Report from Olympia | February 17, 2022
 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we wrap up the sixth week of this 2022 legislative session, we have now passed the “cutoff” for Senate policy bills to move forward from the Senate, and likewise for bills in the House of Representatives.
The good news: Some really good Senate bills survived the voting deadline and now begin their journey in the other chamber of our Legislature.
Here are some of the good bills in the category of restoring public safety:
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5054 – Expanding the lookback period for impaired driving/ DUI (Padden)
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5509 – Exempting fentanyl testing equipment from the definition of drug paraphernalia. (Honeyford)
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5612 – Allowing victim sentencing statements (Wilson, L.)
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5692 -- DOC Corrections Programming – Aimed at reviewing DOC offender programming offerings in hopes of reducing recidivism (Gildon)
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5781 – Concerning organized retail theft (Padden)
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5839 – Creating the crime of interfering with a firefighter or emergency medical services provider (Padden)
We were also able to pass several bills to help make Washington more affordable:
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5380 – Streamlining building permit approval (Fortunato)
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5504 – Extending Discover Pass Free days to all state recreation sites (Warnick)
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5758 – Encouraging condominium homeownership (Gildon)
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5849 – Tax exemptions in urban areas for job creation (Warnick)
Other good bills that passed:
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5638 - Expediting approval for applicants for an associate license as a social worker, mental health counselor, or marriage and family therapist (Wagoner)
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5710 – Reducing contamination in the state toxicology laboratory. (Padden)
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5746 – Drought preparedness and funding (Warnick)
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5762 – Creating the Purple Star Award to recognize military-friendly schools (Wagoner)
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5790 – Strengthening critical support services for individuals with developmental disabilities and reducing the administrative caseload (Braun)
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5819 – Reducing the developmental disabilities administration's no-paid services caseload (Braun)
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5892 -- Establishing pilot projects for utilizing high school student nursing assistant-certified programs to address the nursing workforce shortage and promote nursing careers in rural hospitals (Brown)
We were also able to “kill” a few bad bills.
The flipside of all this good news is that many bad bills also advanced. In this Report from Olympia, you can read all about the year’s first revenue forecast, our work to increase the balance of power and reduce abuse of emergency gubernatorial proclamations, and more.
If you have any questions about the issues covered in this e-mail or any other topics before the Legislature, please don’t hesitate to give our office a call or send me an e-mail.
It’s an honor to serve as your state senator.
Best Regards,
 Senator Mike Padden
Audio Update:
The Commute with Carlson on KVI Radio
Sen. Padden on a bill to ice parents out of medical decisions about their children
 Click on image above to listen now.
Sen. Mike Padden talks to John Carlson of KVI Radio about legislation that allows a child of any age to give consent for medical procedures without informing the parents. Click here or on the image above to listen now!
Legislative Update:
Bill to protect first responders passed by Senate
 On Tuesday, as the Senate wrapped up its work for the year on Senate-sponsored legislation, it approved our measure that would make it a crime to interfere with a firefighter or emergency medical services provider in the performance of their duty.
I was surprised this law is not already on the books. Our firefighters and emergency medical service providers are out in the community providing a necessary service. Just think of how reprehensible it would be for someone to interfere with those services.
As we heard in the public hearing on this bill, there are far too many instances of our firefighters and emergency-service providers being hindered from doing their jobs, or even assaulted while attempting to render care to others. This bill would allow for law enforcement to take direct action to protect our first responders and allow them to safely complete their critical work.
Senate Bill 5839 stems from an idea that originated with Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor. If the bill becomes law, it would be a gross misdemeanor to knowingly and intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent a firefighter or emergency medical service provider from performing their official duties.
Click here to read my full press release on this topic.
In the News:
West Coast, Messed Up Coast
By Victoria Taft, PJ Media | Feb. 10, 2022
… In Washington, hapless Gov. Jay Inslee presides over a treasure chest full of federal COVID money, but he and his Democrats are pushing to raise 14 separate transportation taxes and fees. Democrats are pushing forward a transportation bill that raises license plate fees by 500%, so they’re really watching out for the little guy.
That’s bad, but it’s not the worst thing on the docket. State Senate Democrats rushed through a bill that allows children of any age to give medical consent to any procedure without their parents’ involvement. That includes, but is not limited to, trans surgeries, abortions, or COVID shots.
