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 March 2)

Senate Bill 5336-Creates the "State Domestic Partnership Registry." Couples seeking the partnership must be unmarried, share a common residence and be members of the same sex, or one of the persons must be at least 62 years of age. A domestic partnership would grant certain rights and privileges currently given to legally married couples. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Passed 28-19. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

Senate Joint Resolution 8207-Would have proposed amending the State Constitution to allow a school levy to be approved by a simple majority. Currently, school levies can only be approved by a 60 percent supermajority. The resolution failed because it did not receive the two-thirds majority required to propose a constitutional amendment.

Failed 30-17. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

IN THE HOUSE

(through March 2)

House Bill 1420-Allows primary election ballots to be counted even if the voter fails to declare a political party preference. A political party affiliation would be inferred and the vote would count only if the voter voted for candidates of one political party. Currently, if a voter fails to choose a party affiliation, but continues to vote, the votes for partisan offices are not counted. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 97-0. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 1460-Extends mental health parity. In 2005, the Legislature required health plans to include mental health services equal to medical and surgical services, but exempted small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. This bill removes that exemption and requires small businesses to include mental health services if they offer medical and surgical coverage. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 75-22. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 1528-Allows voters to register to vote on-line, with the Secretary of State. To register, citizens must posses a valid Washington state driver's license or state identification card. The bill also establishes that electronic voter registration is to be considered registration by mail. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 91-6. Hudgins, Hasegawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.