Legislative

26 June

State budget takes $8.8 billion hit

wsvma   |   Legislative

Chief Economist Steve Lerch told the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council last week that state revenues are expected to decline by a total of $8.8 billion relative to previous expectations over the next two budget cycles, and echoed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s assertion that a full recovery is unlikely until the public is confident COVID-19 is brought under control. Some lawmakers are proposing a capital gains tax, and are opposed to major cuts in state services that occurred in...

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29 May

New animal anti-cruelty legislation signed into law, takes effect June 11, 2020

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare, Legislative, Professional News

Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 6300 that added more teeth to current animal cruelty statutes. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Anne Rivers (R-La Center) and brought forward by Pasado’s Safe Haven included several amendments aimed at doing more to protect animals. Changes to Chapter RCW 16.52 animal cruelty statutes include: Only a licensed veterinarian may devocalize, ear crop or tail dock a dog. Veterinarians must use accepted veterinary surgical protocols and pain management when performing...

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27 March

2020 Legislative session ends on time

wsvma   |   Legislative

The Washington State Legislature adjourned as scheduled on March 12 after a 60-day session.  In the final days prior to adjournment the legislature was able to pass supplemental operating, transportation and capital budgets.  They appropriated $200 million in resources from the state rainy day account for response to the Covid-19 impacts. They also addressed the Boeing WTO issue, by increasing the B&O tax on Boeing to respond to issues presented in the WTO challenge. The Washington State Research Council notes that...

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14 February

Legislation amends last year’s complex B&O tax increase to fund higher education

wsvma   |   Legislative

In 2019, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a complex plan to tax businesses in order to make higher education more affordable. The legislation that passed increased the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax from 1.5% to 1.8%. But after discovering it might not cover the cost from lowering tuition, and because it would be more difficult to collect, the Legislature last week passed a new bill designed to streamline the three-tier system and set a uniform tax rate for most...

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14 February

State-by-State – Legislative agendas focus on prohibiting procedures, unlicensed activity

wsvma   |   Legislative

Several states are considering prohibitions on declawing, devocalization, ear cropping and tail docking. Arizona's HB 2537, Maryland's HB 445, and West Virginia's HB 2119 would prohibit declawing. New Hampshire's HB 1683 would prohibit declawing, along with ear cropping, tail docking, declaw removal and devocalization. New Jersey's A 1087 and S 920 and Rhode Island's HB 7342 would prohibit declawing while NJ A 1211 would end ear cropping and tail docking. Hawaii's HB 2163 and Washington's HB 2317 and SB 6300...

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17 January

Washington Legislature convenes and includes mandatory suicide prevention training

wsvma   |   Legislative

The Washington State Legislature convened on Monday, January 13 for a 60-day legislative session. By the end of the first week, almost 1,000 bills have been introduced for consideration. The focus of the first three weeks will be consideration of these bills in the policy committees. Included in the introduced bills are: HB 2411 - Suicide prevention training Last month, the WSVMA was contacted by Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33rd) who expressed her concern about the mental wellbeing of veterinarians and voiced her...

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13 December

State by state legislative activities

wsvma   |   Legislative

The State Legislative Update for November 2019 includes select summaries tracked by the AVMA Division of State Advocacy between mid-October and mid-November. For more information on bills and regulations, please see our full listing or contact AVMA. Oregon proposes veterinary telemedicine (VTM) regulations Oregon proposes two regulations that define an exception to a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) for the provision of veterinary telemedicine (VTM) and establish minimum standards for the practice of veterinary telemedicine. One of the proposed VTM regulations specifies that VTM...

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26 July

A proliferation of legislation focused on professional certification and licensure across the states

wsvma   |   Legislative

To help protect veterinary medicine from harmful legislation, the AVMA is actively engaged with national coalitions focused on professional certification and licensure legislation at both the federal and state levels. As needed, the AVMA acts on Capitol Hill and weighs in when requested by our partners in the states. While veterinary medicine is just one of the 60 occupations licensed in every state, and veterinary technologists and technicians are licensed in at least 30 states, there are 1,100 occupations licensed by...

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17 May

Modernizing the Livestock Inspection Program – New law for WSDA’s brand program goes into effect this summer

wsvma   |   Legislative

In April, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation intended to restore financial solvency to our Livestock Inspection Program (LID). The program, which has roots dating back to the 1860s, is entirely funded by fees paid by the livestock industry and receives no state general fund dollars. But in recent years, the program has been in financial crisis. The inspection fees it relies on are set in statute and had not been adjusted since 2006. Over time, rising costs outpaced fee revenue. The livestock industry...

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10 May

New opioid bill signed into law

wsvma   |   Legislative

A sweeping new opioid bill passed the Legislature and was signed by the Governor on May 8. The legislation outlines a comprehensive, statewide approach to treating and preventing opioid use disorder by addressing prevention, education, treatment and swift responses to overdoses. SSB 5380 modifies the protocols for using medications to treat opioid use disorder and requires prescribers to counsel patients on the risks of opioids. The legislation also establishes new reporting requirements for the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) and extends...

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