LEGISLATURE 2023-24: Bills Sponsored by Rep. Clyde Shavers (VIP)

The following is a list of bills proposed in the 2023-24 legislative session for which State Representative Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor) is the prime sponsor. You can follow these bills at this link. For each bill, we have provided a link to the bill’s tracking page, the brief description of the bill, the first paragraph of the bill itself, and the latest update on the bill’s status. We will update this weekly during the legislative session.

UPDATE: Apr. 23, 2023: Rep. Shavers final tally stands firm at 5 bills passed: SHB 1458 (Apprenticeship programs/UI) was signed by the governor a couple of weeks ago, and it was joined this week by SHB 1499 (Food assistance funding) and SHB 1658 (Work experience/H.S. credit). Two more bills were delivered to the governor this week: EHB 1086 (Community org. contracts) and SHB 1346 (Purple star award). Expect the ambitious freshman to tout these accomplishments at next week’s virtual town hall meeting, but it feels like Shavers’ fell a little short of his goals.

See previous updates below the list of bills.

Active bills

EHB 1086: Increasing local governments’ ability to contract with community service organizations. AN ACT Relating to increasing local governments’ ability to contract with community service organizations; amending RCW 35.21.278; and creating a new section. Status: Delivered to the Governor on Apr. 20, 2023. Public Hearing: The bill received a public hearing in the House Local Government committee on Jan. 17, 2023; see the video at this link starting at 18:20 and lasting for approximately thirteen minutes. Rep. Shavers spoke on behalf of his bill, starting at 21:29. Executive Action: The committee took executive action on the bill on Jan. 20, 2023; the bill was reported out of committee with a Do-Pass recommendation (6 ayes and 1 nay/no recommendation). House: Passed with amendments on Feb. 6, 2023 84-9 (5 excused). Public Hearing: The bill received a public hearing in the Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs committee on Mar. 9, 2023; see the video at this link (including Rep. Shavers’ testimony) for approximately six minutes and at this link lasting approximately ten minutes. Executive Action: The Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs committee reported the bill with a Do-Pass recommendation on a 4-1 vote; the minority report was for no recommendation. Senate: Passed 44-4 (1 excused) on Apr. 7, 2023. See the engrossed House bill report.

SHB 1346: Creating the purple star award. AN ACT Relating to creating the purple star award; adding a new section to chapter 28A.625 RCW; and creating a new section. Status: Delivered to the Governor on Apr. 18, 2023. Public Hearing: The bill received a public hearing in the House Education committee on Jan. 24, 2023. See the video at this link, which lasts approximately nineteen minutes. Rep. Shavers speaks on behalf of his bill approximately two minutes into the video. Executive Action: The Education committee took executive action on a substitute version of the bill on Feb. 2, 2023 with ten members recommending Do-Pass on the substitute version, and five members recommending Do Not Pass. House: Passed with amendments 96-2 on Feb. 16, 2023. Public Hearing: The bill received a public hearing in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee on Mar. 15, 2023. See the video at this link (including Rep. Shavers’ testimony) for approximately four minutes and at this link lasting approximately four minutes. Executive Action: The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee reported out an amended version of the bill on an 8-0 vote on Mar. 16, 2023. Senate: Passed 48-0 (1 excused) on Apr. 5, 2023. House: Concurred on Senate amendments 94-2 (2 excused) on Apr. 13, 2023. See the House bill report. See the Senate bill report.

HB 1458: Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for apprenticeship program participants. AN ACT Relating to unemployment insurance benefits for individuals participating in an apprenticeship program; amending RCW 50.20.010; creating new sections; and providing an effective date. Status: Signed by the Governor on Apr. 6, 2023. Public Hearing: The House Labor & Workforce Standards committee held a public hearing on Feb. 1, 2023; see the video at this link and this link. Rep. Shavers spoke to his bill at the 07:24 mark in the first clip. Executive Action: The House Labor & Workforce Standards committee reported a substitute version of the bill with a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation on Feb. 10, 2023. House: Passed 86-11 on Feb. 28, 2023. Public Hearing: The Senate Labor & Commerce committee held a public hearing on the bill on Mar. 13, 2023. See the video at this link (including Rep. Shavers’ testimony) for approximately four minutes and at this link lasting about four-and-a-half minutes. Executive Action: The Senate Labor & Commerce committee reported the bill on Mar. 14, 2023 with a Do-Pass recommendation on a 7-2 vote; the minority report was without recommendation. Senate: Passed 41-7 on Mar. 22, 2023. See the Substitute House Bill Report.

