Legislature

House

Senate Bill 5073, concerning the medical use of cannabis: E2SSB 5073, which previously passed the Senate by a vote of 29-20, would amend state law regarding the use of medical 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. The House, which approved E2SSB 5073 by a vote of 54-43, amended the bill in part to require studies on the impacts of medical marijuana. The bill is now before the Senate for further consideration of the House amendments.

Voting yes: Rep. Luis Moscoso, D-Mountlake Terrace; Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell; Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo; Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds; Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park; Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline; Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip; Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett; Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish; Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens

Voting no: Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor; Rep. Norma Smith, R-Whidbey Island; Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish; Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe

House Bill 2026, creating an industrial insurance rainy day account: ESHB 2026 passed the House by a vote of 50-47. The bill would create an industrial insurance rainy day account and require the state Investment Board to invest and reinvest moneys from that account.

Voting yes: Moscoso, Stanford, Liias, Roberts, Kagi, Ryu, McCoy, Sells, Dunshee

Voting no: Bailey, Smith, Kristiansen,Pearson, Hope

Senate

House Bill 1267, clarifies the rights and obligations of domestic partners and the use of paid surrogacy: E2SHB 1267, which passed the Senate by a vote of 27-21, would amends the state’s Uniform Parentage Act by expanding the rights and obligations of registered domestic partners. The Senate amended the bill to clarify the time under which a person can challenge or rescind parentage rights and removed provisions that would have allowed paid surrogacy in Washington. The House, which previously passed E2SHB 1267, would have allowed for the use of paid surrogacy. The House did not agree with the Senate amendments and has requested a Conference Committee to work on a compromise.

Voting yes: Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell; Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island; Sen. Maralyn Chase; Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett; Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens

Voting no: Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds; Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington

House Bill 1443, modifying the use of teacher evaluations: E2SHB 1443 was amended by the Senate to require schools districts conducting layoffs to lay off teachers who receive the lowest evaluation ratings first, instead of laying off the youngest teachers first. The Senate passed E2SHB 1443 by a vote of 30-17. The House will now consider the Senate amendments.

Voting yes: Haugen, Shin, Stevens, Hobbs

Voting no: McAuliffe, Chase, Harper

Source: WashingtonVotes.org