While gender neutral language has been required for all laws since 1983, many laws passed before that year are still stuffed with sexually outdated terms.

Well, not anymore, if Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Belltown) has her way. With Senate Bill 5077, which was passed yesterday, the state Code Reviser's Office would be directed to update laws written prior to 1983 with appropriate gender neutral language. "Fisherman" would become "fisher," "gripman" would become "grip operator," and so on.

This revising would be done in the legislative interim, and only when there is spare time to work on the project.

The bill passed the House 70-22 and, having passed both chambers without amendment, will go directly to the governor to sign.

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