*This bill has passed out of committee on 3/22/23 and has been referred to the Ways & Means Committee. Please email your senator today!

HB 1469 is the companion to SB 5489. These identical bills would give the new legal service “some extremely powerful tools," said State Rep. Drew Hansen, a Bainbridge Island Democrat

The bill requires out-of-state entities looking to enforce abortion laws to say so when sending warrants and other legal mechanisms to Washington — and requires local officials to not honor such requests. The bill similarly protects gender-affirming care.

The proposed legislation would also create a counterclaim for those targeted by anti-abortion legal action, who could receive up to $10,000 plus damages, including attorney fees.

Proponents of the bill met with Republican opposition last month in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. Ranking minority member Jim Walsh, of Aberdeen, said he worried about “an abortion tourism industry” and, more specifically to this bill, setting up a tit-for-tat scenario.

“If we don’t honor the actions of courts, of law enforcement agencies from other states, we run the risk of other states not honoring ours,” Walsh said.

The bill nevertheless passed easily out of committee and waits a vote on the House floor.

*Source: Seattle Times: 

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