LEGISLATURE 2023-24: Bills Sponsored by Sen. Ron Muzzall (VIP)

The following is a list of bills proposed in the 2023-24 legislative session for which Sen. Ron Muzzall (R-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: Four of the senator’s bills were delivered to the Governor this week: 2SSB 5103 (Medicare patients/discharge), ESB 5341 (WA food & ag. products), SSB 5433 (Derelict aquatic structures) and SSB 5581 (Maternal support services. When added to SB 5036 (Audio-only telemedicine), which the governor signed on Mar. 30, that gives the senator five wins — not bad for the minority party. One more bill, ESB 5022 (Drug testing equipment) is on the House floor calendar for today, but time is running out. E2SSB 5580 (Maternal health outcomes) looks like it will have to wait until next year. The bill was sent to the House Rules committee for review, but never made it to second reading.

See previous updates below the list of bills.

Active Bills

ESB 5022: Expanding access to drug testing equipment to promote community safety. (WAS: Exempting fentanyl testing equipment from the definition of drug paraphernalia.)

AN ACT Relating to expanding access to drug testing equipment to promote community safety; and amending RCW 69.50.102 and 69.50.4121.

Status: Placed on second reading by the House Rules committee on Apr. 10, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Dec. 6, 2022 (Pre-filed)

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Law & Justice Public Hearing: Feb. 6, 2023 (VIDEO) Executive Action: Feb. 9, 2023 Unanimous do-pass recommendation.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Mar. 7, 2023. Floor amendment adopted; amended bill passed 48-0 (1 excused).

IN COMMITTEE: House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Public Hearing: Mar. 21, 2023. (VIDEO) Executive Action: Mar. 27, 2023. Amended and given a unanimous do-pass recommendation.

See the Senate Bill Report. See the House Bill Report.

SB 5036: Concerning telemedicine

AN ACT Relating to extending the time frame in which real-time telemedicine using both audio and video technology may be used to establish a relationship for the purpose of providing audio-only telemedicine for certain health care services; and amending RCW 41.05.700, 48.43.735, and 74.09.325.

Status: Signed by the Governor on Mar. 30, 2023; the bill goes into effect on July 23, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Dec. 9, 2022 (Pre-filed)

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Health & Long Term Care Public Hearing: Jan. 12, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Jan. 13, 2023. Unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Feb. 1, 2023. Passed 48-0 (1 excused).

IN COMMITTEE: House Health Care & Wellness Public Hearing: Feb. 28, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Mar. 10, 2023. Unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON HOUSE FLOOR: Mar. 20, 2023. Passed 96-0 (2 excused).

See the Senate Bill Report. See the House Bill Report.

2SSB 5103: Concerning payment to acute care hospitals for difficult to discharge medicaid patients.

AN ACT Relating to payment to acute care hospitals for difficult to discharge medicaid patients who do not need acute care but who are waiting in the hospital to be appropriately and timely discharged to postacute and community settings; and amending RCW 74.09.520.

Status: Delivered to the Governor on Apr. 19, 2023

INTRODUCED: Dec. 28, 2022 (Pre-filed)

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Health & Long Term Care Public Hearing: Jan. 17, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Feb. 7, 2023. Bill amended (VIDEO). Substitute received Do-Pass recommendation on a 9-1 vote. The minority report was for no recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Ways & Means Public Hearing: Feb. 16, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Feb. 23, 2023. Bill amended. Second substitute received unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Mar. 8, 2023. Passed 49-0.

IN COMMITTEE: House Health Care & Wellness Public Hearing: Mar. 21, 2023. (VIDEO: Part One, Part Two) Executive Action: Mar. 28, 2023. Bill amended, the received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: House Appropriations. Public Hearing: Apr. 1, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Apr. 4, 2023. The bill, as amended by the Senate, but without the amendment added by the House Health Care & Wellness committee, received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON HOUSE FLOOR: Apr. 12, 2023. Passed 97-0 (1 excused) with committee amendments.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Apr. 14, 2023. Senate concurred in House amendments 46-0 (3 excused)

See the Senate Bill Report.

ESB 5341: Creating a location-based branding and promotion program for Washington food and agricultural products.

AN ACT Relating to creating a location-based promotion program for Washington food and agricultural products; adding a new chapter to Title 15 RCW; and repealing RCW 15.105.005, 15.105.010, 15.105.020, 15.105.030, 15.105.040, 15.105.050, 15.105.060, and 15.105.901.

