LEGISLATURE 2023-24: Bills Sponsored by Rep. Dave Paul (VIP)

The following is a list of bills proposed in the 2023-24 legislative session for which State Representative Dave Paul (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. Dave Paul submitted a modest list of bills this session — a mere eight, compared with the fifteen each introduced by seatmates Sen. Ron Muzzall and Rep. Clyde Shavers. Of the eight, three will become law: SHB 1007 (Military service credit) and HB 1058 (Commercial driver’s licenses) have already been signed by the Governor, and 2SHB 1316 (Dual credit program access) has passed both houses and been delivered to Jay Inslee. But two more bills that escaped the cutoffs got stuck in the Senate Rules committee and never made it to the floor: HB 1146 (Dual credit program notice) and SHB 1833 (Ferry fuel surcharge). As a batting average, .375 isn’t bad.

See previous updates below the list of bills.

Active Bills

SHB 1007: Concerning interruptive military service credit for members of the state retirement systems. AN ACT Relating to interruptive military service credit for members of the state retirement systems; amending RCW 41.04.005, and creating a new section. Status: Signed by the Governor on Apr. 6, 2023. Public Hearing: The House Appropriations committee held a public hearing on Jan. 16, 2023; see the video at this link starting at the 2:28 mark. The hearing lasted approximately two minutes, with Rep. Paul speaking on behalf of his bill. Executive Action: The committee took executive action on the bill on Jan. 23, 2023; see video of the executive session at this link. The bill was amended during the executive session, and the substitute version of the bill received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation from the committee. House: The House passed the bill 97-0 on Feb. 1, 2023. Executive Action: The Senate Ways & Means committee took executive action on this bill on Mar. 13, 2023, reporting it out with a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation. Senate: The Senate passed the bill 49-0 on Mar. 22, 2023. See the House Bill Report

HB 1058: Streamlining the licensing process for a commercial driver’s license by allowing the department to waive requirements for applicants that previously surrendered the license, allowing the license to be renewed online, and modifying the license test fees. AN ACT Relating to streamlining the licensing process for a commercial driver’s license by allowing the department to waive requirements for applicants that previously surrendered the license, allowing the license to be renewed online, and modifying the license test fees; amending RCW 46.25.088 and 46.25.060; and providing an effective date. Status: Signed by the Governor on Apr. 13, 2023 Public Hearing: The House Transportation committee held a public hearing on the bill on Jan. 25, 2023; see the video at this link. Rep. Paul spoke to his bill approximately four minutes in. Executive Action: The committee took executive action on the bill on Jan. 26, 2023. (See video at this link.) The bill received a Do-Pass recommendation by unanimous voice vote. House: The House passed the bill 97-0 on Feb. 9, 2023. Executive Action: The Senate Transportation committee, having heard the companion bill earlier in the session, reported this bill with a Do-Pass recommendation on a unanimous vote on Mar. 9, 2023. Senate: Passed by Senate with a 49-0 vote on Mar. 29, 2023. See the House bill analysis.

HB 1146: Notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance. AN ACT Relating to notifying high school students and their families about available dual credit programs and any available financial assistance; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW. Status: Passed to the Senate Rules committee for second reading on Mar. 23, 2023. Public Hearing: The House Education committee held a public hearing for this bill and two related bills (including Rep. Paul’s HB 1316, below) on Jan. 23, 2023. See the video at this link. Rep. Paul spoke on behalf of his two bills for approximately four minutes starting at the 27:05 mark. Executive Action: The committee took executive action on the bill on Feb. 2, 2023, giving the bill an unanimous Do-Pass recommendation. House: The House passed the bill 96-0 on Feb. 13, 2023. Public Hearing: The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee held a public hearing on the bill on Mar. 13, 2023. Executive Action: Received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation from the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee on Mar. 22, 2023. See the House bill analysis. See the Senate bill report.

