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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It is an honor to serve you and the citizens of the 14th Legislative District. I'd like to take a few minutes to provide a quick update of the 2022 legislative session, which began Jan. 10.
A short, busy and fast-moving session
Due to COVID restrictions at the state Capitol, I am working both in Olympia and remotely from the district. I am hoping things will change so we can safely conduct more in-person meetings in Olympia.
During a short session like this one, deadlines come very quickly. I am working hard to move my legislation through their committees and to the House floor before the deadlines.
We are into our third week of the scheduled 60-day session and the first major deadline on Thursday, Feb. 3 is rapidly approaching. That's the day of “policy committee cutoff.” Policy bills that have not made it out of their respective committees by that date may be “dead” for the year. The next major deadline is Monday, Feb. 7. That's “fiscal committee cutoff.” Bills that have not passed out of their respective fiscal committees by that date may also be “dead” for the year. There are exceptions. Bills that are necessary to implement the budget are exempt from all cutoff dates.
The main takeaway is that I am working very hard on behalf of my constituents to advance the legislation they have asked me to sponsor. And I'm working to meet these upcoming deadlines and pass as many of these bills as possible to the Senate.
Mosbrucker 2022 bill list and status
People in the district are always asking me through session, “What bills are you working on?” Here's a list of my prime-sponsored bills advancing this session:
- 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. The measure is not an unfunded mandate, according to the Office of the Secretary of State. This is one of the first bills to pass the House during the 2021 session. It passed Jan 12, with a unanimous vote. The measure is now in the Senate Government and Elections Committee.
- Would require county auditors to mail a statewide and local voters' pamphlet to registered Washington voters overseas, including military voters. The measure is not an unfunded mandate, according to the Office of the Secretary of State. This is one of the first bills to pass the House during the 2021 session. It passed Jan 12, with a unanimous vote. The measure is now in the Senate Government and Elections Committee.
- House Bill 1497 – Telephone solicitors
- Would prevent telephone solicitors from making calls before 8 a.m. or after 5 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 Consumer Protection and Business Committee on Jan. 20, this bill is in the House Rules Committee, awaiting to be pulled to the House floor for a vote.
- Would prevent telephone solicitors from making calls before 8 a.m. or after 5 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 Consumer Protection and Business Committee on Jan. 20, this bill is in the House Rules Committee, awaiting to be pulled to the House floor for a vote.
- 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. And it creates a receiving center to provide help for trafficked victims. This bill passed the House Public Safety Committee on Thursday, Jan. 20 and is now in the House Appropriations Committee. Learn more about this bill here.
- House Bill 1621 and House Bill 1622 – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners – SANE nurses play a critical role in the detailed forensic investigations that are necessary for the prosecution of sex crimes.
- House Bill 1621 would require the state Department of Health (DOH) to establish a stipend program of up to $2,500 per licensed nurse to cover fees and costs necessary to become a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANEs). It also would require DOH to establish a hospital grant program to increase access to certified SANEs for hospitals without sufficient access. SANE nurses play a critical role in the detailed forensic investigations that are necessary for the prosecution of sex crimes. This bill passed the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and is now awaiting a public hearing on Feb. 1 in the House Appropriations Committee.
- House Bill 1622 seeks to increase the availability of SANE education 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. This bill passed unanimously from the House floor on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
- House Bill 1621 would require the state Department of Health (DOH) to establish a stipend program of up to $2,500 per licensed nurse to cover fees and costs necessary to become a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANEs). It also would require DOH to establish a hospital grant program to increase access to certified SANEs for hospitals without sufficient access. SANE nurses play a critical role in the detailed forensic investigations that are necessary for the prosecution of sex crimes. This bill passed the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and is now awaiting a public hearing on Feb. 1 in the House Appropriations Committee.
- House Bill 1623 – Electric grid adequacy
- The measure would address the real risk in Washington of rolling blackouts and inadequate electric supplies. It requires the Washington Department of Commerce and the Utilities and Transportation Commission to hold annual stakeholder meetings through 2029 to discuss the adequacy of the state's energy resources for meeting electric needs and address steps to meet those needs. This bill passed the House Environment and Energy Committee on Friday, Jan. 13. It is now on the House floor awaiting a vote.
