Representative Suzanne Schmidt (Fourth Legislative District) told Spokane County Spotlight she had five bills signed into law during the recent session. She described two in detail: a specialty-electrician licensing bill and a change affecting some fire districts’ hiring rules.

On electricians: Schmidt said 2021 licensing changes left some electricians unable to advance. Her bill allows workers in trainee programs to work as journeyman electricians in residential settings while completing an apprenticeship for a commercial license. She said the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) testified in favor of the bill.

On fire districts: Schmidt said one of her bills permits certain fire districts to eliminate civil-service commissions that were hindering hiring because volunteer-run commissions could not maintain quorums. She said Spokane Valley Fire Department Chief Frank Soto and fire commissioners asked her for the change and attended the bill-signing with her.

Why it matters: Schmidt framed the measures as workforce and operational fixes aimed at easing staffing shortages for electricians and firefighters in parts of Spokane County.

Status and outcomes: Schmidt said the bills were signed by the governor; she described local officials attending the bill-signing events. The program did not include bill numbers or fiscal notes on air.