Summary

The Board of Health approved resolutions to make key requests of the state Legislature during its 2020 session.

Story

The King County Board of Health on Friday approved a resolution asking state lawmakers to consider several key issues during its 2020 legislative session.

“King County and Public Health are faced with a myriad of challenges that are further compounded by state preemption laws or inaction by the Legislature,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, chair of the King County Board of Health. “These resolutions are a strong reminder to the Legislature that we must work collaboratively to address the region’s most pressing issues and that we should be free to tackle local problems with local action.”

The Board’s legislative agenda included a call for the state to eliminate the local preemption for firearms regulation and for the legislature to promote health and safety policies around firearms. Additionally, other resolutions requested legislators to fund foundational health services, expand affordable health care coverage, further limit underage access to vaping products, and address climate change.