- House Bill 1624 – Modifying the motorcycle safety education board
- Adding women, east/west members for equity. A public hearing was held, Jan. 18, in the House Transportation Committee. No further action has been scheduled at this time.
- Adding women, east/west members for equity. A public hearing was held, Jan. 18, in the House Transportation Committee. No further action has been scheduled at this time.
- House Bill 1715 – Sentencing Guidelines Commission
- This bill addresses membership of the state's Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Passed from the House Public Safety Committee. This bill now on the House floor awaiting a vote.
- House Bill 1737 – Public Safety
- This is the omnibus “Safe Washington” bill that addresses fixes to the police reform legislation from last year that went too far. In total, the Safe Washington plan is a comprehensive package of nearly 50 House and Senate public safety bills that also addresses the state Supreme Court Blake decision that struck down Washington's felony drug possession law; and cracks down on the increase in violent gang and drug-related crimes. It also includes measures aimed at putting victims and the safety of Washington's communities first by dealing with human trafficking, prioritizing investigations of missing indigenous persons, strengthening the felony DUI law, and combatting domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, Safe Washington seeks to increase penalties of property crimes, including retail and catalytic converter theft; and it would reform the Department of Corrections to reverse efforts to release criminals back on the streets. House Bill 1737 is in the House Public Safety Committee.
- House Bill 1844 – Creating the offense of unlawful branding of another
- This bill would make it a class B felony to mark another person's body with a subdermal implant, tattoo, or body art, with the knowledge that the mark is intended to be used to track the person or mark the person for ownership as part of a plan or scheme to engage in trafficking of the person. A public hearing is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28 in the House Public Safety Committee.
- This bill would make it a class B felony to mark another person's body with a subdermal implant, tattoo, or body art, with the knowledge that the mark is intended to be used to track the person or mark the person for ownership as part of a plan or scheme to engage in trafficking of the person. A public hearing is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28 in the House Public Safety Committee.
- House Bill 1845 – Body camera grants
- Would help small police departments who are unable to afford body cams but want this proven transparency tool. The measure passed the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 25. It is now in the House Rules Committee, awaiting to be pulled to the House floor for a vote.
- Would help small police departments who are unable to afford body cams but want this proven transparency tool. The measure passed the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 25. It is now in the House Rules Committee, awaiting to be pulled to the House floor for a vote.
- House Bill 1937 – Fentanyl
- According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, overdose from fentanyl is now the leading cause of death of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Under current law, possession of fentanyl is classified as a simple misdemeanor, which is the lowest criminal penalty available. This legislation would make it a class C felony for anyone who knowingly possesses fentanyl. The bill has been referred to the Public Safety Committee.
MORE INFORMATION
- For a complete list of bills I've sponsored during the 2021-22 biennium, go here.
Watch my Legislative Video Update
Listen to my Capitol Report radio program
More radio. . .
- Rep. Mosbrucker speaks on KIT Radio (Yakima) about progress in the 2022 session.
- Rep. Gina Mosbrucker discusses the 'Safe Washington' plan with KXL's Lars Larson.
How you can participate during this remote session
Since we are in another virtual session, I encourage you to stay engaged and follow the Legislature as best you can. It is important you provide input on issues that matter to you and our state.
Please continue to contact me with any questions, concerns or comments you have. I appreciate the feedback, as it helps me represent the 14th District in the Legislature.
Here are some websites and links that may help you stay engaged, testify or comment on legislation this session.
- How you can be involved in the legislative process
- How to comment on a bill
- Committee Sign-In – Remote Testimony
- Watch committee hearings and floor action on TVW
- The Ledger – a legislative news aggregator
- Capitol Buzz – Daily news clips
- Go to my website: RepresentativeGinaMosbrucker.com
Please stay in touch!
The legislative process works best when citizens are involved and communicate with their legislators. Please contact me any time. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve as your state representative. I am very grateful.
Honored to serve you,
Gina Mosbrucker