Status: Delivered to the Governor on Apr. 18, 2023

INTRODUCED: Jan. 12, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Public Hearing: Jan. 23, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Jan. 26, 2023. Received Do-Pass recommendation on a 8-1 vote; the minority had no recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Ways & Means Public Hearing: Feb. 6, 2023. Video Executive Action: Feb. 14, 2023. Received Do-Pass recommendation on a 22-1 vote; the minority had no recommendation.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Feb. 27, 2023. Floor amendment adopted (replaces entire text of bill). Passed 47-0 (2 excused).

IN COMMITTEE: House Agriculture and Natural Resources Public Hearing: Mar. 14, 2023. Video: Part One, including Sen. Muzzall’s testimony, and Part Two. Executive Action: Mar. 17, 2023. Received Do-Pass recommendation on a 10-0 vote.

IN COMMITTEE: House Appropriations Public Hearing: Mar. 31, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Apr. 3, 2023. Received unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON HOUSE FLOOR: Apr. 11, 2023. Passed 97-0 (1 excused).

See the Engrossed Senate Bill Report. See the Engrossed House Bill Analysis.

SSB 5433: Concerning the removal of derelict aquatic structures and restoration of aquatic lands.

AN ACT Relating to derelict aquatic structures; amending RCW 43.21B.110 and 43.21B.305; and adding a new chapter to Title 79 RCW.

Status: Delivered to the Governor on Apr. 18, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Jan. 18, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Public Hearing: Jan. 30, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Feb. 16, 2023. Bill amended (video of staff briefing ). Substitute received unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Ways & Means Public Hearing: Feb. 22, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Feb. 24, 2023. Received unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Mar. 6, 2023. Passed 48-0 (1 excused).

IN COMMITTEE: House Agriculture and Natural Resources Public Hearing: Mar. 21, 2023 (VIDEO: Part One. Part Two) Executive Action: Mar. 22, 2023. Received unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: House Capital Budget Public Hearing: Mar. 30, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Mar. 31, 2023. Received unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON HOUSE FLOOR. Apr. 11, 2023. Passed 97-0 (1 excused)

See the Senate Bill Report. See the House Bill Report.

E2SSB 5580: Improving maternal health outcomes

AN ACT Relating to improving maternal health outcomes; amending RCW 74.09.830; and adding new sections to chapter 74.09 RCW.

Status: Referred to House Rules committee for review on Apr. 4, 2023

INTRODUCED: Jan. 26, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Health & Long Term Care Public Hearing: Feb. 7, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Feb. 14, 2023. Bill amended (video of staff briefing); the substitute bill received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Ways & Means Public Hearing: Feb. 21, 2023. (VIDEO). Executive Action: Feb. 23, 2023. Bill amended; the second substitute bill received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation

ON SENATE FLOOR: Mar. 8, 2023. Floor amendment adopted; amended bill passed 48-0 (1 excused)

IN COMMITTEE: House Health Care & Wellness Public Hearing: Mar. 22, 2023. (VIDEO) Executive Action: Mar. 28, 2023. Bill amended; the amended bill received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

IN COMMITTEE: House Appropriations Public Hearing: Apr. 1, 2023. (VIDEO) Executive Action: Apr. 4, 2023. Received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation on the version amended by the Senate, without the amendment added by the House Health Care & Wellness committee.

See the Senate Bill Report. See the House Bill Analysis.

SSB 5581: Developing strategies to reduce or eliminate deductibles for maternal support services and postpartum care.

AN ACT Relating to developing strategies to reduce or eliminate deductibles for maternal support services and postpartum care; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

Status: Delivered to the Governor on Apr. 20, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Jan. 26, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Health & Long Term Care Public Hearing: Feb. 7, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Feb. 10, 2023. Bill amended; the substitute bill received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON SENATE FLOOR: Feb. 28, 2023. Passed 48-0 (1 excused).

IN COMMITTEE: House Health Care & Wellness Public Hearing: Mar. 17, 2023. Video: Part One (including Sen. Muzzall’s testimony) and Part Two. Executive Action: Mar. 22, 2023. Bill amended; the substitute bill received a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation.

ON HOUSE FLOOR: Apr. 7, 2023. Amended on the floor, then passed 96-0 (2 excused).

See the Senate Bill Report. See the House Bill Analysis.

Bills that missed cutoffs

SB 5044: Expanding opportunities for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals to form professional service corporations.

AN ACT Relating to expanding opportunities for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals to form professional service corporations; and amending RCW 18.100.050.

Status: Referred to the Senate Health & Long Term Care committee on Jan. 9, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Dec. 13, 2022 (Pre-filed)

SB 5219: Enacting the interstate counseling compact for licensed mental health counselors.