2SHB 1316: Expanding access to dual credit programs. AN ACT Relating to expanding access to dual credit programs; amending RCW 28A.600.287, 28A.600.390, and 28A.600.400; reenacting and amending RCW 28A.600.310; adding new sections to chapter 28A.600 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.77 RCW; and repealing RCW 28A.320.196, 28A.600.290, 28B.76.730, 43.131.427, and 43.131.428. Status: The bill was delivered to the Governor on April 19, 2023 Public Hearing: The House Education committee held a public hearing for this bill on Jan. 23, 2023; see HB 1146 above for the link to the video. Executive Action: The Education committee amended the bill and unanimously gave the substitute bill a Do-Pass recommendation on Feb. 7, 2023 Public Hearing: The House Appropriations committee held a public hearing for this bill on Feb. 20, 2023; see the video at this link. Executive Action: The Appropriations committee amended the bill and gave the bill a Do-Pass recommendation on a 26-3 vote; the minority report recommended Do Not Pass. House: Passed 60-36 on Mar. 4, 2023. (Video) Public Hearing: The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee held a public hearing on the bill on Mar. 13, 2023. See the video at this link (including Rep. Paul’s testimony) lasting approximately twelve minutes and at this link lasting approximately thirteen minutes. Executive Action: The Senate Early Learning & K-12 committee took executive action on the bill on Mar. 22, 2023, reporting a Do-Pass recommendation on an amended version of the bill on a 7-2 vote. The minority voted No Recommendation. Public Hearing: The Senate Ways & Means committee held a public hearing on the bill on Mar. 31, 2023. See the video at this link lasting approximately twelve minutes. Executive Action: Apr. 4, 2023: Amended in the Senate Ways & Means committee and received a Do_Pass recommendation on a 20-4 vote. The minority made no recommendation. Senate: The amended bill passed 47-2 on Apr. 12, 2023. House: The House concurred with the Senate’s amendments 82-14 (2 excused) on Apr. 17, 2023. See the House bill analysis. See the Senate bill report.

HB 1833: Setting ferry fuel surcharges. AN ACT Relating to setting ferry fuel surcharges; amending RCW 47.60.315; and declaring an emergency. Status: The bill was passed to the Senate Rules committee for second reading on Apr. 4, 2023. Public Hearing: The House Transportation committee held a public hearing on the bill on Feb. 20, 2023; see the video at this link. Rep. Paul speaks to his bill at 3:17:42, for approximately seven minutes. Executive Action: The Transportation committee took executive action on the bill on Feb. 23, 2023. The bill was amended, and the substitute version received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation. House: The House passed the bill 95-0 on Mar. 7, 2023. Public Hearing: The Senate Transportation committee held a public hearing on Mar. 27, 2023; see the video at this link (including Rep. Paul’s testimony at 16:05) lasting approximately four-and-a-half minutes, and at this link, lasting approximately five minutes. Executive Action: The Senate Transportation committee amended the bill and gave it a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation on Apr. 4, 2023. See the House bill analysis.

Bills that missed cutoff

HB 1364: Creating the nautical Northwest special license plate. AN ACT Relating to creating the nautical Northwest special license plate; reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.220, 46.18.200, and 46.68.420; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; and providing an effective date. Status: Placed on second reading by the House Rules committee on Mar. 4, 2023. Public Hearing: The House Transportation committee held a public hearing for this bill on Jan. 26, 2023. See the video at this link, which lasts about fifteen minutes. Rep. Paul spoke on behalf of his bill during this hearing. Executive Action: The House Transportation took executive action on Feb. 2, 2023; 28 members voting aye with a Do-Pass recommendation, and one member voting nay with no recommendation. See the House bill analysis

HB 1721: Concerning skill center class size. AN ACT Relating to skill center class size; amending RCW 28A.150.260 and 28A.150.260; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date. Status: Referred to the House Appropriations committee on Feb. 2, 2023

HB 1733: Accessing degrees in nursing. AN ACT Relating to degrees in nursing; amending RCW 28B.50.140 and 28B.15.069; adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW; and creating a new section. Status: The bill received a public hearing in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee on Feb. 14, 2023, but has not been scheduled for executive action. Public Hearing: The bill received a public hearing in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee on Feb. 14, 2023. See the video at this link; Rep. Paul speaks to his bill and answers questions starting at the 3:52 mark and lasting for approximately 8-1/2 minutes. See the House bill analysis.

UPDATE: Apr. 15, 2023. Two of Rep. Paul’s bills have been delivered to the Governor: SHB 1007 (Military service credit) and HB 1058 (Commercial driver’s licenses). Another bill, 2SHB 1316 (Dual credit program access) was passed by the Senate, but with amendments; it now awaits concurrence in the amendments by the House. Two more bills, HB 1146 (Dual credit program notice) and SHB 1833 (Ferry fuel surcharges) are awaiting action by the Senate Rules committee.

UPDATE: Apr. 9, 2023. Rep. Paul has two bills (SHB 1007 Military service credit and HB 1058 Commercial driver’s licenses) that have received their signatures from the House Speaker and Senate President and await transmission to the Governor for his signature. Three others (HB 1146 Dual credit program notice, 2SHB 1316 Dual credit program access, and SHB 1833 Ferry fuel surcharges) are in front of the Senate Rules committee for second reading.

