As we approach the halfway point of the legislative session, I wanted to share with you some of the high-profile bills we are considering.

  • Sports betting: A recent Supreme Court ruling overturned a 1992 federal act that had outlawed sports betting across the country. Two bills were introduced this session that would allow sports betting in Washington state.One bill would have allowed sports betting in a variety of places throughout the state. That bill was not passed out of committee in either the House or Senate, primarily due to concerns about expanding gambling so quickly and in so many different locations.

    The other bill, which is still alive, would allow the governor to negotiate a gaming compact with Washington tribes and allow sports betting in tribal casinos. According to the Washington State Constitution, any expansion of gambling requires a 60% supermajority vote in both the House and Senate – which would require broad, bipartisan support.

  • Prescription drug costs: Last year, the Legislature took a big step toward greater prescription drug cost transparency by passing a bill that sets reporting requirements and increased transparency on drug companies.This year, the Legislature is considering additional steps to lower the cost of life-saving drugs with SB 6088, which establishes a prescription drug affordability board to conduct cost reviews of drugs and set upper payment limits for state purchasers, and SB 6113, which will create a central insulin purchasing program.
  • Protecting your personal data: The Washington Privacy Act, which will help to protect your personal online data, is making its way through the legislative process. This bill would afford consumers new rights to access, correct, and delete their personal data. It is important that our consumer protection laws keep up as technology and innovation continue to evolve.Similar policies have been implemented in Europe and California. If enacted, this legislation would provide significant protections for Washington state residents and fundamentally change the way online companies and data brokers handle your personal data.

Town Hall Meeting on Feb. 22

My House seatmates and I will be hosting a 3rd Legislative District town hall meeting on February 22nd.

The Town Hall meeting will feature a brief presentation on progress in Olympia during the 2020 legislative session and time for your questions.

Date: Feb. 22
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Location: The Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W 9th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204