Final Legislative Summary – 2019
by Toby Nixon
We tracked 88 bills during the session. However, after the session completed we identified seven additional bills of interest (mostly due to late introduction or amendments) so the total number of bills in the report is now 95. Of those 95, 31 bills passed and were signed into law, which is by far the greatest number passed since we started tracking bills back in 2007.
As for changes since the previous report, of greatest interest is HB 1195. This bill makes many updates to campaign finance reporting law. You may recall at the last minute on the floor of the Senate the bill was amended to prohibit the Public Disclosure Commission from moving ahead with their plans to proactively post F-1 personal finance disclosure statements on their web site. The amendment was passed at least in part because of a story told by one senator about the kidnapping in Mexico of the spouse of an elected official based somehow on the content of that official’s F-1 report. That story turned out to be false in several ways. Governor Inslee vetoed that section of the bill, and the PDC has said it intends to move ahead with its plans to make it easier for citizens to access F-1 information (it will be on the web site rather than having to submit a public records request). While this did not address the primary reason WCOG opposed HB 1195, it was a better outcome than if this provision was not vetoed.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nancy Krier, the assistant attorney general for open government, for sharing with us her bill tracking information. We incorporated into this final report seven additional bills that she identified, six of which create new public records exemptions. Those bills are as follows:
- SHB 1049 — Expands whistleblower protections, including exemptions from disclosure, to employees and other persons who initiate complaints about quality of care by health care providers or facilities.
- E2SHB 1224 — Creates several new exemptions for data submitted to the Health Care Authority by pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers regarding prescription drug prices. Exemptions for such confidential proprietary financial information of regulated companies is routine.
- SHB 1356 — Expands an existing exemption regarding the personnel with whom communications with a peer support group counselor are considered privileged.
- SHB 1360 — Expands an existing exemption; requires that driving record abstracts received by public agencies be treated with the same confidentiality as driving record abstracts received directly from DOL.
- SHB 1545 — Requires the Secretary of State to make records of ballots with missing or mismatched signatures publicly available rather than those records having to be sought through a public records request (not a new exemption, but a requirement for proactive posting of records).
- SHB 1909 — Expands protections for information contained in claim files for injured workers such that employers and employer representatives, including in the public sector, are subject to civil penalties for disclosing mental health conditions to unauthorized persons.
- SB 6025 — Creates a new exemption for information about individuals who participated in the state bump-stock buyback program.
Including the bills listed above, of the 31 bills that passed, 22 create new exemptions or expand existing exemptions, in some cases multiple exemptions in a single bill. One bill narrows an existing exemption (applications for appointment to fill a vacancy in public office, which was a recommendation of the Sunshine Committee). One bill added an allowed purpose for an executive session under the Open Public Meetings Act.
Thank you all once again for your support of open government in Washington, including all the contacts made to legislators to support good bills and oppose bad ones. Even though the statistics above don’t feel very positive, the fact is that we killed many bills that would have been much worse, and we could not have done that without your involvement!
WCOG Bill Status Report June 3, 2019
This report shows bills in the Washington State Legislature tracked by Washington Coalition for Open Government during the 2019 legislative session because they have some impact on Washington’s open government laws. If you have any comments on the format or contents of this report, including the indicated WCOG positions or comments, please contact the Coalition president at president@washingtoncog.org.
Summary of Bills Tracked
High Priority Bills
Bill # | Short Description | Status | Sponsor | Position | Dead |
SHB 1195 (SB 5112) | Concerning the efficient administration of campaign finance and public disclosure reporting and enforcement. |
C 428 L 19 |
Hudgins |
Oppose |
No |
ESHB 1667
(SB 5667) |
Concerning public records request administration. | C 372 L 19 | Springer | Support | No |
Protecting information concerning agency employees who have filed a claim of harassment or stalking. |
C 373 L 19 |
Jinkins |
Oppose |
No |
Medium Priority Bills
Bill # | Short Description | Status | Sponsor | Position | Dead |
SHB 1049 (SB 5401) | Concerning health care provider and health care facility whistleblower protections. | C 62 L 19 | Macri | Neutral | No |
E2SHB 1224 | Concerning prescription drug cost transparency. | C 334 L 19 | Robinson | Neutral | No |
Protecting the confidentiality of health care quality and peer review discussions to support effective patient safety. |
C 162 L 19 |
Cody |
Concerns |
No |
|
SHB 1356 | Concerning privileged communication with peer support group counselors. | C 98 L 19 | Lovick | Neutral | No |
SHB 1360
(SB 5725) |
Concerning abstracts of driving records. | C 99 L 19 | Irwin | Neutral | No |
HB 1537 | Concerning sunshine committee recommendations. | C 229 L 19 | Springer | Support | No |
HB 1673 | Exempting information relating to the regulation of explosives from public disclosure. | C 125 L 19 | Steele | Concerns | No |
EHB 2020
(SB 5929) |
Exempting the disclosure of names in employment investigation records. | C 349 L 19 | Dolan | Oppose | No |
EHB 2067 | Prohibiting the disclosure of certain individual vehicle and vessel owner information of those participating in the address confidentiality program. | C 278 L 19 | Davis | Concerns | No |
SB 5107 (HB 1171) | Addressing trust institutions. | C 389 L 19 | Das | Neutral | No |
SSB 5135 (SHB 1194) | Preventing toxic pollution that affects public health or the environment. | C 292 L 19 | Rolfes | Concerns | No |
SSB 5166 | Providing religious accommodations for postsecondary students. | C 182 L 19 | Hasegawa | Neutral | No |
ESB 5439 (HB 1400) | Concerning confidentiality of employment security department records and data. | C 81 L 19 | Keiser | Concerns | No |
SSB 5461 (SHB 1595) | Concerning the sharing of information between participants in multidisciplinary coordination of child sexual abuse investigations. |
C 82 L 19 |
Cleveland |
Concerns |
No |
2SSB 5511 (3SHB 1498) |
Expanding affordable, resilient broadband service to enable economic development, public safety, health care, and education in Washington’s communities. |
C 365 L 19 |
Wellman |
Concerns |
No |
ESSB 5526 (E2SHB 1523) | Increasing the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market. | C 364 L 19 | Frockt | Concerns | No |
SB 6025
(HB 2182) |
Concerning bump-fire stock buy-back program records. | C 239 L 19 | Honeyford | Neutral | No |
Low Priority Bills
Bill # | Short Description | Status | Sponsor | Position | Dead |
SHB 1295 | Concerning public works contracting procedures. | C 212 L 19 | Tharinger | Neutral | No |
SHB 1302
(SSB 5416) |
Creating a self-exclusion program for persons with a gambling problem or gambling disorder. | C 213 L 19 | Kloba | Neutral | No |
Concerning disclosure of contributions from political committees to other political committees. |
C 261 L 19 |
Pellicciotti |
Support |
No |
|
HB 1385 (SB 5455) | Exempting United States food and drug administration nonpublic information from disclosure under the state public disclosure act. |
C 337 L 19 |
Springer |
Neutral |
No |
SHB 1399 (SSB 5449) | Concerning paid family and medical leave. | C 13 L 19 | Robinson | Neutral | No |
HB 1505 | Concerning confidential information of child victims of sexual assault. | C 300 L 19 | Klippert | Neutral | No |
SHB 1545 | Concerning curing ballots to assure that votes are counted. | C 167 L 19 | Mead | Support | No |
SHB 1909 (SSB 5844) | Concerning the confidentiality of industrial insurance claim records. | C 34 L 19 | Graham | Neutral | No |
ESSB 5027 | Concerning extreme risk protection orders. | C 246 L 19 | Frockt | Concerns | No |
ESSB 5332 (HB 1550) | Concerning vital statistics. | C 148 L 19 | Pedersen | Neutral | No |
Monitoring Bills
