The Times/News presents a weekly summary of actions on bills by Highline-area legislators.

For complete information, go to www.WashingtonVotes.org -- a free, non-partisan website with plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes -- which is the source for this report.

Highline is represented by:

District 11 -- Sen. Margarita Prentice; Rep. Zack Hudgins, Rep. Bob Hasagawa.

District 33 -- Sen. Karen Keiser; Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, Rep. Dave Upthegrove.

District 34 -- Sen. Erik Poulsen; Rep. Eileen Cody, Rep. Joe McDermott.

All are Democrats.

Senate Roll Call --

through Jan. 27

Senate Bill 6594 -- Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, a multi-state effort to simplify state sales and use tax structures and make them more uniform, to remove the price advantage of purchasing in areas with lower or no sales taxes. The bill is under consideration in the House.

Passed 48-0. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

House Bill 2370 -- Appropriates $7,6 million to fund energy assistance to customers in accordance with the state's low-income energy assistance program. Eligibility for the program is generally restricted to household incomes at or below 125% of poverty, and is based on annual heating costs, family size, and income. Gov. Gregoire signed the bill into law on Jan. 12. It has an emergency clause, which means it took effect immediately.

Passed 48-0. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

House Roll Call --

through Jan. 27

HB 1276 -- Requires the Governor to approve a significant legislative rule if the adopting agency's head or governing body is appointed by the Governor. The Governor must also review a rule if there were at least 50 public comments opposing the substance of the rule. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 93-3. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Uptehgrove, Cody voted yes. McDermott voted no.

HB 1291 -- Increases the licensing fee for 15 different health care professionals by $2, and places a $2 surcharge on each bed licensed in acute care and psychiatric hospitals. Requires that 1% of attorneys’ fees collected in medical malpractice cases where the plaintiff received money in a settlement or judgment be paid to the Department of Health. All revenues will be used for grants, loans, and other arrangements that support efforts to reduce medical errors and enhance patient safety. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 73-24. Hudgins, Hasagawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 1466 -- Allows motorcycles to turn left after one cycle at a signalized intersection equipped with a vehicle detection device that fails to register the presence of the motorcycle. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 92-2. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 2292 -- Makes numerous changes to state law regarding health care practices and discipline, including protecting apologies and reports of unprofessional conduct, health care provider disciplining standards, and disclosure of adverse events. It regulates the medical malpractice insurance industry by requiring closed claim reporting, changing underwriting standards and cancellation or non-renewal of policies, and requires state approval of insurance rates. Also changes the health care liability system, changes the statute of limitations, expert witnesses, certificates of merit, offers of settlement, voluntary arbitration, collateral sources, and frivolous suits. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 54-43. Hudgins, Hasagawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 2370 -- Appropriated $7,6 million to fund energy assistance to customers in accordance with the state's low-income energy assistance program. Eligibility for the program is generally restricted to household incomes at or below 125% of poverty, and is based on annual heating costs, family size, and income. Gov. Gregoire signed the bill into law on Jan. 12. This bill has an emergency clause, which means it took effect immediately.

Passed 97-0. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 2415 -- Requires that those covered by under- or un-insured motorist coverage be entitled to coverage without regard to whether an incident was intentionally caused, unless the insurer can demonstrate that the covered person intended to cause the damage for which coverage is sought. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 96-0. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 2424 -- Exempts farmers from the sales and use tax on diesel fuel used for non-highway purposes. Diesel used for home heating is not exempt. It has an emergency clause, which means it would take effect immediately upon the Governor signing it into law. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 96-1. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

House Joint Resolution 4205, Constitutional Amendment for School Levies -- Amends the state constitution to allow a simple majority of voters to approve school levies. Current law calls for a 60% majority to authorize levies. The resolution is under consideration in the Senate, where it must also receive a 60 percent majority to pass.

Passed 74-23. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.