Here's What Passed In 'Epic' 2019 Legislative Session

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee called it "epic" and "tremendous," House Republicans called it "disappointing." Whatever your opinion, the 105-day 2019 legislative session ended just before midnight Sunday, and lawmakers used the time to debate issues like HOV lane dummies, 3D-printed guns, and measles vaccines.

The two biggest items passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature were the biennial budget, and a measure that will allow school districts to raise property taxes higher than limits set in a 2017 law. But plenty more happened this session.

Here's a look at some highlights from the 2019 session:

State budget

Lawmakers agreed on a $52.4 billion two-year operating budget, plus capital and transportation budgets. The three biggest pieces of the budget are public education ($29.2 billion), the state healthcare authority ($21.2 billion), and the department of Social and Health Services ($13.8 billion).

School levy lids

Without this legislation, districts across the state would've lost an estimated $1 billion in levy funding this year. This legislation allows districts to ask voters to raise levy lids higher than limits set in a 2017 bill that settled the McCleary decision.

New Taxes

The Legislature did not pass a capital gains tax, as House Democrats had proposed. But lawmakers did pass a new tax on vapor products: 10 cents per milliliter of nicotine solution for any accessible container and 30 cents per milliliter for all other vape products. Also approved: a 1.2 percent B&O tax increase for banks with $1 billion or more in annual net income.

The real estate excise tax is also changing. The rate for sales up to $500,000 will drop from 1.28 percent to 1.1 percent. But sales above $3 million will be taxed at 3 percent.

Separate from the budget, the Legislature passed a B&O tax increase for tech companies (or "advanced computing" firms, as the law calls them) like Amazon and Microsoft. A 33.33 charge will apply to companies with revenue above $25 billion and below $100 billion. Companies with more than $100 billion in revenue will face a 66.66 percent charge. The money will go toward various higher education initiatives, including free tuition for some low-income families.

Public option

Lawmakers will allow the state to contract with private insurers to create a "public option" health plan called Cascade Care. This is not free healthcare, it's a government health insurance plan that would be available to buy on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.

Vaccine exemptions

Washington's infamous measles outbreak is officially over, but state law will change to eliminate the philosophical and personal objection exemption for the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella). The change also requires day care workers to get the MMR vaccine, unless they have a medical exemption.

Marijuana convictions

Courts will be required to vacate misdemeanor marijuana convictions if the person was 21 or older at the time of the offense.

HOV fines

HOV fines will increase from $136 to $186 and to $336 for any subsequent offense that occurs within two years. There will also be a $200 penalty for when drivers use a dummy, doll or other "human facsimile" to cheat in the HOV lane.

Affirmative Action Initiative I-1000

This initiative passed the Legislature on Sunday mostly along party lines with Democrats in favor.

Extreme risk protection orders

Allows petitioners to seek extreme risk protection orders (ERPO) for people under age 18.

Orca protections

A new law requires boats to stay at least 200 yards from whales, and requires boats travel no faster than 7 knots within a half-mile of an orca. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will also be required to study how noise harms the Puget Sound orca population.

License plates

New license plates approved this session: Seattle Storm plates will benefit youth league sports; Purple Heart plates will be made free to medal-holders; and Gold Star license plates will also be free people who lost a family member in the Iraq War. Lawmakers also created a San Juan Islands license plate.

Rental notices

Landlords must now give tenants 120 days' written notice before demolition or major rehabilitation takes place. Allows renters to sue if they aren't given proper notice.

Gift cards

A new law would prohibit most gift cards from expiring, and stop issuers from charging an inactivity fee.

Hate crimes

In Washington, hate crimes are called "malicious harassment." A new law changes the name of that crime to "hate crime offense" and adds gender identity or expression as a protected category along with race, religion, and other factors.

3D-printed guns

Bans Washington residents from making "undetectable" guns — i.e., guns that you make with a 3D printer. 3D-printed guns are typically made of plastic and can elude metal detectors.

Rape kits

Lawmakers put $10.3 million in the biennial budget to clear the state's backlog of some 10,000 untested rape kits.

Wildfires

The budget also included more than $45 million to fight wildfires this year. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz last October asked for $55 million to fight wildfires to hire more firefighters, among other initiatives.