HB 1499: Concerning food assistance funding. AN ACT Relating to food assistance funding; and amending RCW 43.23.290. Status: Signed by the Governor on Apr. 6, 2023. Public Hearing: The House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning committee held a public hearing on Feb. 1, 2023; see the video at this link. Rep. Shavers speaks to his bill at the 02:22 mark. Executive Action: The committee took executive action on Feb. 10, 2023, amending the bill and reporting it out of committee with a Do-Pass recommendation on a 9-2 vote. The minority report voted no recommendation. House: Passed the House 95-2 on Feb. 28, 2023. Public Hearing: The Senate Human Services committee held a public hearing on the bill on Mar. 9, 2023; see video at this link (approximately three minutes, including Rep. Shavers’ testimony) and at this link (approximately two minutes). Executive Action: The Senate Human Services committee reported the bill on Mar. 14, 2023, giving the bill a Do-Pass recommendation on a 7-0 vote. Senate: Passed 42-7 on Mar. 22, 2023. See the House bill report. See the Senate bill report.

SHB 1658: Authorizing public high school students to earn elective credit for paid work experience. AN ACT Relating to authorizing public high school students to earn elective credit for paid work experience; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and creating a new section. Status: Signed by the Governor on Apr. 20, 2023 Public Hearing: The House Education committee held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 6, 2023; see the video at this link. Rep. Shavers testified in support of his bill at the 1:34:25 mark. Executive Action: The Education committee amended the bill and reported it out with a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation on Feb. 14, 2023. (See video of the staff briefing on the amendments at this link.) House: Passed 93-4 on Mar. 2, 2023 Public Hearing: The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee held a public hearing on the bill on Mar. 22, 2023; see the video at this link and this link. Rep. Shavers testified in support of his bill at the 3:18 mark in the first clip. Executive Action: Received a Do-Pass recommendation on a 8-1 vote in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee on Mar. 27, 2023. The minority voted Do Not Pass. Senate: Passed 44-5 on Apr. 7, 2023. See the House bill analysis. See the Senate bill report.

Bills that missed cutoffs

HB 1384: Providing access to parks to all Washington veterans. AN ACT Relating to providing access to parks to all Washington veterans; and amending RCW 79A.05.065. Status: The bill was referred to the House Appropriations committee on Feb. 14, 2023. Public Hearing: The bill received a public hearing in the House Innovation, Community & Economic Development & Veterans committee on Jan. 25, 2023. See the video at this link, lasting approximately 23 minutes. Rep. Shavers spoke on behalf of his bill approximately a minute-and-a-half in. Executive Action: The committee unanimously voted to report an amended version of the bill out of committee with a Do-Pass recommendation on Feb. 10, 2023. See House Bill Analysis.

HB 1412: Addressing foreign ownership of agricultural lands. AN ACT Relating to foreign ownership of agricultural lands; amending RCW 64.16.005; creating new sections; and prescribing penalties. Status: Scheduled for executive session on Feb. 17, 2023 in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary committee, but no action was taken. Public Hearing: The bill received a public in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary committee on Feb. 14, 2023. See the video at this link; Rep. Shavers speaks to his bill at the 3:06 mark for about three-and-a-half minutes. Executive Action: The bill was scheduled for executive session on Feb. 17, 2023, but no action was taken.

HB 1413: Concerning flexible work for general and limited authority Washington peace officers. AN ACT Relating to flexible work for general and limited authority Washington peace officers; amending RCW 41.26.030; reenacting and amending RCW 10.93.020; and adding a new section to chapter 49.28 RCW. Status: The substitute bill was referred to the House Appropriations committee on Feb. 13, 2023. Public Hearing: The bill received a pubic hearing in the House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry committee on Jan. 30, 2023; see the video at this link. Rep. Shavers spoke to his bill starting at the 00:33 mark, and lasting about three minutes. Executive Action: An amended version of the bill was reported out of committee with unanimous Do-Pass recommendation on Feb. 9, 2023. See bill analysis.

HB 1476: Concerning allowing the use of impact fees for law enforcement. AN ACT Relating to allowing the use of impact fees for law enforcement; and amending RCW 82.02.090. Status: The House Local Government committee held a public hearing on Jan. 31, 2023. See the video at this link and this link; Rep. Shavers speaks to his bill at the 10:27 mark in the first clip. The bill has not yet been scheduled for executive action. See the House bill analysis.

