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.

IN THE SENATE

(through April 19)

House Bill 2079-Modifies current law that prohibits labor organizations from using shop fees from non-members for political campaigns. This bill allows shop fees to be used for political campaigns as long as the labor organization has sufficient funds from other sources. The bill has an emergency clause, which makes its take effect immediately. The bill has passed both chambers and is now under consideration by the Governor.

Passed 29-20. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

Senate Bill 5248-The Senate concurred with House amendments and approved this bill, which preempts local governments from passing critical area ordinances (CAO) and development regulations prohibiting legal agricultural activities. Counties and cities could not amend or adopt CAOs under the Growth Management Act between May 1, 2007, and July 1, 2010. Local governments also could not require removal of agricultural land from production. The bill has passed both chambers and is now under consideration by the Governor.

Passed 45-2. Keiser, Poulsen voted yes; Prentice voted no.

SB 6099-Requires the Office of Financial Management to hire a mediator to assist the Department of Transportation in developing a State Route 520 expansion impact plan. The plan must address the impacts of the SR 520 bridge replacement and HOV project on Seattle neighborhoods, parks, and institutions of higher education, and the city of Seattle. The provisions of the plan must assume at least $1.1 billion in revenue from tolls and the six-lane option. The bill has passed both chambers and is now under consideration by the Governor.

Passed 42-6. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

IN THE HOUSE

(through April 19)

HB 1214-The House concurred with Senate amendments and approved this bill, which prohibits the use of a wireless device for sending a text message while driving. Exceptions are provided for emergency responders, or individuals reporting illegal activity, reporting an emergency or trying to prevent injury to other people or property. A violation of this act would be considered a traffic infraction. The bill has passed both chambers and is now under consideration by the Governor.

Passed 90-8. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Cody, McDermott voted yes; Upthegrove voted no.

SB 5659-Creates new employee benefits for family and medical insurance. Employees on family or medical leave would be entitled to $250 per week for up to five weeks. The Department of Labor and Industries would administer the program and employers would pay premiums of 2 cents per hour worked, per employee, for the first year. L&I would then have the authority to adjust the premiums every year thereafter. The bill exempts employers with 25 or fewer employees. The Senate refused to concur with the House amendments and the bill is back under consideration.

Passed 61-36. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.