UPDATE: Apr. 2, 2023:

• SHB 1007: Senate President signed; not yet sent to Governor
• HB 1058: Passed in Senate ; awaiting signature from Senate President
• HB 1146: No action in Senate Rules
• 2SHB 1316: Rec’d public hearing, scheduled for exec action in Senate Ways & Means on Apr. 4

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2023: Rep. Paul got his first bill past the Senate this week. SHB 1007 (military service credit) is awaiting a signature from the Senate President before heading to the Governor. Two more bills, HB 1058 (commercial driver’s licenses) and HB 1146 (dual credit program notice) are in the Senate Rules committee. HB 1316 (dual credit program access) cleared its policy committee and was referred to the Senate Ways & Means committee. His last bill, HB 1833 (ferry fuel surcharges) is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday in the Senate Transportation committee.

UPDATE: Mar. 19, 2023: Rep. Paul appeared before the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee supporting 2SHB 1316 this week. That bill hasn’t been scheduled for executive action, yet, but three of his bills have reached the Senate Rules committee. One more bill, HB 1146, has a public hearing on Monday, Mar. 20.

UPDATE: Mar. 12, 2023: And then there were five. Rep. Paul’s Nautical Northwest license plate bill didn’t make it to the floor of the House before the House of Origin cutoff on Wednesday, so it will have to wait until next year. On the other hand, his ferry surcharge bill was passed on Tuesday and referred to the Senate Transportation committee on Thursday. Two of his previously passed bills (SHB 1007 and HB 1058) had companion bills — bills in the other chamber with identical language — heard in the Senate earlier in the session, and will skip having public hearings. SHB 1007 is scheduled for executive action this week; HB 1058 was recommended Do-Pass on Thursday.

UPDATE: Mar. 5, 2023: Rep. Paul’s HB 1316 became 2SHB 1316 this week as the House passed a “striker” amendment — which replaces the entire contents of the bill — and then passed the bill. Paul supported the amendment and the bill. This was the only one of Paul’s bills that saw floor action this week: he already had three bills sent over to the Senate. His Nautical Northwest license plate bill was placed on second reading, so it may get passed before the House of Origin cutoff on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Feb. 26, 2023: Rep. Paul muscled his ferry fuel surcharge bill through the Transportation committee this week, giving him a record of 6-2 as of the Fiscal Cutoff. Three of his bills have already passed the House and been referred to Senate committees, and three more are in front of the House Rules committee.

UPDATE: Feb. 19, 2023: Rep. Paul’s list of bills is shorter than his seatmates, but he’s been very successful at pushing them through the process. Three of his bills have passed the House and are facing Senate committees. Two more have cleared their policy committees. One bill was originally referred to the House Appropriations committee, which has not acted on it; unless something changes, the bill (HB 1721 on skill center class size) is probably done for this session. Paul’s bill on nursing degrees got a public hearing on Valentine’s Day, but didn’t get executive action is also probably waiting for next year. That give him a good 5-2 record for the session. Paul also filed one new bill this week, on ferry fuel surcharges, that will get a public hearing on Monday. Transportation bills have until the end of the week to get reported out of committee, but there isn’t an executive session scheduled for this one yet, but as the Vice Chair of the committee, he might be able to press this one through.

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. Rep. Paul has two bills that have already passed the floor of the House and been sent to the Senate. Of his other five bills, three have already passed from their original committees, one is an Appropriations bill, so it faces the later cutoff date. His last bill is scheduled for public hearing on Tue., Feb. 14 in the Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee; as he’s a member of that committee, he might be able to push that through ahead of the cutoff.

UPDATE: Feb. 5, 2023: Like Sen. Muzzall, Rep. Paul successfully pushed a bill to the other house this week; in this case, Paul’s bill SHB 1007 got a unanimous vote on the House floor. Paul had no bills in public hearings this week, but two bills were passed out of their committee’s this week, leaving only HB 1346 awaiting action. Paul introduced two new bills.

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2023: Rep. Paul spoke on behalf of four bills in public hearings this week. One of the bills, HB 1058, received a do-pass recommendation from the Transportation committee. His dual-credit bills will get executive action during the upcoming week. HB 1346, which would create a Nautical Northwest special license plate (proceeds go to “support of historic resources of Whidbey Island’s maritime communities”), is the only one not scheduled for a vote.

UPDATE: Jan. 22, 2023: Rep. Paul’s bills are making steady progress: one bill (HB 1007) received a very short public hearing, with the representative speaking to his bill in the Appropriations committee. Public hearings were scheduled for his other four bills, all of which are in front of committees on which he sits: two for Transportation and two for Education.

UPDATE: Jan. 15, 2023: Rep. Paul’s bills have not advanced since our initial post on Jan. 13, but he has added a new bill, HB 1364.