HB 1560: Providing property tax relief by expanding eligibility for the senior citizen and disabled veterans’ property tax exemption program. AN ACT Relating to providing property tax relief by expanding eligibility for the senior citizen and disabled veterans’ property tax exemption program; amending RCW 84.36.383, 84.36.385, and 84.38.020; adding a new section to chapter 84.36 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. Status: The House Finance committee held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 7, 2023. Executive action has not been scheduled for this bill. Public Hearing: The House Finance committee held a public hearing on this bill and two others on Feb. 7, 2023; see the video at this link, which includes testimony from Rep. Shavers. See the House bill analysis

HB 1587: Creating a spirit tax exemption for veterans’ service organizations. AN ACT Relating to a spirits tax exemption on spirits purchased on military bases for use as fund-raising prizes by veterans’ service organizations; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; and creating a new section. Status: The House Regulated Substances & Gaming committee scheduled this bill for executive session on Feb. 16, 2023, but did not take action on the bill. Public Hearing: The House Regulated Substances & Gaming committee held a public hearing on the bill on Jan. 31, 2023; see video at this link. Rep. Shavers speaks to his bill at the 04:52 mark. See the House bill analysis

HB 1768: Exempting certain sales of electricity to qualifying green businesses from the public utilities tax. AN ACT Relating to exempting certain sales of electricity to qualifying green businesses from the public utilities tax; adding a new section to chapter 82.16 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date. Status: The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology committee scheduled an executive session on this bill for Mar. 24, 2023. The committee did not take action on the bill. Public Hearing: The House Finance committee held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 22, 2023; see the video at this link, which includes Rep. Shavers testimony on his bill, and at this link. Executive Action: The House Finance committee amended the bill and gave it a Do-Pass recommendation on a 12-0 vote. House: Passed 94-1 on Mar. 16, 2023. Public Hearing: The bill was referred to the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology committee, who scheduled executive action without holding a public hearing.

UPDATE: Apr. 15, 2023: Rep. Shavers has three bills sitting on the Governor’s desk awaiting action: SHB 1458 (Apprenticeship programs/UI), SHB 1499 (Food assistance funding), and SHB 1658 (Work experience/H.S. credit). SHB 1346 (Purple star award) received concurrence by the House in amendments made by the Senate and is awaiting a signature from the Senate President before heading to the Governor, which EHB 1086 (Community org. contracts) is awaiting signatures from both the House Speaker and the Senate President.

UPDATE: Apr. 9, 2023: Rep. Shavers five surviving bills have all passed the Senate. Three (EHB 1086 Community org. contracts, SHB 1346 Purple star award, and SHB 1658 Work experience/H.S. credit) were passed this week and await signatures from the House Speaker and Senate President before being sent to the Governor. The other two (SHB 1458 Apprenticeship programs/UI and SHB 1499 Food assistance funding) have received those signatures, but haven’t quite reached the Governor’s desk.

UPDATE: Apr. 2, 2023: Rep. Shavers’ bills didn’t see much action this week. Two of his bills (EHB 1086 – Community org. contracts; SHB 1346 – Purple star award) languished without action in the Senate Rules committee. Two more (SHB 1458 – Apprenticeship programs/UI; SHB 1499 – Food assistance funding) received signatures from the Senate President on Monday, but haven’t yet been forwarded to the Governor’s desk. His last bill (SHB 1658 – Work experience/H.S. credit) did get a Do-Pass recommendation from the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee, and is now in front of the Senate Rules committee.

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2023: Of the half-dozen bills Rep. Shavers still has in play, two were passed by the Senate and will be heading for the Governor’s desk: HB 1458 (apprenticeship programs/unemployment insurance) and HB 1499 (food assistance funding). A third (HB 1346 on the purple star award) was placed on second reading by the Senate Rules committee, clearing its way to floor action. His bill on high school credit for work experience received a public hearing and is scheduled for executive action this week. However, his bill on community organization contracts (EHB 1086) is languishing in the Senate Rules committee, and the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology committee did not take action on his sales tax exemption for green businesses (HB 1768).

