Morris bills only a Governor’s signature away from becoming law

March 10, 2008

OLYMPIA – Even after 30 years the old Schoolhouse Rock! cartoon still has it right. “Bill” may have been singing about the other Capitol Hill, but the same tough rules for passing legislation hold true in this one. With 98 members in the state House and 49 more in the Senate each vying for their own bills, getting any legislation passed can be an uphill battle. But with just days left in the 2008 legislative session, state Representative Jeff Morris, D – Mount Vernon, can chalk up four wins this session.

Two of Morris’ bills – 1031 and 2879 – are consumer protection measures that prohibit the collection of personal information via spyware or radio-frequency-transmitting chips embedded into credit cards, passports, and some products. 

House Bill 2431 will inform expecting parents of their option to store away the cord blood immediately following the birth of their child. Cord blood has the potential to offer life-saving treatment options if an illness strikes the child later in life.

Morris’s fourth bill to pass, 1623, extends the aquatic land lease administered by the Department of Natural Resources for the utility lines that deliver services, including electricity, phone, and sewer lines, to San Juan islanders. This public-private partnership will save islanders millions in utility bills.

Morris, along with is seatmates, Sen. Harriet Spanel and Rep. Dave Quall, also introduced legislation, 2676 & 6607, to close a loophole in state law that left some small dairy farms in the North Sound paying a shellfish protection fee even after adopting stricter environmental standards. The Senate version, which passed both bodies, lifts the fee while continuing to incentivize environmentally sensitive agriculture. “It’s a good example of the senior delegation from the 40th Legislative district hearing from constituents on an important issue and working together to get the job done for those back home,” said Morris.

Today they might just be bills, but all should be a law someday soon, as they head to Governor Christine Gregoire for her final approval. Morris expects the Governor to sign the bills after making their way through the legislative gauntlet. “After a thorough vetting process by the members of the House and Senate, these bills have proven their worth for the residents of Skagit and Whatcom, as well as those of the rest of the state. These measures mean improved consumer protections, more access to valuable information for expecting parents, and a better deal for island residents.”

“Overall, I’m very happy with the outcome of the 2008 legislative session for our region of the state.”