one from the west, to Washington’s Motorcycle Safety Board. This bill is scheduled for a vote on April 4 in the Senate Transportation Committee.
- House Bill 1512 – MMIWP and Lucian Act: The bill is recommended by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force and the Office of the Attorney General. It would provide resources for immediate actions that need to take place when a person vanishes. The bill recognizes missing and murdered indigenous people, an issue I first brought to the forefront in 2018 legislation. It is also named after four-year-old Lucian Munguia, who was reported missing on Sept. 10 from Sarg Hubbard Park in Yakima and drowned in the Yakima River. The measure passed the Senate Law and Justice Committee on March 22 and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.
- House Bill 1564 – Would ban over-the-counter sexual assault kits: Mosbrucker says do-it-yourself (DIY) at-home rape kits could mislead survivors to believe they have evidentiary value, when in fact, they are not admissible in a Washington state court. A New York company teamed up with a University of Washington sorority to offer its “Early Evidence Kits,” which Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson says deceives a Washington consumer to believe they have equivalent value to a free sexual assault evidence kit administered by a medical professional. Several states, including Washington, have written cease and desist, and/or warning letters against the sale of the kits, often stating unlawful business practices. The bill would prohibit the sale of these DIY kits in Washington state. The Senate Law and Justice Committee passed the bill on March 22. It is now in the Senate Rules Committee awaiting to be pulled to the Senate floor for a vote.
- House Bill 1779 – Reducing toxic air pollution: Also known as “Mary’s Law,” this bill was brought to Mosbrucker by a constituent who was harmed by breathing carbon monoxide through the vents of a vehicle. The measure seeks to convene a state interagency carbon monoxide work group to investigate how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The measure passed the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on March 21. It is now in the Senate Rules Committee awaiting to be pulled to the Senate floor for a vote.
The legislative session is scheduled to end April 23.
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