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Washington House advances package of bills on pawnbrokers, elections threshold, courts, audits and worker protections
Summary
The Washington State House on Jan. 29 advanced and passed a slate of bills on third reading, including changes to pawnbroker fee limits, a $6,000 threshold for foreign‑national contribution certifications, court‑rules alignment, audit reporting changes, expanded shared leave, electronic notarization, and two joint memorials. Vote tallies were announced on the floor.
The Washington State House of Representatives convened on Jan. 29 and on third reading advanced and passed a package of bills covering consumer finance, election‑law certifications, court‑rule alignment, audit reporting, state hiring, notarization and shared leave.
Lawmakers approved House Bill 12 69, a bill amending state law on pawnbroker fees and interest. Representative Hackney (11th District) said pawnbrokers provide essential services to unbanked residents and asked the House to support a modest increase in interest rates (described on the floor as from 4% to 5%) and modest increases in storage and processing fees. Representative McClintock (18th District) also urged a yes vote. The clerk reported 83 yays, 14 nays and 1 excused; the measure was declared passed.
Lawmakers passed substitute House Bill 21 23, described on the floor as changing how foreign‑national participation certifications apply in state elections by setting a $6,000 threshold so candidate campaigns would largely be exempt while initiative campaigns over the threshold still would be covered. Representative Fitzgibbon (34th District) said the change reduces burdensome record‑keeping on candidates; Representative Corey (15th District) supported the bill. Representative Walsh (19th District) opposed it, calling it a half measure that weakens protections and risks constraining the initiative process. The clerk reported 68 yays, 29 nays and 1 excused; the substitute bill was declared passed.
Other measures passed on third reading with votes announced on the House floor:
- Substitute House Bill 21 78 (court rules/statutory alignment): described by Representative Tai (41st District) as a request of the Administrative Office of the Courts; roll call: 89 yays, 8 nays, 1 excused.
- House Bill 21 20 (modifications to Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee reporting): supporters, including Representative Pollet (46th District), argued the bill removes duplicative reports to free JLARC staff; roll call: 97 yays, 0 nays, 1 excused.
- House Bill 23 0 9 (reducing barriers to state employment; amendments to chapter 42.56 RCW): sponsors said the bill will help fill state workforce shortages; roll call: 97 yays, 0 nays, 1 excused.
- Substitute House Bill 21 58 (electronic notarial acts): presented as a bipartisan, Uniform Law Commission request to allow remote electronica notarization of physical documents to help rural residents; roll call: 96 yays, 0 nays, 2 excused.
- House Bill 24 11 (modifying shared leave): sponsors said the bill adds qualifying circumstances so coworkers can donate leave when employees are victims of hate crimes or subject to immigration enforcement; the bill drew fiscal and policy cautions from some members. Roll call: 60 yays, 36 nays, 2 excused.
- House Joint Memorial 4004 (letter to the President) and substitute House Joint Memorial 4001 (memorial/transportation recognition): the memorials passed with reported tallies of 80 yays, 16 nays, 2 excused and 96 yays, 0 nays, 2 excused, respectively.
On several bills, members spoke for and against the policy choices. Representative Fitzgibbon said the $6,000 threshold in HB 21 23 narrows burdens to larger initiative campaigns while shielding most candidate campaigns from onerous requirements; Representative Walsh described the change as insufficient and warned of effects on the initiative process. Representative Saladin urged passage of the shared‑leave changes recounting a constituent case of a detained state employee; Representative Defoe raised fiscal concerns about expanding eligibility.
The House adjourned by unanimous consent until 9:55 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 12 69 — Passed (83 y, 14 n, 1 excused). Substitute House Bill 21 23 — Passed (68 y, 29 n, 1 excused). Substitute House Bill 21 78 — Passed (89 y, 8 n, 1 excused). House Bill 21 20 — Passed (97 y, 0 n, 1 excused). House Bill 23 0 9 — Passed (97 y, 0 n, 1 excused). Substitute House Bill 21 58 — Passed (96 y, 0 n, 2 excused). House Bill 24 11 — Passed (60 y, 36 n, 2 excused). House Joint Memorial 4004 — Passed (80 y, 16 n, 2 excused). Substitute House Joint Memorial 4001 — Passed (96 y, 0 n, 2 excused).
