Lawmakers in the House and Senate this week focused on committee hearings to consider bills sent to them from the opposite chamber, following last week’s legislative cut-off date. Neither chamber held floor votes on legislation.
Members assembled for a joint session on Wednesday to honor people from communities that distinguished themselves during rescue efforts at the Oso landslide disaster one year ago.
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Madsen presented the state Medal of Valor to the people of the towns of Oso, Darrington and Arlington and to the Sauk-Suiattle tribe for selfless and heroic actions in response to the Oso tragedy.
The Medal of Valor is one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the state. Since its establishment in 2000, it has only been awarded eight times, lastly in 2007. Until this year, only individuals could receive the award, but the legislature passed Senate Bill 5035 earlier this year to authorize granting the award to groups of persons who saved, or attempted to save, the life of another at the risk of serious injury to themselves.
Sen. Kirk Pearson, (R-Monroe), Rep. Dan Kristiansen, (R-Snohomish), and Rep. Elizabeth Scott, (R-Monroe), nominated the communities and shepherded the bill to unanimous passage in both houses. Governor Inslee signed the bill into law on March 2nd.
The 105-day scheduled legislative session is now in its 68th day, and a round of committee action on Senate- or House-passed bills is scheduled for next week. Lawmakers have until April 1st to report bills passed by the opposite chamber out of committee. Fiscal and transportation measures are exempt from the deadline.
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