Governor’s report looks at this week’s legislative accomplishments as end of session approaches

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE |||

Inslee signs legislation to add Billy Frank Jr. statue to U.S. Capitol

Gov. Jay Inslee signed HB 1372 on Wednesday, which will place a statue of tribal leader Billy Frank Jr. in the National Statuary Hall. Inslee was joined by members of Frank’s family, tribal and community members, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and Rep. Debra Lekanoff when he signed the bill in a ceremony at Wa He Lut Indian School in Olympia.

“Billy Frank Jr.’s legacy should inspire Washingtonians to have open discussions about our place in the world, both what we take from the earth and what we give back. And it reaffirms certain truths as old as the Nisqually Tribe itself: That the environment is not just a resource; it is our home, and we must protect it,” Inslee said.

Frank’s statue will replace Marcus Whitman as one of Washington’s two statues represented in the U.S. Capitol. Mother Joseph Pariseau is the other statue representing Washington state in the U.S. Capitol. Mother Joseph’s statue was placed in 1980. Replicas of both statues are in the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

Read more on the governor’s Medium page.

With COVID cases rising, Inslee tells Washingtonians to socialize outdoors

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday held his first regular in-person media availability with the Olympia press corps since March 2020, when the pandemic forced press conferences to go virtual. The event was held outside the governor’s residence, where Inslee warned of rising cases and encouraged Washingtonians to spend time where the virus struggles to transmit: Outdoors.

“The virus spreads far more easily indoors. We’re asking everyone to think about their actions for the next few weeks especially so we can get through this together,” Inslee said. “Let’s be vested with a can-do spirit here to halt a creeping fourth wave of COVID. Take it outside, mask up, keep your distance.”

The latest trends show COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to increase. The state is averaging more than 1,000 new cases a day, up from 700 cases a day in February. Daily hospitalizations in March were in the 30s, but this month have crept into daily averages in the 40s.

“There is strong evidence of a rebound and we have to stay vigilant,” Inslee said.

Governor-request legislation advances

With the end of session quickly approaching, the House and Senate acted on a number of governor-request bills this week.

On Tuesday, HB 1097 received final passage from the Legislature. The legislation will increase protections for workers, ensuring they can raise safety concerns without facing retaliation.

On Wednesday, the House signed off on the Senate amendments to HB 1267 and sent it to the governor’s desk. The bill was one of the recommendations made by the governor’s Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force, and would establish an Office of Independent Investigations under the governor’s office.

On Thursday, the House gave final approval to HB 1152, which would strengthen local health boards across the state by including more public health professionals in decision making. Also Thursday, the Senate signed off on House amendments to SB 5432. The legislation will bolster cybersecurity protections for state government, requiring state agencies to meet strong security standards and respond quickly to any potential threats.

The 105-day legislative session is set to end on April 25.