Friday ended Week 2 of the 2017 Washington State Legislative Session and a healthy round of bill introductions, committee hearings, and press conferences probing the process of budget-sausage making. Both fiscal and policy committees continued to hold hearings to flesh out a variety of issues, including increasing penalties for driving under the influence, legal financial-obligation changes, the Voting Rights Act, and matters related to cyber security.
Real property bill heard
On Wednesday, Washington REALTORS attorney Annie Fitzsimmons testified for the WSBA’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Section before the Senate Law and Justice Committee, voicing concerns for SB 5080. As currently drafted, she said, the bill may have unintended consequences for residential property owners who suffer damage from neighboring construction. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-4, and Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-43.
WSBA Business Law, Creditor Debtor Rights sections testify
Representing the Corporate Act Revisions Committee (CARC) of WSBA’s Business Law Section, Diane Dick, a law professor at Seattle University, testified Thursday in support of SB 5040 before the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Requested by the Secretary of State’s office, the bill makes technical corrections to the Uniform Business Organizations Code and clarifies the content in certain certificates of registration.
During the same hearing, Bruce Borris of Riddell Williams represented the WSBA’s Creditor Debtor Rights Section to testify in support of SB 5085, the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act (UVTA). The bill makes significant changes to the current Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, most notably clarifying when a transaction is fraudulent providing that a creditor making a claim has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.
For additional legislative information, please visit WSBA Legislative Affairs.
Alison Phelan. Alison joined the WSBA as Legislative Affairs manager in 2015 after spending three years as legislative director for the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges. Her career also includes government relations work for state agencies and the Washington state Senate. She has a degree in political science and communication from the University of Washington. She can be reached at alisonp@wsba.org.