UPDATE: Mar. 19, 2023: Rep. Shavers made two appearances in front of Senate committees this week, supporting SHB 1346 (the Purple Star bill) and HB 1458 (unemployment assistance for apprentices). The former was reported out of committee and the latter was placed on second reading by the Senate Rules committee. EHB 1086 and HB 1499 also got to their second readings. SHB 1658 was scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate’s Early Learning & K-12 Education committee. Finally, HB 1768 passed the House on a nearly-unanimous vote.

UPDATE: Mar. 12, 2023: Rep. Shavers’ late bill giving public utility tax exemptions to “green” businesses got a Do-Pass recommendation from the House Finance committee on Thursday, so it will not progress again until next year. Of his other five bills, one passed the House this week and has been referred to a Senate policy committee. One bill was scheduled for a public hearing this week, and another was scheduled for a public hearing and executive action this week. The two remaining bills received public hearings last week and are scheduled for executive action this week.

UPDATE: Mar. 5, 2023: Rep. Shavers has five bills still in play. Two have been scheduled for public hearings in the Senate, two have passed the House, but haven’t yet progressed in the Senate. A fifth, HB 1768 giving tax breaks for green businesses, was scheduled for executive session in the House Finance committee on Mar. 3, but has been pushed back to Mar. 9. (Correction: Rep. Shavers had six bills still active at this time.)

UPDATE: Feb. 26, 2023: As of the Fiscal Cutoff on Feb. 24, five of Rep. Shavers’ bills have made it out of committee. Two were passed and sent on to the Senate, and three more are in the hands of the House Rules committee. One bill, HB 1768, has been scheduled for executive action by the House Finance committee on Mar. 3; as this is beyond the Fiscal Cutoff, it’s unclear that this bill can move forward in the current session. Two bills that had reached the House Appropriations committee, the parks pass for veterans and the flexible work for peace officers, failed to get a hearing.

UPDATE: Feb. 19, 2023: Rep. Shavers’ bill on foreign ownership of agricultural land, received a public hearing last week and was scheduled for executive session, but the House Civil Rights & Judiciary committee did not act on it. It’s likely dead for the session. Of his two bills before the House Finance committee, one is scheduled for public hearing this week, but the other, which has already had a public hearing, is not scheduled for action this week. So, it would appear that of the three bills that had some life in them at the end of last week, only one has a chance to move forward. That leaves Shavers with a record of 6-5 with one bill left.

UPDATE: Feb. 12, 2023: This week marks the first of the “cutoff” dates for this legislative session, the “Policy Committee Cutoff.” Any bill that has not been passed out of its committee by the end of the day on Friday, Feb. 17 will not be considered further during this legislative session. However, this cutoff date does not apply to the House Appropriations, Capital Budget, and Finance committees; their cutoff is on Feb. 24. With that in mind, Rep. Shavers is the prime sponsor of 12 bills this session. One bill has already been passed by the House and referred over to the Senate. Five more have been reported out of committee and await action either in the Rules committee or on the House floor. One bill is scheduled for both a public hearing and executive action this week. Two more bills have been referred to the Finance committee, and so this deadline is not applicable. That leaves three bills as unlikely to move forward this session.

UPDATE: Feb. 5, 2023: Rep. Shavers got his first bill, HB 1086, through the Rules committee this week; it may reach the floor of the House soon. A second has been referred to the Rules committee for review. Five more of his bills received public hearings, and four have had executive action scheduled. He also introduced a new bill this week. A pretty good week for the freshman legislator, demonstrating how it’s good to be in the majority.

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2023: Two more of Rep. Shavers’ bills received public hearings this week. His “purple star award” bill has been scheduled for executive action this week, but his bill to give expand the Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass program for state parks to all veterans got some pushback from the Washington State Parks on the costs associated with expanding the program. The bill has not been scheduled for executive action. Shavers also added three more bills into the hopper. One of these, which would allow veterans’ service organizations to skip paying the tax on alcohol purchased on bases for use as fundraising prizes, has already been scheduled for a public hearing on Monday.

UPDATE: Jan. 22, 2023: Rep. Shavers had a busy week, introducing six new bills. He also made his first appearance on behalf of one of his bills, testifying for his bill HB 1086. The bill was passed out of committee.

UPDATE: Jan. 15, 2023: Neither of Rep. Shavers bills saw any movement this week. HB 1086 had already been scheduled for public hearing and executive action for the week of Jan. 16, and there is still no text posted for HB 1346.