At the close of its 60-day 2024 legislative session, the Washington Legislature adjourned Sine Die on March 7.
The WSBA Legislative Affairs team monitors and takes appropriate action on legislative proposals significant to the practice of law and administration of justice. The team was busy this year, referring and tracking nearly 300 bills for WSBA Sections through the end of session. Key bills involving WSBA Section action and collaboration include:
- Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5589: Concerning probate. This bill modifies provisions relating to family support and exemptions from creditor’s claims for probate and non-probate property; clarifies the exemptions from attachment, execution, and forced sale that apply after a decedent’s death; establishes a procedure for allocating the exempt property among claimants; and establishes a procedure by which the decedent’s surviving spouse, surviving registered domestic partner, or surviving dependent children may request basic financial support during the pendency of any court proceedings relating to the decedent’s probate or non-probate assets. The bill was supported by the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and was signed into law by the governor.
- Substitute Senate Bill 5787: Enacting the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act. This bill authorizes the use of electronic non-testamentary estate planning documents and electronic signatures on non-testamentary estate planning documents. It also establishes guidelines for the validity and recognition of electronic non-testamentary estate planning documents and electronic signatures on non-testamentary estate planning documents. The bill received significant technical input from the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and was signed into law by the governor.
- Substitute House Bill 2237: Concerning limitations in parenting plans. This bill amends provisions governing limitations that may be imposed in a parenting plan on residential time with a child, decision-making authority, and dispute resolution by reorganizing language and making revisions and additions to substantive provisions. The bill was supported by the Family Law Section but did not pass the Legislature this year. These issues are expected to be reconsidered in future legislative sessions.
One of the WSBA’s main priorities during each legislative session is to support Bar-request legislative proposals initiated by WSBA Sections and approved by the Board of Governors. This year’s request legislation, Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5786, passed both chambers unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. Originating from the Corporate Act Revision Committee of the Business Law Section, SSB 5786 aims to modernize and clarify portions of Washington’s Business Corporations Act (WBCA) by amending chapters of the WBCA regarding merger and share exchanges, quorum and voting, and social purpose corporations.
In addition to passing a $71 billion supplemental operating budget, $1.3 billion supplemental capital budget, and $14.6 billion supplemental transportation budget, legislators passed several policy measures, including bills ending child marriage in Washington (House Bill 1455), creating a task force to study artificial intelligence issues (Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5838), and encouraging participation in public defense and prosecution professions (Second Substitute Senate Bill 5780). Presented with a slate of citizen initiatives, the Legislature agreed to hear three during the session, which will now become law:
- Initiative 2111 prohibits the state, counties, cities, and other local jurisdictions from imposing or collecting income taxes.
- Initiative 2113 removes restrictions imposed by the Legislature on when police can legally engage in vehicular pursuits.
- Initiative 2081 allows parents to review K-12 instructional materials and other records and requires notification of medical care provided to their children.
The next legislative session will begin in January 2025 and is scheduled for 120 days, marking the first half of the 2025-2026 biennium. During the interim and the upcoming session, the WSBA will continue to monitor and act on legislation significant to the practice of law and administration of justice.
