OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Over 200 laws took effect in Washington state Thursday, June 11. Here’s a look at some of those new rules.
State legislators bolstered Washington’s Voting Rights Act this session with two laws that protect against what they call voting discrimination tactics: HB 1710 and HB 1750. Another voting law forces auditors to take measures to verify a voter’s address is accurate among other changes.
Some more protections for students are in effect, preventing school staff from restraining or isolating students without parental and medical provider consent.
Another law forces supportive housing options to be available in residential areas, while another requires flood risk to be disclosed to prospective renters. Yet another law requested by Gov. Bob Ferguson would push for vacant properties to be turned into housing.
There is a new tax for health insurers to pay for additional abortion funding. Language in the law stipulates that the extra cost cannot be passed onto the consumers. An 82 cents per month of coverage per enrollee in the first year will go towards the fund that largely benefits Washington state Dept. of Health grants provided to organizations that perform abortions.
A guidebook for how to handle finances in the wake of the penny’s demise is now available for retailers in the state. People are now asked to round up or down to the nearest nickel.
And gambling at tribal casinos on college sports is now allowed, with some restrictions on player performance wagering.
Several infractions now count as gross misdemeanors:
- impersonating a law enforcement officer
- threatening a coach, referee or player due to a gambling wager
- knowingly providing false information in order to question a voter’s registration to a county auditor.
