Author Archives: Laudan

Sen. Muzzall’s bills to improve health care access, quality pass state Senate

Two bills sponsored by Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, to improve health care access and quality in Washington have passed the state Senate with unanimous bipartisan support. Senate Bill 5124 and Senate Bill 5672 aim to address critical gaps in the state’s health care system, ensuring residents receive timely, high-quality care while supporting the professionals who provide it.

Senate Bill 5124 seeks to improve access to post-acute care services for Medicaid enrollees by requiring the Health Care Authority to establish and enforce network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. These standards aim to ensure that Medicaid managed care organizations provide timely and sufficient access to post-acute care services for patients recovering from acute illness, injury, or surgery.

“Patients who need post-acute care should not face unnecessary delays or barriers,” Muzzall said. “This bill ensures that Medicaid enrollees can access rehabilitation and skilled nursing care without excessive wait times, helping them recover faster and more effectively.”

Senate Bill 5672 aims to address workforce challenges in Washington’s long-term care sector by modifying certification requirements for home care aides. The bill grants additional time for long-term care workers to complete their certification while the State Auditor’s Office conducts a performance audit of training requirements and competency assessments. By preventing unnecessary turnover caused by certification delays, SB 5672 seeks to improve workforce stability and ensure continued care for Washington’s aging and disabled populations.

“If we don’t take care of our health care workforce, we won’t be able to take care of our patients,” Muzzall explained. “This proposal cuts red tape and ensures Washington remains an attractive place for medical professionals to work and serve.”

Both bills reflect Muzzall’s commitment to strengthening Washington’s health care system by addressing affordability and quality. By ensuring timely access to post-acute care and reducing workforce barriers, these measures work in tandem to create a more sustainable and effective health care system for all residents.

With Senate approval, SB 5124 and SB 5672 now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Sen. Ron Muzzall’s bill to ease financial burdens on vulnerable adults passes Senate unanimously

The Washington State Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed Senate Bill 5079, introduced by Sen. Ron Muzzall, to alleviate the financial strain on older adults and individuals with disabilities caused by unintentional overpayments from the Department of Social and Health Services.

“This legislation is about fairness and compassion,” Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor said. “Many of our most vulnerable citizens face undue hardship when asked to repay funds they received through no fault of their own. By allowing DSHS to waive these repayments, we’re ensuring they can maintain their dignity and financial stability.”

Senate Bill 5079 allows DSHS to waive the collection of overpayments for recipients of the Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Assistance Program, as well as clients receiving services through Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports and the Developmental Disability Administration waiver programs. The bill also directs DSHS to establish clear rules outlining the circumstances under which collection efforts will be waived.

According to testimony on the bill in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, there were 73 such overpayments in the last fiscal year, with the agency collecting 25 percent of them. Costs of recovery have outpaced what is actually collected.

“The unanimous passage of the bill reflects a bipartisan commitment to supporting those who need it most. By reducing unnecessary financial burdens, the legislation aims to improve the quality of life for older adults and individuals with disabilities across Washington state,” Muzzall added.

The measure now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sen. Ron Muzzall and Rep. Dave Paul Announce Joint Bipartisan Town Hall in Oak Harbor

Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor and Rep. Dave Paul, D-Oak Harbor invite residents of the 10th Legislative District to attend a joint, bipartisan in-person town hall meeting on Saturday, March 15, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Library, located at 1000 SE Regatta Dr., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

This town hall provides an opportunity for constituents to engage directly with their state legislators, ask questions, and share their thoughts on key issues facing the community and state. Sen. Muzzall and Rep. Paul will provide legislative updates, discuss ongoing work in Olympia, and address topics important to the district.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with our community, hearing concerns, and discussing ways we can work together to find practical solutions,” said Sen. Muzzall. “This is a great opportunity for open and honest dialogue.”

Residents of the 10th Legislative District are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.

Muzzall Bill to Strengthen Reckless Driving Penalties Passes Senate with Overwhelming Support

The state Senate has given its near-unanimous approval to legislation sponsored by Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor. Senate Bill 5238 enhances penalties for reckless driving involving excessive speed. The bipartisan legislation seeks to improve road safety by imposing stricter consequences on drivers who significantly exceed posted speed limits.

Under the proposal, a person is guilty of reckless driving if they intentionally drive more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. This offense is classified as a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Additionally, the driver’s license will be suspended for no less than 30 days.

“Excessive speeding poses a significant threat to the safety of all road users,” said Muzzall. “By enacting stricter penalties for those who egregiously violate speed limits, we aim to deter dangerous driving behaviors and enhance public safety on our highways.”

If passed into law, SSB 5238 is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025. The bill will now move to the Washington State House of Representatives for consideration.

Update from Olympia

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As we dive deeper into the 2025 legislative session, the challenges of crafting a responsible state budget are front and center. Balancing the needs of our growing population with fiscal responsibility requires tough decisions and a focus on long-term sustainability.

Right now, we’re in the midst of committee hearings and discussions, laying the groundwork for key budget proposals. From funding education and public safety to addressing infrastructure and healthcare, the choices we make this session will have lasting impacts on our communities.

