Wherein we protect politicians from the public, the public from sex offenders, and sex offenders from art.

House Bill 1255 (regarding the business and occupation tax )
Introduced by Rep. Jim Moeller, (D-Vancouver) (D) on January 16, 2009, eliminates the option to deduct professional dues and initiation fees from the business and occupation tax.

House Bill 1264 (regarding the creation and registration of entities formed by public agencies)
Introduced by Rep. Larry Springer, (D-Kirkland) (D) on January 16, 2009, subjects government agencies to the same creation, registration and record keeping guidelines that corporations and private businesses must follow.

House Bill 1277 (protecting the public from sex offenders released into the community)
Introduced by Rep. Kirk Pearson, (R-Monroe) (R) on January 16, 2009, adds some measures and modifications of notication to the community when sex offenders are released into the community. Allows the department of corrections to reject a proposed residence for sex offenders convicted of a felony crime against a minor victim if that residence is near schools, childcare centers, playgrounds or any place frequented by children in the age range or circumstance of the victim. Requires immediate notification of the local police chief when a sex offender has been found to tamper or remove an electronic monitoring device and requires that the department notify previous victims of offenders when they are released.

House Bill 1286 (Prohibiting false and defamatory statements about candidates for public office)
Introduced by Rep. Mark Miloscia, (D-Federal Way) (D) on January 16, 2009, prohibits political advertising or electioneering communications that with actual malice make a statement constituting libel or defamation per se. "Libel or defamation per se" is defined as statements that tend to expose a person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, to deprive him or her of public confidence or social interaction, or to injure him or her in his or her business or occupation.

House Bill 1289 (concerning campaign contributions to candidates for public lands commissioner)
Introduced by Rep. Sharon Nelson, (D-West Seattle) (D) on January 16, 2009, forbids persons who sell or conduct business with the public lands commission to contribute money or gifts to a candidate for office of public lands.

Senate Bill 5217 (Concerning public expenditures for works of art)
Introduced by Sen. Michael Carrell, (R-Lakewood) (R) on January 16, 2009, prohibits the expenditure of public funds for placement of works of art in the special commitment center on McNeil Island; secure community transition facilities and other halfway houses, and facilities operated by the department of corrections.

Senate Bill 5218 (Controlling computer access by residents at the special commitment center )
Introduced by Sen. Michael Carrell, (R-Lakewood) (R) on January 16, 2009, prohibits a resident of the special commitment center and persons found eligible for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative from accessing a personal computer and accessing the internet unless the person's individualized treatment plan states that access to a computer is necessary to bring about a positive response to a specific course of treatment.

Senate Joint Resolution 8208 (Conflicting residency requirement for voting in a presidential election)
Introduced by Sen. Michael Carrell, (R-Lakewood) (R) on January 16, 2009, proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to repeal in its entirety Section 1A of Article VI of the constitution, which sets forth residency qualifications for new resident before they can vote in a presidential election.