In the State of Washington, members of the General Assembly can pre-file legislation in the month before a legislative session begins. Beginning on December 4, 2023, lawmakers began pre-filing dozens of bills. Here is a preview of some of the pre-filed legislation, which will officially be introduced on the first day of the 2024 legislative session. And don’t forget to check out our recent post highlighting pre-filed legislation in Alabama.

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Cutoff Dates for Legislation

HCR 4407 was pre-filed on December 5. The resolution establishes various cutoff dates for bills in the 2024 session. Specifically, the resolution would establish January 31, 2024, as the final day to read in committee reports for a bill’s house of origin, except reports from the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Senate Transportation Committee, and House fiscal committees. February 5, 2024, would be the final day for those committees. February 13 will be the final date to consider bills in their chamber of origination.

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Emergency Insulin Supply Access Bill

On December 4, lawmakers pre-filed SB 5776, which would allow eligible individuals to receive one emergency 30-day supply of insulin within a 12-month period with a maximum cost-sharing of $10. Eligibility requirements include being a Washington resident, not being enrolled in medical assistance, having a valid insulin prescription, having less than a seven-day insulin supply, and not being enrolled in prescription drug coverage, which limits the total amount of cost sharing they are required to pay for a 30-day insulin supply to $35 or less.

The bill also would require insulin manufacturers who sell in Washington to develop a process that a pharmacy would use to submit an electronic claim for payment. Suppose a pharmacy were to submit an electronic claim. In that case, the manufacturer (or their delegated representative, subcontractor, or other vendor) must reimburse the pharmacy for the pharmacy’s acquisition cost for the insulin within 30 days.

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Year-Round PST Bill

Lawmakers pre-filed SB 5795, which would implement Pacific Standard Time year-round. The bill would prohibit counties, cities, and other political subdivisions from adopting any provisions to observe Daylight Saving Time or any time other than standard time. If enacted, the bill would take effect November 4, 2024.

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Zero Emission Outdoor Power Equipment Emissions Bill

Lawmakers pre-filed HB 1868 on December 5. The bill would require the state to adopt rules to ban engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new outdoor power equipment. The rules would apply to any such equipment made on or after January 1, 2026, or as soon as the state can determine it would be feasible to do so, whichever comes last. The rules would not apply to outdoor power equipment used by any government agency or entity or their contractors for emergency management or response purposes.

The bill defines ‘outdoor power equipment’ as equipment designed or marketed for use in an outdoor setting in the management of vegetation, landscaped outdoor spaces, or built spaces that is powered by an engine that produces a gross horsepower of less than 25 or is designed to produce less than 25 horsepower. Pieces of equipment include vegetation-cutting equipment, leaf blowers, leaf shredders, augers, edgers, woodchippers, pressure washers, snowblowers, and more.

The bill would also require the state to create and administer an outdoor power equipment grant program for local governments that extensively use such equipment to replace existing outdoor power equipment powered by liquid, gaseous, or fossil fuels with zero-emission outdoor power equipment. The bill calls for a $5 million annual funding stream starting in 2025 and ending in 2029.

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