Washington committee advances bill protecting grocery and pharmacy access and approves land‑acquisition exemption amendment

At a meeting of the Washington State House Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee, members advanced Engrossed House Bill 2294 and adopted a striking amendment to House Bill 2624 before sending both bills to the Rules Committee for further consideration.

John Kim, committee staff, briefed members on the bills and said the Office of the Insurance Commissioner estimates $40,000 in operating expenditures in the current biennium related to Substitute House Bill 1078, which would prohibit pet insurers from cancelling or nonrenewing policies based on a pet’s age or certain health conditions. Committee leadership announced they would not take action on HB 1078 during this meeting.

Unidentified Speaker 2 (committee staff) described House Bill 1269 as a bill that would shorten pawn loan periods, increase interest, prep and storage fees, allow online payments, and include two striking amendments. Committee members did not act on HB 1269 at this meeting.

On Engrossed House Bill 2294, which staff described as prohibiting negative use restrictions in real property transactions regarding grocery stores and pharmacies, Unidentified Speaker 5 moved that the bill "receive a due pass recommendation and be sent to the Rules Committee." The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the chair announced the bill "passes subject to signature."

House Bill 2624, a follow‑up to prior law that extends exemptions for public entities acquiring unlisted property for transportation purposes, was amended to clarify that public entities, tribes, and conservation organizations may use the exemption only if an appraisal is conducted. The transcript records the amendment as being negotiated with the Washington Farm Forestry Association and The Trust for Public Land. Unidentified Speaker 5 moved adoption of the striking amendment labeled C, and the chair said the amendment "provides some clarity to the information based on what we heard from testimony, and to make those exemptions." The amendment was adopted by voice vote with opposing responses; the committee then moved and approved the bill as amended and sent it to the Rules Committee.

No recorded roll‑call tallies appear in the transcript; both approvals were by voice vote. Committee leadership said the body would go into caucus and adjourned the meeting after the votes.

What happens next: Both Engrossed HB 2294 and HB 2624 as amended were forwarded to the Rules Committee; HB 1078 (pet insurance) and HB 1269 (pawn broker reforms) were not acted on at this meeting and remain pending.