OLYMPIA — A pair of bills by local 6th District lawmakers addressing foreclosure protection and presumptive benefits for health care workers have advanced in their respective chambers.
House Bill 1410, sponsored by Rep. Mike Volz (R-Spokane) would protect taxpayers by reducing the penalty and interest for late property tax payments from about 23 percent to 12 percent. The measure was approved last week on a bipartisan 16-1 vote in the House Finance Committee, and now moves to the House floor for consideration.
In a news release, Volz, who also serves as the chief deputy treasure for Spokane County, said opposition to the bill comes from county officials who plan their annual budgets to include forecasted but unpredictable penalties and interest. He added such practices amount to “bad budget planning, particularly when usurious rates charged are near or exceed those of credit cards.”
“Homeowners who are late paying their property taxes but trying to catch up are usually in a state of distress or conflict,” Volz said in a statement. “When you add in these high, usurious interest rates it’s just another unnecessary financial burden to folks who are already struggling. There needs to be consequences for late payments, but not so much that it drives homeowners into foreclosure, which is what we often see now.”
Also moving on is Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5190, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Holy (R-Cheney). The bill would specifically make health-care workers eligible for unemployment-insurance benefits for those who are terminated or left work to quarantine during a public-health emergency. It would also provide presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for health-care workers who contract the disease that is the subject of a public-health emergency.
ESSB 5190 passed the Senate on Feb. 24, 34-15.
“I’m pleased the Senate passed this common-sense bill that tries to solve a problem for health-care workers throughout our state during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Holy said in a statement. “Health-care workers face a serious, immediate threat when they have to treat patients with infectious diseases. When we have a health-care crisis of this magnitude here in Washington and throughout the nation, we need to take care of the people who are being asked to help take care of the public.”
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
The 105-day remote 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end April 25.
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