Legislator
State Representative
Jim Walsh
(R) - Washington
Washington House District 19
In Office
contact info
Capitol Office
John L. O'Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: 360-786-7806
Phone 2: 800-562-6000
Vote Record By Category
| Category | Vote Index | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| Parental Rights | 91 |
52
|
| Vaccines | 85 |
48
|
| Emergency Powers | 62 |
24
|
| Other | 69 |
23
|
| Quarantine | 0 |
5
|
| All Bills | 74 |
133
|
Rated Bill Votes
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Rating | Vote | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB1045 | Creating the evergreen basic income pilot program. | House Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning: 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass | 01/24/2023 | -5 | Abstain |
Establishes a two-year pilot universal basic income program that is estimated by the state to cost a minimum of $396 million, not including the costs to reimburse the recipients for benefits lost due to receiving the income. 7,500 recipients will receive a monthly amount equal to the fair market rent of their county of residence, based on self-attestation. An evaluation of the program, with recommendations for an ongoing basic income program, are to be made to the legislature in 2027.
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| HB1052 | Clarifying a hate crime offense. | House Final Passage as Amended by the Senate | 04/18/2025 | -3 | Nay |
Engrossed version. Adds "in whole or in substantial part" to the definition of hate crime, referring to the perpetrator's perception of the victim's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, or disability, etc. when the accused assaults, damages property, or threatens to do so. This will result in the lowering of the threshold for a guilty verdict and subjecting the accused's life history (statements, social media posts, etc.) to scrutiny and potential distortion.
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| HB1152 | Supporting measures to create comprehensive public health districts. | House Final Passage as Amended by the Senate | 04/15/2021 | -3 | Nay |
Filed at request of governor. Ends local public health districts in order to regionalize and centralize them (by 1.1.23) in response to "inequities and shortcomings made apparent in CV pandemic." Companion to SB5173.
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| HB1225 | Concerning school-based health centers. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/26/2021 | -5 | Nay |
Establishes school-based health centers under DOH, with funding, monitoring, partnering with NGOs.
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| HB1251 | Concerning water systems' notice to customers of public health considerations. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/09/2023 | -3 | Yea |
Requires public water systems that intend to discontinue fluoridation notify DOH and receive DOH's info re public health impacts of fluoride, as well as provide this info to its customers 90 days before a vote regarding the discontinuation. Companion to SB5215.
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| HB1296 | Eroding I-2081 | House Final Passage as Amended by the Senate | 04/24/2025 | -3 | Nay |
The bill was amended several times. It strips many of the parental rights enacted via I-2081.
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| HB1392 | Expanding SBHCs | House Final Passage as Amended by the Senate | 04/19/2025 | -3 | Nay |
Monies collected under this new WA State Health Care Authority program (funds will come in the form of assessments on health insurance companies) may also be used "to pay for administrative and service-related costs to expand [M]edicaid access in schools by maximizing [M]edicaid funding opportunities to support the school-based health services program, school-based health clinics ["SBHCs"], and on-site behavioral health services." We do not support the expansion of SBHCs because they interfere
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| HB1452 | Establishing a state medical reserve corps. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 03/01/2023 | -5 | Yea |
Establishes a medical reserve corps controlled solely by Secretary of Health (SOH). Corps members can be individuals or any sort of entity, government or private. Licensed practitioner members provide either human health or veterinary services, the latter of which include monitoring and treating animals for “diseases that have spread or demonstrate the potential to spread to humans.” SOH chooses compensation amounts for members. Licensed members are immune from liability for civil damages.
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| HB1531 | Preserving the ability of public officials to address communicable diseases. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 03/08/2025 | -3 | Nay |
Requires state and local health officials to implement and promote "evidence-based, appropriate measures to control the spread of communicable diseases, including vaccines." Forbids the state and its political subdivisions from enacting statutes, ordinances, rules, or policies that prohibit the implementation and promotion of such measures. Removes local control of this portion of public health policy, ensuring that all officials across the state simply rubber-stamp CDC "recommendations."
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| HB1590 | Concerning enrollment stabilization funding to address enrollment declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | House Final Passage as Amended by the Senate | 03/08/2022 | -3 | Nay |
Would amend statute to replenish funding to schools that was lost due to enrollment declines. The negative financial ramifications to schools due to student withdrawals will be ameliorated by the taxpayers. Companion to SB5563.
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| HB1634 | Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/17/2026 | -3 | Yea |
Implements a network of public + private orgs to coordinate mental health supports for K-12 students--training, assessments, more programs/policies, partnering with outside agencies/CBOs. While we recognize the need for some students to access mental health care, we are concerned that this bill expands the existing access to K-12 kids via school-based clinics for services provided by outside groups and that may not align with parents' values.