AN ACT Relating to enacting the interstate counseling compact for licensed mental health counselors; amending RCW 18.225.090; and adding a new chapter to Title 18 RCW.

Status: The Senate Health & Long Term Care committee has held a public hearing, but has not scheduled executive action on this bill.

INTRODUCED: Jan. 10, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Health & Long Term Care Public Hearing: Jan. 17, 2023. Video.

See the Senate Bill Report.

SB 5639: Prohibiting the recertification of existing long-term services and supports trust program exemptions.

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting the recertification of existing long-term services and supports trust program exemptions; and amending RCW 50B.04.085.

Status: Referred to the Senate Labor & Commerce committee.

INTRODUCED: Jan. 31, 2023

SB 5646: Concerning leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle.

AN ACT Relating to leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle; adding a new section to chapter 9.91 RCW; prescribing penalties; and making an appropriation.

Status: Referred to the Senate Law & Justice committee.

INTRODUCED: Jan. 31, 2023

SB 5667: Concerning eligibility, enrollment, and compensation of small forestland owners volunteering for participation in the forestry riparian easement program.

AN ACT Relating to eligibility, enrollment, and compensation of small forestland owners volunteering for participation in the forestry riparian easement program; and amending RCW 76.13.120, 76.13.130, and 76.13.140.

Status: No executive action was taken when the bill reached executive session in the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks committee on Feb. 16, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Feb. 1, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Public Hearing: Feb. 9, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Feb. 16, 2023. Video of staff briefing. No action taken.

See the Senate Bill Report

SB 5748: Clarifying the excise tax treatment of meals furnished to tenants of senior living communities as part of their rental agreement.

AN ACT Relating to clarifying the excise tax treatment of meals furnished to tenants of senior living communities as part of their rental agreement; amending RCW 82.04.040 and 82.04.040; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.12 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

Status: Received a Do-Pass recommendation from the Senate Ways & Means committee on Mar. 16, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Feb. 17, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Ways & Means Public Hearing: Mar. 9, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Mar. 16, 2023. Received Do-Pass recommendation on a voice vote.

See the Senate Bill Report.

SB 5756: Concerning a temporary suspension of the state motor vehicle fuel tax.

AN ACT Relating to a temporary suspension of the state motor vehicle fuel tax; amending RCW 82.38.030; adding a new section to chapter 82.32 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

Status: Received first reading on the Senate floor; referred to the Senate Transportation committee on Feb. 23, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Feb. 23, 2023

SB 5621: Protecting workers displaced due to finfish aquaculture facility closure.

AN ACT Relating to protecting workers displaced as a result of finfish aquaculture facility closures; and amending RCW 50.04.075.

Status: First reading, referred to House Labor & Workplace Standards committee on Mar. 8, 2023.

INTRODUCED: Jan. 30, 2023

IN COMMITTEE: Senate Labor & Commerce Public Hearing: Feb. 9, 2023. Video. Executive Action: Feb. 13, 2023. Unanimous Do-Pass recommendation

ON SENATE FLOOR: Mar. 6, 2023. Passed 49-0.

See the Senate Bill Report.

UPDATE: Apr. 15, 2023: Three of Senator Muzzall’s bills made significant progress toward becoming law this week. ESB 5341 (WA food & ag. products) and SSB 5433 (Derelict aquatic structures) were both passed and received signatures from the House Speaker and Senate President. 2SSB 5103 (Medicaid patients/discharge) passed, and is awaiting signatures. These will all become law unless the Governor decides to veto them, which is unlikely. Another bill, SSB 5581 (Maternal support services) was passed by the House, but with amendments. The Senate must vote on whether they concur in the House’s amendments.

But two bills are still in the hands of the House Rules committee: ESB 5022 (Drug testing equipment) and E2SSB 5580 (Maternal health outcomes). Neither has significant opposition, but will have to be addressed this week or wait until next year.

UPDATE: Apr. 9, 2023: The House passed a second bill for Sen. Muzzall this week: SSB 5581 (Maternal health outcomes) is awaiting signatures from the House Speaker and Senate President before being sent along to the Governor for his signature. Five more bills are in front of the House Rules committee — including two (2SSB 5103 – Medicaid patients/discharge and E2SSB 5580 – Maternal health outcomes) for which the House Appropriations committee rolled back amendments by the House Health Care & Wellness committee. As the House rushes to the Opposite House cutoff at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, the biggest obstacle to the Senator’s remaining bills is whether they will reach the floor in time.

