April 4 was opposite house fiscal cutoff, the fifth major milestone of the 2023 legislative session. This meant bills that were sent to a fiscal committee needed to be voted out by April 4 in order to stay “alive” and continue along in the legislative process. The Legislature will now devote their time, until April 12, to debating and voting bills out of the opposite chamber. Below is an update on WSDA’s week 13 activities in Olympia.

Update on Legislation from Weeks 1-12 Blogs

Concerning the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1576)

On April 6, the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, which makes it easier for out-of-state dentists and dental hygienists in good standing to practice in our state, passed the Senate. This bill will help address the severe shortage of hygienists in Washington. Under the Compact, licensed dentists and dental hygienists, in good standing, may practice in all states participating in the Compact rather than having to obtain an individual license in every state in which they want to practice. By passing ESHB 1576, Washington state would be one of the first states to join the Compact. In order to "activate" the Compact, seven states will need to pass this legislation.

ESHB 1576 passed out of the Senate unanimously – with two excused – on April 6, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [2:20:29-2:25:43].

ESHB 1576 passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee unanimously with a do pass recommendation on March 23, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [42:18-42:45 and 55:49-56:27].

WSDA testified in support of ESHB 1576 during the bill’s public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 21, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [11:35-15:46 and 26:37-39:00].

ESHB 1576 passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously – with three excused – on March 5, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [3:14:54-3:18:37].

ESHB 1576 was voted out of the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee with a do pass recommendation on Feb. 10.

WSDA testified in support of ESHB 1576 during the bill’s public hearing in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee on Feb. 8, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [33:33-34:40].

Faculty in Dental Schools (Senate Bill 5113)

SB 5113 allows any CODA-accredited dental school in Washington state to request temporary licensure for persons who have accepted faculty employment at the school. The bill also allows dental schools to request limited licensure for postdoctoral students or postdoctoral residents. The current statute is specific to the University of Washington, and SB 5113 would ensure that faculty of the recently established Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine (PNWU), along with future CODA-accredited dental schools, are able to obtain a faculty license.

SB 5113 passed the House of Representatives unanimously on April 5, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [41:01-42:52].

SB 5113 passed out of the House Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee with a do pass recommendation on March 17, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [8:00-10:30].

SB 5113 had a public hearing in the House Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee on March 14, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [14:07-16:20 and 39:08-40:51].

SB 5113 passed the Senate unanimously on Feb. 22, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [1:17:13-1:21:27].

SB 5113 had a public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on Jan 19, and Dr. Fotinos Panagakos, Dean of the School of Dental Medicine at PNWU, testified in support. Dean Panagakos’ testimony can be viewed on TVW [1:03:42-1:06:16]. SB 5113 passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee unanimously on Jan. 24.

WSDA signed in PRO on SB 5113.

Collecting Health Care Professionals' Information at the Time of License Application and License Renewal (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1503)

ESHB 1503 requires applications for licensure or licensure renewal on or after July 1, 2025, to include the applicant’s race, ethnicity, gender, languages spoken, provider specialty (where applicable), primary practice location, and secondary practice location. On March 16, the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee adopted an amendment prohibiting the Department of Health from ever selling information collected about health professionals from license applications or license renewals.

ESHB 1503 passed out of the Senate – with a vote 47 yeas, 1 nay, and 1 excused – on April 6, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [1:01:10-1:06:43].

ESHB 1503 passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 16, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [1:41:53-1:42:57].

ESHB 1503 had a public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [45:20-53:55].

ESHB 1503 passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously – with four excused – on March 8, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [10:10-13:58].

ESHB 1503 passed out of the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee unanimously on Feb. 3.

WSDA signed in PRO on ESHB 1503.

Preventing Use of Vapor and Tobacco Products by Minors (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5365)

ESSB 5365 increases the maximum monetary penalties the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) may impose against cigarette and tobacco product retailer licensees and vapor product retailer licensees for violating provisions related to the selling or giving cigarette, tobacco, or vapor products to minors. The engrossed substitute bill limits the provisions when detaining minors to determining their identity, determining their age, and seizing the vapor or tobacco products. Further, this is limited to LCB enforcement officers, not peace officers, and this detainment may only occur within 100 feet or less of a retailer licensee.

ESSB 5365 passed out of the House of Representatives – with a vote of 57 yeas, 39 nays, and 2 excused – on April 7, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [34:27-42:31].

