Governor signs a package of bills covering tribal rights, public safety, health and labor

Summary

At a bill-signing ceremony at the Governor's Office, the governor signed more than a dozen bills into law, including a repeal of an anti‑tribal statute, a ban on employer-required microchipping, updates to ski-lift safety rules and measures to expand access to medical cannabis and licensure compacts.

The governor signed a package of bills at a ceremony at the Governor's Office on March 12, 2026, praising bipartisan cooperation and recognizing legislative sponsors. Among the measures signed was House Bill 2554, which repeals statutory language dating to initiative 456 that the governor said conflicted with treaty-reserved fishing rights and federal court rulings; the bill affirms tribes’ stewarding of Washington’s natural resources.

The ceremony covered a wide range of policy areas. The governor signed House Bill 1604, which updates guidance and training for jail officials performing strip searches to reflect current practices and better protect transgender and intersex individuals; House Bill 2088, which establishes an interstate licensure compact for dietitians; and House Bill 2107, which requires the Department of Labor and Industries to quickly notify construction sites when L&I identifies hazards that could cause worker injury.

Ho…

Governor signs a package of bills covering tribal rights, public safety, health and labor

Summary

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