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| HB1684 | Concerning public health and fluoridation of drinking water. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/12/2022 | -3 | Nay |
DOH must develop standards to facilitate inclusion of fluoride and provide financial assistance, including from private partnerships, when a water system is started/upgraded. When systems consider discontinuing their fluoridation, they must notify customers and include promotional language provided by DOH at least 90 days prior to its vote. Requires DOH to report to a legislative committee an "oral health equity assessment and recommendations to increase access to community water fluoridation."
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| HB1739 | Modernizing hospital policies related to pathogens of epidemiological concern. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/09/2022 | -3 | Yea |
Would expand hospitals' responsibility to address not only MRSA but any pathogen "of epidemiological concern" with policies that may include mandatory testing, isolation of patients, mitigation of visitor and health care workers' susceptibility to contract and transmit these pathogens, and reporting to DOH. This could jeopardize patient rights, visitation rights, and patient privacy. It would create unnecessary and unfunded additional policy, oversight and regulatory burdens.
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| HB1893 | Allowing emergency medical technicians to provide medical evaluation, testing, and vaccines outside of an emergency in response to a public health agency request. | House Final Passage as Amended by the Senate | 03/07/2022 | -3 | Yea |
Increases public health's reach by adding to EMT job description the provision of NON-emergency medical evaluation, testing, and vaccines in response to a public health agency request to control and prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Companion to SB5754.
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| HB2242 | State-controlled vaccine policy with no rulemaking or accountability | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/11/2026 | -3 | Nay |
Codifies DOH authority to issue vaccine guidance without rulemaking, based on ACIP or any org it deems “science-based.” Redefines vaccines in WA’s purchase program to bypass ACIP. Emergency clause blocks referendum. Shifts power to the state, reduces transparency and accountability.
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| SB5052 | Concerning the creation of health equity zones. | House Final Passage as Amended by the House | 04/07/2021 | -3 | Nay |
Would create “health equity zones” in geographical areas with health disparities, inviting partnerships between providers, public health, other agencies, and nonprofits to create and manage projects and apply for resources. Would require annual reporting from DOH to the legislature.
|
| SB5130 | Concerning assisted outpatient treatment. | House Final Passage as Amended by the House | 04/12/2023 | -3 | Nay |
Lowers qualifications of declarant in support of a petition for a court to find that a person must involuntarily undergo a mental eval, including up to 24 hour detainment. Lowers burden of proof required for court order. Discusses orders "to receive" involuntary treatment, removing the inflammatory term "commitment." Increases the severity of consequences for a minor with deteriorating functioning or one who doesn't comply with court-imposed "less restrictive alternative treatments" for behavior
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| SB5181 | Eroding I-2081 | House Motion to Place Measure on Final Passage as Amended by the House | 04/14/2025 | -3 | Nay |
Dismantles many provisions of I-2081. Ends requirement for prior notice to parents when students are offered or receive medical services, including those that the school arranges and may require follow-up care. Rather than immediate notice, allows schools up to 72 hours to give parents notice of removal of their child from campus. Removes rights of parents to review their child's mental health and medical records at school.
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| SB5399 | Concerning the creation of a universal health care commission. | House Final Passage as Amended by the House | 04/07/2021 | -3 | Nay |
Establishes a universal health care commission to develop a plan to create a statewide universal health care system by 2026 so that "all residents of the state have comprehensive, equitable, and affordable health care coverage under a publicly financed and privately and publicly delivered health care system." Oppose because we have witnessed the dangers of public-private partnerships with the medical and drug industry that have not served the health interests of the public.
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| SB5599 | Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services. | House Final Passage as Amended by the House | 04/12/2023 | -3 | Nay |
A person who is sheltering a runaway or homeless youth is exempt from the requirement of reporting it to law enforcement and the parents in the event the child is seeking or receiving "gender-affirming" or "reproductive" care, including abortion, as defined in SB5489.
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| SB5632 | Minor gender surgery/abortion tourist bill | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 04/12/2025 | -3 | Nay |
This bill may result in minors from other states coming to Washington and obtaining abortion/gender "treatment" without their parents' knowledge or consent.
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| SB5883 | Concerning an unaccompanied homeless youth's ability to provide informed consent for that minor patient's own health care, including nonemergency, outpatient, and primary care services, including physical examinations, vision examinations and eyeglasses, dental examinations, hearing examinations and hearing aids, immunizations, treatments for illnesses and conditions, and routine follow-up care customarily provided by a health care provider in an outpatient setting, excluding elective surgeries. | House Final Passage as Amended by the House | 03/03/2022 | -3 | Nay |
A youth of any age who is homeless and "not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian" can consent to nonemergency outpatient primary care services, including vaccination. Excludes elective surgeries. The health care worker, who is not required to obtain documentation of the child's status, is shielded from civil liability and administrative sanctions for providing services.