ESSB 5365 passed out of the House Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee with a do pass as amended recommendation on March 23, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [3:18-5:08 and 16:13-24:20].

ESSB 5365 had a public hearing in the House Regulated Substances & Gaming Committee on March 16, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [0:00-48:10].

ESSB 5365 passed out of the Senate – with a vote of 29 yeas, 19 nays, and 1 excused – on Feb. 28, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [2:10:55-2:20:42].

WSDA signed in PRO on ESSB 5365.

Concerning the State's Ability to Regulate Certain Industries and Risk Classes to Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries and Disorders (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5217)

ESSB 5217 repeals the law prohibiting the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) from adopting rules related to ergonomics or musculoskeletal disorders. The engrossed substitute provides limitations on the adoption of new rules, including allowing rules only for industries or risk classifications where compensable claims involved musculoskeletal injuries and disorders that are at a rate greater than two times the overall state claim rate for these types of injuries and disorders over a recent five-year period. ESSB 5217 requires L&I to identify industries and risk classifications most likely to be selected for rulemaking; review and report certain claims data; and consider certain factors during rulemaking. Lastly, the bill allows L&I to provide funding to employers to purchase additional equipment required to comply with an adopted rule and requires L&I to provide up to three ergonomists to provide consultation to employers.

ESSB 5217 passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on March 31, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [2:18:19-2:20:00 and 3:10:27-3:20:30].

ESSB 5217 had a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on March 30, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [2:26:50-2:38:20].

ESSB 5217 passed out of the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on March 17, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [7:39-23:33].

ESSB 5217 had a public hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on March 14, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [11:05-25:20 and 31:02-1:04:15].

ESSB 5217 passed out of the Senate – with a vote of 27 yeas, 21 nays, and 1 excused – on March 1, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [1:16:21-2:51:05].

WSDA signed in CON on ESSB 5217.

Military Spouse Employment (Second Substitute House Bill 1009)

2SHB 1009 establishes that a licensing authority must issue a license or a temporary license to a military spouse within 30 days of receipt of a completed application for licensure. The second substitute defines military spouse as “any person married or previously married to a military service member, irrespective of the length of the marriage, during the military service member's service in any branch of the United States armed forces as an active-duty service member, reservist, or national guard member.” 2SHB 1009 requires certain state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Licensing, to establish a military spouse assistance webpage. The bill encourages licensing authorities to review their licensing application process for military spouses, identify barriers to military spouse employment, and appoint a military spouse to serve on their licensing board or commission. Further, 2SHB 1009 allows a military spouse to terminate an employment contract without penalty after his or her service member spouse receives orders for a permanent change of station.

On April 3, the Senate Ways & Means Committee adopted an amendment providing that a complete application for a temporary license include a copy of the certificate issued by the other state for a certificated education professional.

2SHB 1009 passed out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee on April 3 with a do pass recommendation, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [28:17-29:49 and 53:00-53:50].

2SHB 1009 had a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 28, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [10:48-18:28].

2SHB 1009 passed out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee with a do pass recommendation on March 20, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [1:12:13-1:15:45 and 1:18:15-1:19:50].

2SHB 1009 had a public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on March 13, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [16:58-23:39 and 56:56-1:07:48].

2SHB 1009 passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously on Feb. 15, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [14:43-19:25].

WSDA signed in PRO on 2SHB 1009.

Establishing a State Medical Reserve Corps (Second Substitute House Bill 1452)

2SHB 1452 establishes a State Emergency Medical Reserve Corps (Emergency MRC) within the Department of Health (DOH) to serve under the Secretary of Health when an emergency is declared, and also when there is not an emergency, but the protection of public health requires the mobilization of the State Emergency MRC. To become a health practitioner member, 2SHB 1452 requires that a member must pass a background check and be licensed in good standing. Health practitioner members may include dentists.

2SHB 1452 requires when the services have not been requested by a health care entity, the DOH may enter into a cost-sharing or billing agreement with a health care entity that is receiving services from the deployment. When the services are requested, the DOH must charge the health care entity. Lastly, the DOH may seek federal or private funding to support the costs of deployments of the State Emergency MRC under 2SHB 1452.

2SHB 1452 passed out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee on April 3 with a do pass recommendation, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [1:10:54-1:11:20 and 1:27:56-1:28:20].

2SHB 1452 had a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 23, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [58:28-1:03:23].

WSDA signed in PRO on 2SHB 1452.

Questions?

Please contact WSDA at info@wsda.org.