With the 2024 Washington state legislative session set to convene on Jan. 8, state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, has drafted 11 bills, including one allowing fire departments access to new safety training funding and another streamlining the process to get special education funding, according to a news release.
House Bill 1986, if approved as written, will help fire departments with limited resources pay for fire safety training and assessments. HB 1986 complements House Bill 1014, which Abbarno also proposed this session to establish new grant funding for rural fire departments struggling to continue providing service to rapidly growing communities.
"The state must invest more in our rural fire departments, which are struggling to modernize and keep up with demand," Abbarno said in the release. "(HB) 1986 is a common-sense reform that would help our most needy fire departments fund basic safety trainings."
House Bill 1973, if approved as written, seeks to streamline the process to get special education safety net funding as school districts attempting to get these funds are often awarded far less than they ask due to errors in the application process.
"Some of the best legislation comes from the community and these bills become law with their involvement," Abbarno said. "I encourage everyone to stay informed and active throughout the process."
The other eight House Bills proposed by Abbarno for the 2024 Legislative session include:
• House Bill 1005 would bring back and double employer public utility tax and business and occupation tax credits for employers hiring veterans, veteran family members or active duty military personnel. These tax credits expired on July 1, 2023.
• House Bill 1011 would repeal Washington’s long-term care program and payroll tax.
• House Bill 1409 would expand residential building codes to reduce costs for building residential treatment facilities such as Cascade Community Healthcare’s proposed Chehalis treatment facility.
• House Bill 1729 would create and expand tax incentives for companies researching, developing and producing hydrogen fuel products in Washington state.
• House Bill 1856 would create a legislative task force and broad-based study focused on establishing the Washington Office of Transparency Ombuds to serve as a nonpartisan and independent agency helping Washingtonians access public records.
• House Bill 1974 would amend state law and add counties to the list of entities that can lawfully dispose of human remains that go unclaimed by relatives or close family friends for more than 90 days and would also reduce the waiting period from 90 to 30 days.
• House Bill 1977 would designate Tenino sandstone as Washington’s official state rock.
• House Bill 2031 would add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of occupational illnesses county coroners and medical examiners can claim for worker’s compensation claims.
Additionally, Abbarno has helped pass other bills during session earlier this year, including House Bill 1004, House Bill 1259 and House Bill 1361.
HB 1004, also known as “Zach’s Law,” added signs on and near bridges to deter people from jumping, while HB 1259 updated the governor’s executive team by granting the chief of staff position signing authority. HB 1361 modernized state law surrounding state employee documents and procedures.
To view all of these bills, and for more information on them, visit https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ and search by bill number.
Abbarno has also created an online resource for constituents to research, track and comment on legislation at https://houserepublicans.wa.gov/get-involved/.
Abbarno is participating in the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce’s monthly legislative forum Zoom conferences along with Sen. John Braun and Rep. Ed Orcutt. The first forum took place on Dec. 28. The next forums are scheduled for Jan. 25, Feb. 22 and March 28.
While all three legislators may not be able to attend each conference, at least one will be present to share the latest updates concerning local and state matters.
The sessions are on Zoom, so those who wish to participate can do so from the comfort of their own home or office. Abbarno, Braun and Orcutt will provide updates on critical issues during the current legislative session.
Zoom participants will have opportunities to comment and ask questions as well.
For more information and details about how to access these Zoom legislative updates, email Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cynthia Mudge at director@chamberway.com.
