Legislative News: Washington House Democrats - Olympia, Washington

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​​​33rd LD Update: We have less than one week left. Here’s what we’ve got to get done

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March 7, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  

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We are approaching to the final stretch of what has been a whirlwind of a short session.

Even though we’ve only had 60 days, we’ve already been able to get a lot done. Here’s a quick update. 

Bills update 

House Bill 2155, which protects the nursing title from being inappropriately used by artificial technology,

passed the Senate with unamended and with bipartisan support. It has already been delivered to the

Governor’s desk and is awaiting his signature. This is a major win for all of our hard-working nurses, health care professionals, and for patients across Washington. It protects the integrity of the

profession and the quality of our health care, and I look forward to seeing this legislation signed into law.  

House Bill 2156, which is legislation requested by the State Attorney General’s Office, allows AGO investigators in the Major Economic Crimes Unit to serve electronic search warrants. The bill passed out of the Senate with some amendments, taking one more step toward being signed into law. This will make investigations into organized retail theft, wage theft and construction fraud more efficient and effective in administering justice. 

House Bill 2165, which is governor-requested legislation that prohibits people from impersonating law enforcement, has been passed by the Senate. The Senate did make some amendments, but if we can agree on a final version of the policy, this legislation will also make its way to the Governor’s desk for signature very soon. This policy, paired with the passage of Senate Bill 5855 to prohibit law enforcement from wearing masks when interacting with the public, helps increase trust between the community and the police.  

If you talk to someone you believe is a law enforcement officer, you should be able to trust that they, in fact, are who they say they are. You should be able to see their face, and you should have confidence that they are actual, certified law enforcement. I haven’t forgotten about the chaos and terror our communities have experienced in recent months as a result federal agents’ behaviors. I’m proud to be part of a response that helps protect Washingtonians from bad actors and ensures accountability.  

So, what’s next?  

With less than a week left in the session, we still have several bills to pass including the operating budget, one of the most critical and difficult bills we must pass this session. Of the three budgets we pass, the operating budget is the big one that pays for human services, K-12 education, public defense, and more. I’m sure you’ve already heard of the budget challenge we currently face. It’s gotten even harder now because our federal partners have largely abandoned their responsibilities. That means we have to pick up the more of the bill to provide services that keep people fed, housed, and able to access affordable health care. Our budget teams are committed to working together to ensure we’re doing the best we can to minimize harm. I will continue to advocate for our district and work with my colleagues to put people first.    

Keep an eye out for my next update, where I’ll be able to share how the session shook out and what it means for our district.  

Sincerely,  

 

Rep. Edwin Obras ​​​​

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