UPDATE: Apr. 2, 2023: The senator got his first bill (SB 5036 on audio-only telemedicine) signed by the Governor this week. He has three bills (ESB 5022 on drug-testing equipment, SSB 5433 on derelict aquatic structures, and SSB 5581 on maternal support services) that have made it out of their committees and await action from the House Rules committee. Three more bills (2SSB 5103 – Medicare patients/discharge, ESB5431 – WA food & ag products, and E2SSB 5580 – Maternal health outcomes) received public hearings and await executive action in the House Appropriations committee.

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2023: Three of the senator’s bills approached enactment this week: his audio-only telemedicine bill (SB 5036) reached the governor’s desk. His maternal support services bill (SSB 5581) is sitting in the House Rules committee, awaiting floor action. And his food and ag. products bill (SB 5433) is scheduled for executive action in the House Appropriations committee this week. Four more bills are scheduled for executive action in policy committees this week ahead of the Policy Committee Cutoff on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Mar. 19, 2023: Sen. Muzzall’s nine remaining bills are all making progress. Two have received Do-Pass recommendations from their policy committees in the House. Two more have received public hearings, and three have hearings scheduled. One has been referred to committee with no action taken. His last bill received a Do-Pass recommendation from the Senate Ways and Means committee.

UPDATE: Mar. 12, 2023: Five of Sen. Muzzall’s bills were passed on the Senate floor this week, bringing his total to eight for the session. None of these had any votes in opposition. In addition, his bill exempting meals included in rent in senior living communities received a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means committee.

UPDATE: Mar. 5, 2023: As the House of Origin Cutoff approaches (5:00 PM on Wed., Mar, 8), Sen. Muzzall has five bills on second reading — that is, they can go to the Senate floor if Senate Democrats decide to bring them forward. Of his three bills that have already passed the Senate, one (SB 5036 Concerning telemedicine) has already had a public hearing before the House Health Care & Wellness committee and is scheduled for executive session on Friday. One more bill, on taxes on meals in senior care facilities, has a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means committee on Thursday.

UPDATE: Feb. 26, 2023: Three of Senator Muzzall’s bills moved through the Senate Ways & Means committee this week, which leaves him with eight bills that are still alive for this session. Six of his bills did not pass their committees, including the senior living meals/tax bill he introduced on Feb. 17. In addition, he introduced another new bill, a fuel tax suspension, on Thursday, Feb. 23; it’s been referred to the Senate Transportation committee, but probably won’t be heard until the 2024 session.

UPDATE: Feb. 19, 2023: Of Sen. Muzzall’s four bills reaching executive session last week, three were reported out of their committee’s ahead of the legislative cutoff, giving him an 8-5 record this session. That might improve with the introduction of one late bill on Friday, Feb. 17, having to do with the excise tax treatment of meals provided to senior tenants as part of their rental agreement, which goes directly to the Ways & Means committee. That bill will have to be reported out by the end of the week, or wait until next year.

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. Of Sen. Muzzall’s 13 bills, one has already been passed on the Senate floor, four more have already made it out of their original committee, and another four have executive action scheduled for this week. The remaining four will have to wait until next year.

UPDATE: Feb. 5, 2023: Sen. Muzzall’s bill concerning telemedicine (SB 5036) passed the Senate and was sent to the House Health Care & Wellness committee; his first bill to be sent over to the House this session. Six of Muzzall’s other bills will receive public hearings this week, and two are scheduled for executive action. He also introduced two more bills this week: one that would make leaving kids 9 and under unattended in a car a misdemeanor, and another making changes in the state’s forestry riparian easement program. “Riparian” means “relating to the banks of a natural course of water.”

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2023: Sen. Muzzall’s bill on telemedicine (SB 5036) was placed on the second reading consent calendar on Jan. 25; this moves it one step closer to passage on the Senate floor. See this link for a brief overview of how a bill becomes a law. The senator also had two more bills receive public hearings: SB 5219 on an interstate compact for licensing mental health counselors and SB 5341 on branding and promoting Washington state food and agriculture products. The latter of these was referred out of committee with a Do-Pass recommendation.

UPDATE: Jan. 22, 2023: Sen. Muzzall’s bill SB 5103 received a public hearing in the Health & Long Term Care committee on Tuesday; the spoke briefly on his bill and participated in questioning during testimony. The bill hasn’t been scheduled for executive action, but as it’s co-sponsored by the committee chair (Sen. Cleveland), it should have no trouble making it out of committee. The senator also introduced a new bill on removing derelict aquatic structures.

UPDATE: Jan. 15, 2023: Sen. Muzzall’s bill on telemedicine passed from the Health & Long Term Care committee with a unanimous Do-Pass recommendation; the bill now proceeds to the Rules committee. The Senator also submitted a new bill, SB 5341, listed below.