The following is a recap of how Kirkland legislators from the 45th and 48th Districts recently voted on several bills and resolutions (according to washingtonvotes.org):
Concerning the authority and responsibilities of Homeowner Associations
ESSB 5798, which passed the Senate by a vote of 39 to 9, modifies provisions relating to the authority and actions of Homeowner Associations (HOA). ESSB 5798 establishes acceptable practices by HOAs regarding their governance, adoption of rules and setting of fines and meetings. This act also clarifies and eliminates conflicts in law related to the governance of HOAs. In addition, the act would allow HOAs to provide notice of meetings or rules changes via email and also clarifies that an HOA may not place a lien on a property to secure payment of a fine. ESSB 5798 is now before the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
No: Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond; Yes: Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina
Addressing non-legal immigration-related services
SSB 5023 would prohibit the practice of non-lawyers providing immigration services for compensation that constitutes the practice of law. SSB 5023, which passed the Senate by a vote of 44 to 5, prohibits non-lawyers from performing services such as, advising someone on filling out government forms or interpreting the meaning of questions on government forms in immigration matters. In addition, this bill prohibits a non-lawyer from representing that he/she is a lawyer, immigration assistant, consultant, or profession with legal skills in the area of immigration law. SSB 5023 is now scheduled for a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.
Yes: Hill, Tom
Concerning the medical use of cannabis
E2SSB 5073 passed the Senate by a vote of 29 to 20 amending the law on the medical use of cannabis (marijuana). The bill seeks to clarify that qualified patients and designated providers who comply with the law will not be subject to arrest or prosecution, other criminal sanctions, or civil consequences based solely on their medical use of cannabis. E2SSB 5073 seeks to ensure that patients will have access to an adequate, safe, consistent, and secure source of medical quality marijuana. In addition, this bill would require licensed dispensers to be nonprofit medical organizations and to receive approval by a local government before selling cannabis. E2SSB 5073 is now before the House for additional consideration.
Yes: Hill, Tom
Creates the Complete Street Grants Program
ESHB 1071 would require the Department of Transportation to create a grant program to encourage and assist local governments in retrofitting local street systems. In order to be eligible for grant funding, cities must adopt cite-wide street ordinances to provide better street access with all users in mind. The legislation specifies that all users must include pedestrians, bicyclists and public transportation systems. ESHB 1071, which passed the House by a vote of 56 to 41, would also allow the use of grant funds on state highways intersecting local roads. ESHB 1071 is now scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee.
Yes: Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland; Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland; Rep. Deborah Eddy, D-Kirkland; and Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina
Limits use of phosphorus in turf fertilizers
ESHB 1489, which passed the House by a vote of 58 to 39, would ban the sale of turf fertilizers with phosphorus beginning January 1, 2013. Retailers, however, may still sell fertilizer with phosphorus if the product labeling clearly lists the allowable uses of the product. The bill lists acceptable uses and application of turf fertilizers containing phosphorus as; for use on new lawns, repairing unhealthy existing lawns, to correct deficient soils and for vegetable gardens. ESHB 1489 also provides an exemption from the ban on phosphorus for commercial agricultural uses. ESHB 1489 is now scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter
Expands rights and obligations of domestic partners and allows for paid surrogacy
E2SHB 1267 amends the state’s Uniform Parentage Act by expanding the rights and obligations of registered domestic partners. In addition, E2SHB 1267 would allow parties to enter into a contractual agreement for the use of a paid surrogate in Washington. Under current state law, surrogacy is allowed, but not for compensation. This act establishes standards and requirements that must be met by both the intended parents, as well as the surrogate. E2SHB 1267, which passed the House by a vote of 57 to 41, is now before the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter
Requiring elections by mail
ESSB 5124, which passed the Senate by a vote of 26 to 23, would require that every county in Washington state conduct elections entirely by mail ballot. This bill would require any county auditor currently utilizing poll site voting to notify each registered poll voter that all future primary, general, and special elections will be conducted by mail. In addition ESSB 5124 directs county auditors to open a voting center in the county auditor’s office that must be open during business hours for a period which would begin 18 days prior to an election and end at 8 p.m. on the day of the election. ESSB 5124 is now scheduled for a public hearing before the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee.
No: Hill; Yes: Tom
To expand the Health Insurance Partnership
SHB 1560 expands the Health Insurance Partnership (HIP) by eliminating provisions that limited the eligibility of certain small businesses ability to enroll in the program. Specifically, SHB 1560 removes the low-wage worker requirements and the limits on an employee’s choice of coverage. HIP allows a small business an option to provide insurance coverage for employees if they do not currently offer insurance and have less than fifty employees. In addition, eligibility requires that an employer enroll 75% of its workers and pay 40% of the insurance costs. SHB 1560, which passed the House by a vote of 56 to 41, has been referred to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee for further consideration.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter
Approving tolls on I-405
EHB 1382, which passed the House by a vote of 52 to 46, directs the Department of Transportation to develop and operate express toll lanes on Interstate 405. The tolls would be between the city of Bellevue at 6th Street on the South end, and the intersection of I-405 and Interstate 5 on the North end. This act also directs the Department to conduct an evaluation of the project to determine the impacts on the movement of vehicles and people through the Interstate 405 and SR 167 corridors. EHB 1382 would allow for the state Transportation Commission to set the rates for the tolls and stipulates that revenues may be appropriated for operation, maintenance, repair, construction, and expansion of express toll lanes in the eastside corridor. EHB 1382 is now before the Senate Transportation Committee.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter
Concerning domestic partnerships rights
HB 1649 would require Washington State to recognize same-sex marriages formed legally in other states. Under current state law, a legal union of two persons of the same sex that was validly formed in another jurisdiction, except for marriage, is already recognized. In addition, this act clarifies statutory construction for any future laws related to marriage and family to apply equally to those in domestic partnerships unless the legislation specifically state otherwise. HB 1649, which passed the House by 58 to 39, is now in the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter
To allow certain jurisdictions to withdraw from planning requirements under GMA
ESHB 1094 passed the House by a vote of 69 to 28, allowing certain counties to opt out of planning under the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). This act applies to counties that originally volunteered to plan under GMA and that have a population base of less than twenty-thousand residents. ESHB 1094 also requires that a county receive support from at least 60% of the cities within the county in order to opt out. Additionally, the bill stipulates that once county opts out of planning under GMA they may not opt back in for ten years. ESHB 1094 is now before the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee.
No: Goodman; Yes: Springer, Eddy, Hunter
Requiring that smoking cessation programs be covered by insurance
ESSB 5039, which passed the Senate by a vote of 28 to 21, requires that all licensed individual and group insurance plans renewed on or after January 1, 2012, must cover a minimum of two courses of tobacco cessation treatment in a 12-month period. ESSB 5039 specifies that services must include counseling and coverage for over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ESSB 5039 is now before the House Health Care & Wellness Committee for further consideration.
Yes: Hill, Tom
Approving tolling rates set by Washington Transportation Commission
SSB 5700, which passed the House by a vote of 73 to 25, provides Legislative approval of the tolling rate schedule set by the Washington Transportation Commission for the State Route 520 corridor and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. In addition, SSB 5700 provides the Transportation Commission with the authority to increase tolling rates to cover increases in maintenance and operation costs for the corridor and requires the Commission to report changes to the Legislature. SSB 5700, which previously passed the Senate by a vote of 35 to 10, will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter
