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Bill introduced in Washington legislature to move all counties to phase 2 of reopening plan

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.