Key legislation noted in passing — or not passing

Here are some of the issues the state Legislature addressed this session.

What passed

Gay rights: One of the biggest battles of the session was settled in January when lawmakers passed gay-rights legislation. State law already bans discrimination based on race, sex, religion, marital status, disability and other categories. The measure adds sexual orientation to that list. The fight is expected to continue at the polls this fall. Tim Eyman has filed two ballot measures aimed at undoing the new law.

WASL: Lawmakers gave high-school students who fail the state's standardized test three alternative ways to meet graduation requirements. This year's 10th-grade class is the first required to pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to graduate by 2008. The alternatives include comparing a student's classroom grades with those of other students who passed the WASL, submitting a portfolio of work, and substituting scores from another test, such as the SAT or ACT.

Water: A landmark Columbia River management plan may resolve a decades-long dispute over water use. Supporters say the legislation gives the state the tools it needs to provide more water to agriculture while keeping enough in rivers and streams for migrating fish. Key to the new agreement is a $200 million commitment by the state to expand water storage and conservation projects.

Unemployment insurance: Lawmakers reached a broad bipartisan agreement on a bill that will both increase benefits for laid-off workers and reduce unemployment taxes for businesses. The legislation reverses the most controversial provisions of an unemployment-insurance overhaul that business pushed through in 2003.

Medical malpractice: Gov. Christine Gregoire brokered a compromise that settles some of the longstanding disagreements between doctors and trial lawyers over medical malpractice. Under the legislation, mediation is mandatory before a lawsuit can proceed, and both sides can agree to binding arbitration to avoid costly litigation. But the compromise did not include the doctors' top priority: capping what juries can award in malpractice cases.

Alternative energy: Washington became the second state in the nation to mandate the use of ethanol and biodiesel, as part of an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The law mandates that all gasoline sold in the state contain at least 2 percent ethanol and that 2 percent of all diesel sales be biodiesel by December 2008. Biodiesel is made from animal fats or vegetable-oil crops, while ethanol is made from crops such as wheat and corn.

Sex offenders: In the wake of several high-profile child sex-abuse cases last year, lawmakers passed several bills aimed at cracking down on sex offenders. The most significant sets a 25-year minimum sentence for certain cases of child rape or molestation. Lawmakers also increased penalties for sex offenders who fail to register and for people who create, watch or possess child pornography.

Meth: Hoping to curb methamphetamine use, lawmakers approved a comprehensive measure that targets meth treatment, cleanup and criminal penalties. It also creates regional meth task forces in southeast, southwest and northeast Washington.

Cellphone privacy: Responding to online companies that sell personal cellphone records, new legislation makes it a felony to buy or sell such information without permission from the cellphone user.

Bestiality: Washington joins 31 states in banning bestiality; people accused of having sex with animals could face felony charges and hefty fines.

Drunken driving: People convicted of driving under the influence five times in 10 years could face felony charges, under new legislation. DUI in Washington has been a misdemeanor, even for those convicted of the crime multiple times.

Fake credentials: New legislation makes it a felony to sell or use false academic degrees when applying for jobs or benefits.

Primary election: Lawmakers approved holding the state primary election a month earlier, moving it from the third Tuesday in September to the third Tuesday in August starting in 2007.

What didn't pass

Wal-Mart: Despite heavy pressure from labor unions, lawmakers never voted on a bill aimed at forcing companies such as Wal-Mart to spend more on health care for its employees. Gregoire told labor leaders she would push the issue next year.

Sonics, NASCAR: Legislators turned a cold shoulder to proposals for taxpayer-funded construction projects for two professional sports organizations. The Sonics are seeking help on a $220 million expansion of KeyArena. The Florida-based parent company of NASCAR wants state support for a new $345 million racetrack in Kitsap County.

Rainy-day fund: A proposal by Senate Republicans to establish a constitutionally protected "rainy day" account in the state budget never came up for a vote.

Gambling age : Legislation to raise the state's gambling age from 18 to 21 in nontribal cardrooms and minicasinos died in both chambers.

Cellphones in cars: A measure to ban talking on a handheld cellphone while driving died in the House.

Smoking-ban revisions: Lawmakers rejected several attempts to soften the smoking ban approved by voters last fall. One measure would have exempted religious ceremonies from the ban.

Compiled by Ralph Thomas, Andrew Garber and Karen Johnson