Final Week of the Session

Dear friends and neighbors, 

It’s hard to believe we are in the last week of my first legislative session! As we near Sine Die, I want to take a moment to thank you for your engagement and advocacy. Your input and feedback have been invaluable in shaping the policies that will impact our communities for years to come. 

Here’s an update on some recent legislative developments from the last few weeks:

Every child should have access to healthy and nutritious meals. I am proud to share that the Legislature has passed House Bill 1238, a bill expanding access to free school meals for students in Washington—this bill is a significant step towards this goal.  

Under the new legislation, an additional 90,000 students in Washington will now qualify for the free school meals program. This means that over half of all K-12 students in the state will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch. Kids can’t learn unless they have the fuel that they need. Adequate nutrition gives kids the energy to learn, grow, and play. This is an investment in our children’s health, education, and future.  

I am thrilled to have supported the effort to expand access to free school meals for our students. This is just one step towards ensuring that every child has the resources they need to succeed, and I look forward to continuing to work towards that goal.

I am thrilled to announce that House Bill 1357, which improves patient access to care, has unanimously passed the Senate, and in the Legislature as a whole—next stop, the governor’s desk! This bill modernizes the prior authorization process that healthcare providers must go through before prescribing a drug, procedure, or test for a patient’s care. 

In addition, House Bill 1357 requires health carriers to report the top ten prescription drugs for the previous year with the highest number of prior authorization requests, the highest percentage of approved prior authorization requests, and the highest percentage of prior authorization requests that were initially denied and then subsequently approved on appeal. This information will help the Legislature and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to continue improving patient access to care. 

I’m proud to have supported this bill—its passing is a significant step towards ensuring that our healthcare providers can spend less time wrangling with insurance companies and more time caring for their patients. By putting the patient’s needs first, we are building a healthcare system that truly exists to get people well. 

A few years ago, the Legislature passed a bill prohibiting law enforcement from vehicular pursuit without probable cause. This was done to prevent dangerous high-speed chases that put innocent lives at risk. However, we’ve heard feedback from so many of you that public safety is one of your greatest priorities right now—and that much of the community supports vehicular pursuits when law enforcement has reasonable suspicion that a suspect(s) were involved in specific criminal activity. 

I understand the importance of empowering our officers to protect our cities. There are situations where suspects pose a significant danger to the public, and our officers need to be able to act quickly to apprehend them. The new pursuits bill would allow law enforcement to engage in vehicle pursuits when there is a reasonable suspicion that the occupant has committed a violent crime or poses an imminent threat to public safety—and I am proud to have supported this bill in the House. The Senate has concurred with the House’s changes to the bill, and it is being sent to the governor to be signed into law! 

I know this is a highly divisive issue, but I believe that we need to strike a balance between protecting our communities and ensuring public safety. I will continue to advocate for this bill and work with my colleagues to ensure that our law enforcement officers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. 

I am pleased to share some of the important budget appropriations I’ve advocated for in our community. The first is a proviso that sends much-needed funds to the WA Horse Racing Commission to support the horse racing industry in our state. Horse racing has a rich history in Washington, and this funding will help to ensure its continued success and viability. 

Additionally, the budget includes funding for tribal consultation and collection stewardship at the Burke Museum. This important funding will support the museum’s efforts to work with local tribes to preserve and care for their cultural artifacts and ensure their proper representation and interpretation. 

I am proud to have supported these appropriations and look forward to continuing to work for the benefit of our community. 

I am thrilled to see the passage of so many bills this session that will improve the lives of Washingtonians and make our communities safer, greener, and more equitable.

As we move forward, I encourage you to stay involved, stay informed, and continue advocating for the issues that matter to you. Stay tuned for information about mini town halls and upcoming opportunities to connect over the interim. I look forward to working together towards a brighter future for our state.

Sincerely,

Rep. Chris Stearns