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| SB5909 | Concerning legislative oversight of gubernatorial powers concerning emergency proclamations and unanticipated receipts. | House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations: do pass with amendment(s) | 02/23/2022 | 3 | Nay |
Allows in certain cases for legislative leadership to end a state of emergency after 90 days. Creates legislative committee to make recommendations on governor's proposals on how to allocate unanticipated federal or other funds received, when they exceed $5 million per biennium. (Existing statute already provides for such a committee; this bill defines the members. Existing statute provides for a $5 million threshhold this biennium; this bill extends that indefinitely.)
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| SB5982 | Allows monoclonal antibodies to be called and funded like "vaccines" | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/22/2024 | -3 | Nay |
Redefined "vaccine" to omit that it is "a preparation of killed or attenuated living microorganisms, or fraction thereof, that upon administration stimulates immunity that protects against diseases" and instead simply calls it an "immunization." Now allows WA Vaccine Assn to participate in funding all WA newborns <8 months in "their first RSV season" to be given the brand-new Beyfortis (nirsevimab) a monoclonal antibody (MA)--not a vaccine--injection for RSV, as well as all future pediatric MAs.
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| SB6095 | Establishing clear authority for the secretary of health to issue standing orders. | House 3rd Reading & Final Passage | 02/27/2024 | -3 | Nay |
Gives Secretary of Health (SOH) authority to issue a prescriptive "standing order" for "tools" to control disease AND to control ANY threat to public health. This includes products to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease. The bill exempts SOH from all civil/criminal damage claims that arise from this law. DOH may acquire and deliver the subject products. Standing orders can compromise informed consent because providers use a presumptive approach with their patients.
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| SCR8402 | Extending certain gubernatorial orders issued in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency. | House Final Passage | 01/15/2021 | -5 | Nay |
Already adopted on January 18: serves to extend current gubernatorial emergency declaration indefinitely, given its reliance upon definition of "until order is restored" that is not already considered to have been met.
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Rated Sponored Bills
| Bill | Bill Name | Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB1020 | Concerning the emergency powers of the governor. | 5 |
Limits gubernatorial emergency orders to 30 days absent legislature resolution (or, if not in session, by unanimous agreement of the four legislative leaders). Would reduce violation of emergency order from gross misdemeanor to misdemeanor.
|
| HB1029 | Concerning orders and rules during a state of emergency. | 5 |
Would set limits and increase requirements for governor and secretary of health emergency declarations.
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| HB1029 | Concerning reemployment of state workers dismissed from employment due to vaccine mandates. | 3 |
Requires state executive branch (not legislative or judicial or private) employers to rehire workers who were dismissed for not taking CV shots. If employer claims a change in circumstance or hardship prevents such rehiring, employer must prove its claim. In the event employer does not follow the statute, requires AG to obtain order from superior court compelling employer.
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| HB1038 | Prohibiting puberty blocking medications, cross-sex hormones, and gender transition surgeries for minors. | 3 |
Given that Washington law currently permits and assists children in undergoing medical procedures without parental consent, we support this bill as a matter of parental rights because it will reduce the State's ability to contravene and undermine parents’ wishes.
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| HB1154 | Concerning religious institutions and gubernatorial proclamations. | 3 |
A governor's declaration of emergency may not require the closure of religious institutions, unless the order is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling government interest.
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| HB1176 | Concerning greater consistency in the provision of health care services for minors under the age of 17. | 3 |
Raises minor consent age from 14 to 17 years old for various medical treatments, including STD testing/treatment, inpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and outpatient services. Prevents parents from financially responsibility for services they did not consent to and abolishes the "mature minor rule" which previously allowed some minors under 17 to provide informed consent for medical procedures.
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| HB1214 | Enacting the protecting children's bodies act. | 3 |
Medical providers may not provide gender transition procedures or referral thereto to minors unless it is life-threatening or to correct a congenital physical abnormality or disorder or to address unintended consequences of a previous gender transition procedure. Violators are subject to discipline for unprofessional conduct, as well as Class C felony charges. Public funds may not be used for gender transition procedures for minors, and insurance companies may not cover them.
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| HB1221 | Increasing legislative involvement in gubernatorial proclamations relating to a state of emergency. | 3 |
The Legislature (or its 4 leaders if not in session) may resolve to terminate a gubernatorial emergency order. In any event, a gubernatorial emergency order expires in 60 days unless extended by the Legislature for 60-day segments (or its 4 leaders if not in session). Violations are reduced from criminal infractions to civil, with $1,000 maximum fine. This bill is a good start.
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| HB1336 | Protecting utility consumer meter choice. | 5 |
Allows utility consumers to opt out of "smart" meters at any time at no cost. The bill supports informed consent to and refusal of these devices.
