Nearly 4,000 Bills Introduced During the 2023-2024 Legislative Session

During the 2023-2024 legislative session, there were over 3,000 bills introduced into the Washington State Legislature by the 147 legislators that represent the citizens of Washington State. Some bills were recommended by government agencies, some encouraged by the Governor, but most were filed by legislators to satisfy a need.

It is a daunting process for a bill to become a law. There are committees, hearings, caucus meetings, and then floor votes. Once a bill is through one chamber it starts all over again until it is finally signed by the governor. Of the nearly 3,200 bills introduced, less than 1,000 ran the gauntlet and made it to the finish line.

The 12 legislators in the Tri-City region managed to get a combined 41 bills through during the two-year biennium. Here are a few examples:

• HB 1870: Sponsored by Representative Barnard, titled- “Promoting economic development by increasing opportunities for local communities to secure federal funding.”
• SB 5891: Sponsored by Senator Boehnke, titled: “Protecting the safety and security of students and maintaining order within school buses by designating trespassing on a school bus as a criminal offense.”
• HB 2003: Sponsored by Representative Connors, titled- “Concerning an exemption to the leasehold excise tax for leases on public lands.”
• SB 5156: Sponsored by Senator Torres, titled- “Expanding the farm internship program.”
• HB 1783: Sponsored by Representative Sandlin, titled- “Supporting economic development in distressed areas through hiring of grant writers.”
• SB 6215: Sponsored by Senator Schoesler, titled- “Improving tax and revenue laws.”
• HB 1752: Sponsored by Representative Dye, titled- “Modifying the application of the annual consumptive quantity calculation to change applications related to certain water rights held by the United States bureau of reclamation.”
• HB 1712: Sponsored by Representative Schmick, titled- “Protecting workers displaced due to finfish aquaculture facility closure.”
• SB 6235: Sponsored by Senator Dozier, titled “Updating thresholds for the property tax exemption for widows and widowers of honorably discharged veterans.”
• HB 1210: Sponsored by Representative Rude, titled- “Concerning the recording of school board meetings.”
• HB 2428: Sponsored by Representative Klicker, titled- “Allowing cities to voluntarily share certain sales and use tax revenue."

Most of the bills passed by our representatives had bi-partisan support and demonstrate the ability of our local elected officials to work together.