State Sen. Mike Padden said the “unconscionable” bill was intended to ice out parental involvement in huge decisions for their children. “This bill is really about putting parents on the sideline [and] is so extreme that it apparently has no minimum age limit. Moreover, there is no accountability for the adults who would come between parents and their children, no matter how much damage that interference might cause the child.” The bill also gives blanket immunity to government workers who ruin your kid.
Click here to read the full story.
In the News:
New revenue forecast means there are even more reason for tax relief in 2022
 The budget leader for Senate Republicans says the case for providing tax relief this year is even stronger after seeing 2022’s first quarterly forecast of state-government revenue.
Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, serves on the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The forecast she and other council members adopted Wednesday shows an increase of more than $2.8 billion for state government’s four-year outlook budget period ($1.45 billion for the 2021-23 biennium and $1.32 billion for 2023-25).
“The state’s revenues are up more than 10 billion dollars compared to what was expected less than a year ago, and the surplus now stands at 15 billion dollars. It’s raining money, and the Legislature should make it rain for the people of our state in the form of tax relief,” said Wilson.
Click here to read her full statement on the new revenue forecast.
To view the February forecast, click here.
Video Update:
Padden speaking on amendment to put teeth into the emergency powers bill
 Click here or on the image above to watch video of Sen. Padden discussing one of the Republican amendments aimed at adding real teeth into the Democrat bill addressing executive emergency powers. Amendment 1147 would replace the language in the Democrat-do-nothing bill (SB 5909) with the language of the Senate Republican plan to end all executive orders after 90 days, unless extended by the Legislature.
Emergency powers reform in name only
By Jason Mercier, Washington Policy Center | Feb 15, 2022
When finally given the chance to provide comment more than 10,000 Washingtonians signed in for the public hearings on HB 1772 and SB 5909 to reform the state’s emergency powers. Despite the huge public outcry, HB 1772 did not receive a committee vote.
The Senate did advance SB 5909 but rejected floor amendments that would have required affirmative legislative approval after a set period of time. By not requiring affirmative legislative approval to continue an emergency order, not much will change from the status quo if SB 5909 becomes law.
 This is not a complicated debate. Either Washington should join the vast majority of the country by providing meaningful legislative oversight for executive emergency powers or the Governor will continue to be empowered to make decisions behind closed doors for an indefinite period of time without the need to receive legislative signoff.
Harmonizing the existing law so that both waiving of statute and restrictive proclamations expire after 30 days unless the legislature votes to continue should not be controversial. There is no logical reason to treat those emergency actions by the Governor differently.
Click here to read the full post.
Senate honors Congolese Integration Network
 On Monday, the Washington State Senate recognize the work of the Congolese Integration Network, their efforts to support refugees in Washington fleeing violence and oppression, and individuals working to alleviate their plight, fighting for justice and peace.
Last fall, I participated with the Congolese Integration Network delegation at a working breakfast in Spokane for lawmakers, aimed at helping local Congolese establish relationships with legislators, church leadership, and those interested in learning more about the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how they have been affected by conflicts in the region.
The goal of the CIN delegation is to establish a “connection of hope by providing a platform for the Congolese voice to be heard and to advocate for sustainable change for families here and abroad that suffer from the atrocities and ongoing genocide in the DRC.”
Click here to read the full resolution.
Congratulations to Super Bowl MVP and Eastern Washington Alumnus Cooper Kupp
 Congratulations to Yakima, Washington’s own Cooper Kupp on an amazing, historic season with the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams, winners of last Sunday’s Super Bowl.
In the 2021 regular season, the pride of Eastern Washington University had 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns to lead the league in each of those categories. It’s a feat that’s only been accomplished three times before in the long history of the NFL.
That performance won him the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year title. Next, he dominated the playoffs with 33 catches for 478 yards and six touchdowns, a single postseason record. Then there was his performance in the “big game,” which left many with their jaws on the ground. His eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown catch with only 1:25 remaining in the game, was a performance worthy of the Most Valuable Player award he received after the game.
Click here to watch a KXLY video about Kupp’s historic performance and its impact on EWU.
If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are here to serve you!
Phone: (360) 786-7606
Street address: 106 Irv Newhouse Building, Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA 98504
Postal address: PO Box 40404, Olympia, WA 98504
Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov
PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden's Olympia office, which will be open starting Jan. 6, at (360) 786-7606.
To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton who is the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.
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