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| HB1535 | Increasing legislative involvement in gubernatorial proclamations relating to a state of emergency. | 3 |
Limits gubernatorial emergency powers and expands legislature authority following a gubernatorial emergency declaration.
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| HB1570 | Prohibiting the government from requiring proof of vaccination to access public places. | 3 |
Government may not require proof of CV-19 (or variant) vaccine in order to be permitted access to a "[p]ublic place . . . any site accessible to the general public for business, entertainment, or another lawful purpose. A "public place" includes, but is not limited to, the front, immediate area, or parking lot of any store, shop, restaurant. Ambiguous as to whether businesses themselves can require proof.
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| HB1580 | Ensuring that equitable COVID-19 vaccine dose allocation is considered before a county may be reverted to a more restrictive phase under the healthy Washington: Roadmap to recovery plan. | 3 |
“A county that has not received an equitable share of COVID-19 vaccine doses in proportion to the state's allocation may not be reverted to a more restrictive phase.”
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| HB1610 | Restoring trust in public health through consumer protection. | 5 |
Requires agencies to comply with the same promotion laws that govern drug and medical device companies; prevents agencies from having membership in organizations that are sponsored by the industry whose products the agencies regulate or promote. Companion to SB5596.
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| HB1633 | Providing parents and their children with more choices for a quality K-12 education through the family empowerment scholarship program. | 2 |
Would establish a state-run scholarship program for families to fund K-12 private, charter, or home school attendance, increasing choices for those with fewer financial means. $10k each to the first 100,000 applicants. The scholarships automatically renew each year. ICWA appreciates that this bill supports parent choice and provides unprivileged students more options. The offset, however, is that the bill expands government.
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| HB1695 | Reforming the means by which the legislature establishes operating procedures. | 5 |
(1) No operating rule of the house of representatives or senate can segregate, discriminate against, or offer privileged status to legislators on the basis of medical status, including vaccination or antibody status. (2) While any such segregation, discrimination, or privileged status is in effect, the operations of the legislature shall be suspended and no legislative action may occur.
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| HB1720 | Protecting the right of every Washington resident to decline an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19. | 5 |
State agencies, schools, employers and places of public accommodation/assemblage may not require Covid shots.
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| HB1788 | Concerning greater consistency in the provision of health care services for minors under the age of 17. | 5 |
Codifies that a minor under age 17 may not provide informed consent for medical procedures. Specifically raises age of consent to STD treatment, admission to inpatient mental health and substance abuse services from 13 or 14 or “adolescent” to 17. In the absence of parental consent, the parent is not financially responsible for an abortion provided to a child under age 17. Generally, state funds may not be used for abortion provided to a child under age 17 without parental consent.
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| HB1827 | Preventing vaccination status discrimination. | 5 |
Makes vaccination/immunity status a protected class under civil rights law and Human Rights Commission, with the possible exception of vaccines on the Washington “school schedule.” EUA vaccines may not be required for daycare or K-12 students. Codifies and simplifies opting out of the state "immunization" registry.
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| HB1871 | Concerning the Washington state ferries' treatment of employees and applicants without consideration of COVID-19 vaccines. | 3 |
Ferry workers who left employment during the CV vaccine mandate may be rehired and have the adverse reference removed. The ferry system may not require proof of CV vaccine in future job applicants.
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| HB2000 | Clarifying the duty of the superintendent of public instruction to distribute federal and state basic education funds. | 5 |
Clarifies and limits OSPI's authority to halt/disrupt distribution of constitutionally entitled state and federal ed funds, not even in response to gubernatorial emergency actions. Applies retroactively to July 1, 2021. OSPI may not withhold funding unless (a) a school district has failed to meet basic education requirements established in statute; and (b) school districts have due process rights for appeal.
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| HB2030 | Prohibiting the use of involuntary quarantine and isolation. | 5 |
Ends health officers' authority to order or seek an order to involuntarily quarantine/isolate (Q&I) people (including in the TB statute) and removes the criminal penalty for those who leave Q&I.
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| HB2041 | Concerning greater consistency in the provision of health care services for minors under the age of 16. | 5 |
Raises minor consent age from 13 or 14 to 16 for mental health inpatient treatment and STI diagnosis/treatment, respectively; prohibits parental financial responsibility for these and generally for parental-non-consented abortion for girls under 16. State funds may not be used on abortions for children under age 16 unless her life is in danger. Minors under 16 may not provide informed consent for any other healthcare procedures, and the Mature Minor Doctrine is abolished.
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| HJM4010 | Requesting that Congress allow design defect claims against vaccine manufacturers by individuals who have experienced adverse side effects caused by vaccines. | 5 |
Requested that Congress allow design defect claims against vaccine manufacturers for adverse side effects caused by vaccines.
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