OLYMPIA—Two bills introduced by Representative Adison Richards (D-Gig Harbor) are already signed into law and two more are awaiting the governor’s signature after passing the House and Senate.
“The focus for me is to help working families struggling to make ends meet and to help make our government more efficient and effective,” Richards said. “We have to do all we can to support our workers, protect jobs, and rein in costs.”
The two bills signed into law are:
Injured workers (House Bill 1788)— Many blue-collar workers at places like the Bremerton Shipyard who get injured on the job are single parents. Existing law compensates two-parent households better, and this bill ensures injured workers receive the same compensation rate regardless of their family structure.
Dairy inspections (House Bill 1553)—The Department of Agriculture relies on collaboration with producers to ensure dairy inspection assessments are performed correctly. HB 1553 extends the dairy inspection program through June, 2031, to make sure that the dairy products we export from dairy operations like those in Port Orchard are safe, and those jobs are protected.
This bill was signed into law by the governor on April 11 and takes effect on June 30, 2025.
The two bills awaiting the governor’s signature are:
Core priorities (House Bill 2047)— The uncertainty coming from the federal government has led the legislature to focus on its core priorities. This bill eliminates the Employee Ownership Program to concentrate the legislature’s efforts on priorities like education, health care, and safety.
“We need to rein in spending and batten down the hatches to prepare for federal cuts to things like Medicaid, early learning, and higher education while addressing our own spending,” Richards said.
Permit reform (House Bill 1902)— Across the state, hundreds of intersections and portions of roadways are prone to car accidents, including on the Key Peninsula, yet the complicated regulatory process stalls long-term solutions. This bill addresses constituent priorities by bringing together stakeholders to develop recommendations to smooth the permitting process for transportation projects.
HB 1902 unanimously passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0 and the House 94-1.
“Excessive regulatory burdens, particularly in permitting transportation projects, contribute to delays and cost overruns that we have to address,” Richards said, “especially to build projects faster and more efficiently.”