Rep. Jami Cate

Digest: Raises the exemption and filing thresholds for the CAT tax. Starts with the tax year 2025. Becomes law 91 days from sine die. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.9). Increases the exempt amount and the filing threshold for purposes of the corporate activity tax. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Broadens public contracting preference for businesses that service-disabled veterans own to include all veteran-owned businesses. Defines "veteran" and "veteran-owned business." Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Extends safe surrender period for anonymously leaving infant at authorized facility to 60 days from infant's date of birth. Directs authorized facility to post and maintain signs informing public of authorized facilities and safe surrender provisions. Directs Department of Human Services to design signs that must be posted.

Prohibits pharmacy benefit manager from retroactively denying or reducing payment on claim after adjudication unless pharmacy and pharmacy benefit manager agree that payment was incorrect due to clerical error. Prohibits pharmacy benefit manager from imposing fees on rural ] pharmacies after point of sale. Requires pharmacy benefit manager, if denying or reducing reimbursement on claim, to provide notice to pharmacy of specific claim that is denied or reduced and explanation for denial or reduction. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Requires Secretary of State to establish provision to be included in each nominating petition or declaration of candidacy that allows candidate to check box indicating that candidate does not want candidate's residence address to be publicly disclosed except in response to written public records request. Requires Secretary of State to establish method to allow public office holder to indicate desire not to have public office holder's residence address be publicly disclosed except in response to written public records request. Prohibits Secretary of State and county clerks from disclosing as public record, except in response to written public records request, or including on lists of electors, residence address of candidate or public office holder who indicated desire to limit public accessibility of residence address elector who is candidate for elected office or holder of elected office ]. Takes effect on 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs schools or school districts to provide electronic communication to parents and guardians of students attending, and to school district employees employed at, school at which safety threat action occurred. Prescribes requirements of communication.

Requires 9-8-8 crisis hotline centers to have policies and train staff on serving firefighters and other first responders.

Increases penalties for possession of certain amounts of fentanyl. Punishes by maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Provides that delivery of fentanyl may be charged as commercial drug offense in specified circumstances. Increases sentencing guidelines crime category level for delivery of fentanyl for consideration. Adds alternative manner of measuring fentanyl for purposes of calculating crime category level for certain offenses involving possession, delivery or manufacture of fentanyl. Provides that misdemeanor-level unlawful possession of fentanyl is designated drug-related misdemeanor for purposes of supervising entity and supervision funding, justice and municipal court jurisdiction and eligibility for earned reduction of supervision. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Clarifies process of Senate confirmation of members of State Fish and Wildlife Commission. Provides that commission must consist of one member from each of five regional river basin management areas in state, one member from west of Cascade Mountains and one member from east of Cascade Mountains. ] Makes certain changes to qualifications of members of commission.

Directs Department of State Fire Marshal to coordinate urban search and rescue function of this state. Requires department to study needs of state related to urban search and rescue. Directs department to submit findings to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to emergency management no later than September 15, 2024.