Bill # | Short Description | Status | Sponsor | Position | Dead |
SHB 1071 (2SSB 5064) | Protecting personal information. | C 241 L 19 | Kloba | Neutral | No |
Dead Bills
Bill # | Short Description | Status | Sponsor | Position | Dead |
HB 1108 (SB 5154) | Making 2017-2019 biennium second supplemental operating appropriations. | H Approps | Ormsby | Concerns | Yes |
HB 1171
(SB 5107) |
Addressing trust institutions. | H Rules R | Walen | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1179 | Concerning the revised uniform unclaimed property act. | H Approps | Tarleton | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1191 (SB 5554) | Concerning school notifications. | H Rules R | Goodman | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1194 (SSB 5135) | Preventing toxic pollution that affects public health or the environment. | H Approps | Doglio | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1389 (SB 5472) | Concerning reporting requirements for common carriers who transport liquor into the state. |
H Approps |
Morgan |
Concerns |
Yes |
HB 1400 (ESB 5439) | Concerning confidentiality of employment security department records and data. | H Rules R | Sells | Concerns | Yes |
2SHB 1422
(SSB 5338) |
Concerning the protection of vulnerable adults. | Valdez | Concerns | Yes | |
3SHB 1498 (2SSB 5511) |
Expanding affordable, resilient broadband service to enable economic development, public safety, health care, and education in Washington’s communities. |
H Rules 3C |
Hudgins |
Concerns |
Yes |
E2SHB 1523
(ESSB 5526) |
Increasing the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market. | H Rules 3C | Cody | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1538 | Concerning sunshine committee recommendations. | H Rules R | Springer | Support | Yes |
HB 1550 (ESSB 5332) | Concerning vital statistics. | H HC/Wellness | Jinkins | Neutral | Yes |
HB 1562
(SB 5601) |
Concerning health care benefit management. | H HC/Wellness | Stonier | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1592
(SSB 5704) |
Establishing the Washington children’s educational savings account program. | H Approps | Kilduff | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1645 (2SSB 5533) | Concerning certificates of parental improvement. | H Approps | Ortiz-Self | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1652 | Concerning paint stewardship. | C 344 L 19 | Peterson | Neutral | Yes |
HB 1693 | Establishing a system for setting rates for health care services. | H HC/Wellness | Jinkins | Concerns | Yes |
HB 1774 | Concerning extreme risk protection orders. | H Civil R & Judi | Jinkins | Concerns | Yes |
Concerning public meetings of advisory groups established by local governments and other agencies. |
H Rules R |
Pollet |
Support |
Yes |
|
HB 1838 (SB 5750) | Exempting certain licensed distillery information from public disclosure. | H Rules 3C | Walsh | Neutral | Yes |
2SHB 1854
(2SSB 5376) |
Protecting consumer data. | H Rules R | Kloba | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1871 (SB 5888) | Concerning prison safety | H Rules C | Klippert | Neutral | Yes |
HB 1882
(SB 5460) |
Joining the nurse licensure compact. | H HC/Wellness | Ryu | Concerns | Yes |
HB 1888 | Protecting employee information from public disclosure. | H State Govt & T | Hudgins | Oppose | Yes |
HB 1911 | Concerning pharmacy benefit managers. | H HC/Wellness | Schmick | Concerns | Yes |
SHB 1974 | Establishing the Washington cannabis commission. | H Approps | Shewmake | Neutral | Yes |
Providing assistance to victims of government actions originating as part of the implementation of the growth management act by the state or local governments. |
H Env & Energy |
Maycumber |
Neutral |
Yes |
|
Implementing recommendations from the work group on private degree-granting institutions and private vocational schools and providing other procedural protections. |
H Coll & Wkf Dev |
Van Werven |
Concerns |
Yes |
|
HB 2039
(SB 5926) |
Concerning transportation network companies. | H Trans | Springer | Concerns | Yes |
HB 2105 | Concerning the definition of public records in regards to the legislature. | H State Govt & T | Pellicciotti | Concerns | Yes |
HB 2115 | Concerning the disclosure of public records by the legislative branch. | H State Govt & T | Walsh | Oppose | Yes |
