A bipartisan bill introduced in the Washington state Senate that would move all of the state to phase two of the reopening plan is having a public hearing Wednesday.
If put into effect, the plan would reopen many businesses shut down by Washington’s COVID-19 restrictions. The measure would allow restaurants to offer indoor dining at 25% capacity and would reopen gyms and entertainment venues with distancing guidelines.
Currently all counties are in phase one of the state’s new reopening plan, Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery.
More than 1,000 people had signed up to testify Wednesday morning.
The bill’s 16 co-sponsors include Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick; Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg; and Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.
It has bipartisan support, including from Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, who introduced SB 5114 with Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia.
Cox Media Group