Washington state representatives approved a slew of bills Saturday that addressed service-animal law, workers compensation reform and other issues as they rushed to meet a procedural deadline.
House lawmakers were working to pass all of the bills that originated from their chamber before a March 7 deadline.
On Saturday, they approved a bill that would establish a criminal penalty of up to 12 months in jail for killing another person’s livestock; a bill that would make suffocating a person in case of domestic violence an assault, instead of a misdemeanor; and a measure that would make food establishments continue to accommodate dogs and miniature horses assisting disabled customers, but refuse access to other types of service animals.
The House also approved a measure that would expand a medical provider network that would be managed by the Department of Labor & Industries – part of efforts to reform the state’s workers compensation system.