House approves bills on public access, tax exemptions and online training

OLYMPIA – A set of three bills designed to keep essential functions of the state running during the COVID pandemic and future emergencies passed unanimously on Jan. 22 in the first virtual roll call vote the House of Representatives held this legislative session.

They were: HB 1056, which establishes that governing bodies may meet remotely in an emergency and requires the public access to these remote meetings, HB 1095, which exempts businesses from paying taxes on emergency assistance grants from the state or federal government and HB 1007, which allows social workers to receive their trainin...