Y = Yes N = No E = Excused NV = Not Voting

HB 1420

Modifying provisions on primary election ballots.

By a vote of 97 to 0 on Feb. 28, 2007, the House approved HB 1420, which would allow primary ballots to be counted even if the voter failed 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.

Rep. Eileen Cody - y

Rep. Joe McDermott - y

Rep. Helen Sommers, - y

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson - y

HB 1460

Extending existing mental health parity requirements to individual and small group plans.

By a vote of 75 to 22 on Feb. 28, 2007, the House approved HB 1460, which would extend mental health parity. In 2005, the Legislature required health plans to include mental health services equal to medical and surgical services. An exemption was provided for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. HB 1460 would remove that exemption and require small businesses to include mental health services if they offer medical and surgical coverage. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Eileen Cody - y

Rep. Joe McDermott - y

Rep. Helen Sommers - y

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson - y

HB 1528

Providing for electronic voter registration.

By a vote of 91 to 6 on Feb. 28, 2007, the House approved HB 1528, which would allow 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.

Rep. Eileen Cody - y

Rep. Joe McDermott - y

Rep. Helen Sommers - y

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson - y

SB 5336

Protecting individuals in domestic partnerships by granting certain rights and benefits.

By a vote of 28 to 19 on March 1, 2007, the Senate approved SB 5336, which would create 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.

Sen. Erik Poulsen - y

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles - y

SJR 8207

Amending the Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize a school levy.

By a vote of 30 to 17 on Feb. 28, 2007, the Senate failed to approve SJR 8207, which would have proposed to amend 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% supermajority. The resolution failed because it did not receive the required two-thirds majority required to propose a constitutional amendment.

Sen. Erik Poulsen - y

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles - y

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