HB 2143 | Implementing an emergency alert system. | H Hous, Com
Dev |
Mosbrucker | Concerns | Yes |
HB 2182 (SB 6025) | Concerning bump-fire stock buy-back program records. | H Civil R & Judi | Shea | Neutral | Yes |
2SSB 5064
(SHB 1071) |
Protecting personal information. | S Rules X | Nguyen | Neutral | Yes |
SB 5112 (SHB 1195) | Concerning the efficient administration of campaign finance and public disclosure reporting and enforcement. | S State Govt/Tri |
Hunt |
Oppose |
Yes |
SB 5154 (HB 1108) | Making 2017-2019 biennium second supplemental operating appropriations. | S Ways & Means | Rolfes | Concerns | Yes |
SSB 5182 | Concerning juvenile record sealing. | S Rules X | Kuderer | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5185 | Requiring notification to parents or guardians in cases of abortion. | S Law & Justice | Padden | Concerns | Yes |
Concerning disclosure of contributions from political committees to other political committees. |
S Rules 3 |
Palumbo |
Support |
Yes |
|
SB 5246 | Concerning sunshine committee recommendations. | S State
Govt/Trib |
Hunt | Support | Yes |
2SSB 5292 | Concerning prescription drug cost transparency. | S Rules 3 | Keiser | Concerns | Yes |
SSB 5338 (2SHB 1422) | Concerning the protection of vulnerable adults. | S Rules 2 | Darneille | Concerns | Yes |
2SSB 5376
(2SHB 1854) |
Protecting consumer data. | S Rules 3 | Carlyle | Concerns | Yes |
SSB 5416 (SHB 1302) | Creating a self-exclusion program for persons with a gambling problem or gambling disorder. | S Rules X | Conway | Neutral | Yes |
SSB 5449 (SHB 1399) | Concerning paid family and medical leave. | S Rules X | Keiser | Neutral | Yes |
SB 5455 (HB 1385) | Exempting United States food and drug administration nonpublic information from disclosure under the state public disclosure act. | S State Govt/Tri |
Takko |
Neutral |
Yes |
SB 5460 (HB 1882) | Joining the nurse licensure compact. | S Health & Long | Cleveland | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5472 (SHB 1389) | Concerning reporting requirements for common carriers who transport liquor into the state. | S Labor & Commer |
Saldana |
Concerns |
Yes |
2SSB 5533 (SHB 1645) | Concerning certificates of parental improvement. | S Rules X | Braun | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5554 (SHB 1191) | Concerning school notifications. | S EL/K-12 | Wilson | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5601
(HB 1562) |
Concerning health care benefit management. | S Health &
Long |
Rolfes | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5656 | Concerning public works contracting procedures. | S Rules X | Frockt | Neutral | Yes |
SB 5667
(ESHB 1667) |
Concerning public records request administration. | S State
Govt/Tri |
Becker | Support | Yes |
SSB 5704 (SHB 1592) | Establishing the Washington children’s educational savings account program. | S Ways & Means | Liias | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5721 | Concerning the regulation of abortion facilities. | S Health &
Long |
Fortunato | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5750 (HB 1838) | Exempting certain licensed distillery information from public disclosure. | S State Govt/Tri | Hunt | Neutral | Yes |
SB 5784 | Concerning records disclosure and retention obligations of the legislative branch. | S State Govt/Tri | Pedersen | Oppose | Yes |
SB 5787 | Concerning hours of availability for inspection and copying of public records. | S Rules 3 | Walsh | Oppose | Yes |
SB 5835 | Creating a hotline to receive reports of potential self-harm and criminal acts. | S Law & Justice | Brown | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5840 | Requiring maintenance of minimum essential health care coverage. | S Health & Long | Cleveland | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5888
(SHB 1871) |
Concerning prison safety. | S Law & Justice | Walsh | Neutral | Yes |
SB 5926 (HB 2039) | Concerning transportation network companies. | S
Transportation |
Hobbs | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5929
(EHB 2020) |
Exempting the disclosure of names in employment investigation records. | S State
Govt/Tri |
Keiser | Concerns | Yes |
SB 5949 | Establishing the Washington investment trust. | S Financial Inst | Hasegawa | Concerns | Yes |