I’m committed to ensuring your voices are heard throughout this process. Together, we can work toward a budget that reflects our shared values and priorities.

Stay tuned for updates as we move through the session. Thank you for staying engaged!

Ferry Update

As the 2025 legislative session gets underway, I wanted to take a moment to talk about an issue that touches so many of our lives here in the 10th District: our ferry system. Whether you rely on ferries for your daily commute, weekend adventures, or visiting loved ones, you know how critical they are to our way of life.

Unfortunately, our ferry system has hit some rough waters in recent years. Decades of mismanagement and underfunding, aging vessels, and staffing challenges have led to delays and disruptions that are frustrating for everyone. But I’m cautiously optimistic about where we’re headed.

Governor Ferguson, in his inaugural address, made it clear that ferries are a priority. He’s called for speeding up the construction of new vessels to address reliability issues—a move I fully support. While the previous administration and some lawmakers have pushed for an aggressive transition to electric ferries, the reality is that it just isn’t feasible, and the timelines are too long. We must strike a balance that keeps us moving forward on both reliability and sustainability.

As we dive into this legislative session, I’ll be working hard to ensure the ferry system gets the attention and funding it needs. These boats aren’t just transportation—they’re lifelines for our communities, connecting us to jobs, families, and opportunities.

Together, we can keep Washington moving.

Sincerely,

Senator Ron Muzzall

Governor signs Muzzall legislation with over $5 million for maternal health

In a ceremony today, Governor Inslee signed a slate of bills to become law including legislative sponsored by state Sen. Ron Muzzall. Senate Bill 5580 focuses on improving maternal support and directs the state Health Care Authority to support extended post-delivery hospital care for women struggling with substance-use disorders.

“The investment we make in maternal health and pre and postpartum will pay back large dividends to our society,” said Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor. “Healthy babies make healthy adults. The state of Washington is truly making an investment in our future.”

In Muzzall’s proposal, the services for pregnant and postpartum women would be expanded to those up to 210% of the federal poverty level. It also would direct the state Health Care Authority to create a post-delivery program transitional program for women with a substance use disorder at the time of delivery allowing for extended post-delivery hospital care.

Muzzall argues, “Giving birth is life-changing, and if there is a chance these mothers can get clean, we should utilize the hospital care to treat them and help break that addiction for their new baby. We also need HCA to look at outcomes for these newborns and their moms.”

Under SB 5580, by January 2025, the HCA will update its maternity support services program by collecting data, updating screening tools and evaluations aimed at healthier birth outcomes.

Muzzall helps secure over $10 million in the capital budget for 10th District

State Sen. Ron Muzzall is praising the bipartisan work on the state’s community investment budget as he worked to secure just over $10.4 million in appropriations for affordable housing, conservation, and behavioral health efforts around the 10th District.

The proposal, Senate Bill 5949, was approved unanimously and invests over $1.3 billion overall across Washington.

“Our communities in the 10th District are facing similar challenges with affordability and infrastructure to deliver critical services. I’m proud to support these investments that help nonprofit organizations, local governments, and schools meet increasing demands placed on them,” said Muzzall, an Oak Harbor Republican. “I’m particularly pleased that we’ll see significant investments in behavioral health facilities and workforce housing.”

Muzzall fought to include $1.9 million for the Holman Recovery Center in Arlington and another $1.6 million for Generations Place Workforce Housing in Langley. Muzzall also garnered $77,000 for the Camano Lutheran Childcare Center upgrade of fire suppression systems to meet new licensing requirements. Local media reported that Camano Island is already a childcare desert as an innovative outdoor program was halted by local officials.

“A county commissioner reached out to me with a last-minute request that was missing in the Senate’s original proposal, and I worked hard to ensure a safe environment to learn in a part of our district facing struggles with childcare access,” said Muzzall.

Significant investments include:

  • $93,000 for an increase in beds at the Ituha Stabilization Facility
  • $600,000 for historic preservation of the Langley Library
  • $100,000 for the Stanwood Police Station

“We’ve also had the opportunity to reappropriate some funds from previous years for shovel-ready projects,” Muzzall added. “Jensen Park in Arlington will see an investment of $273,000 this year so that the community can have a safer, more welcoming public space.”

Click here to find a complete list of funded projects in the 2024 supplemental capital budget.

Initiatives to the Legislature

No updates to this page will occur after March 7 until after the election in November.

Fed up with destructive and burdensome policies, citizens collected more than 2.3 million signatures to put 6 initiatives before the Legislature. All six received more than 400,000 signatures each and were certified by the Washington State Secretary of State in January and February of 2024.

Majority Democrats announced they would grant hearings to three of the initiatives and in the final days of the session, the Legislature passed I-2081, which supports parental rights in education, I-2111, which bans an income tax in Washington State, and I-2113, which restores law enforcements’ ability to pursue suspected criminals.

The 3 remaining initiatives will go before voters in the November election. You can find out more about the remaining initiatives by clicking on the linked images below.