Flurry of Bills Pass Washington Legislature

POLITICS 

By Austin Jenkins

Olympia, WA  March 11, 2008 2:38 p.m.

Washington lawmakers are sending a flurry of bills to the Governor in the final days of the session. The topics range from whale watching rules to tougher sex offender laws. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.
 
This is the time of session when differing House and Senate versions of the same bill are reconciled. Once the details are worked out, the final version clears the legislature and heads to the governor.

In these final moments of session, bills are moving by the dozen. Examples include: legislation that would require whale-watchers to stay 300-feet from orcas – currently that's just a guideline.

Another approved bill requires more convicted criminals to submit a DNA sample for a state database. And the Governor will be asked to sign legislation that gives lower income families a state sales tax rebate based on their federal income taxes.

The legislature still needs to approve an update to the state's two year budget. The plan is to adjourn on Thursday.

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© 2008 KPLU