This Sunday, Washington state law will recognize breastfeeding in public as a mother’s civil right. Gaining statewide support, Rep. Tami Green introduced House Bill 1596 last session, which passed unanimously in the House and Senate.
“This new law will eliminate one more obstacle that women are faced with day in and day out,” Green said.
Under the current law, women in Washington cannot be arrested for indecency while breastfeeding. However, these women are not protected from being asked to leave public places and feed their children in a bathroom or another private establishment.
“I’m proud to say that both women and children statewide will benefit from this legislation. Breastfeeding is one of the healthiest options for children within their first year of life, and we should make it easier for mothers to do what’s best for their babies.”
The bill protects a woman's right to breastfeed in a place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement. This includes places such as shopping malls, restaurants and even hospitals. Women will be able to file a complaint with the state’s human rights commission in response to discriminatory treatment.
As for people purchasing a car, one of the last things you want to worry about when you get behind the wheel is whether or not your new prized possession will go kaput before you even make it home.
The Motor Vehicle Warranty Act, also known as the state's "Lemon Law," establishes the rights and responsibilities of consumers, dealers, and manufacturers when new or nearly new vehicles are defective. Unfortunately, this act hasn’t been substantially changed in about two decades. That’s why Rep. Alex Wood prime sponsored House Bill 1215, which clarifies and updates the act by providing additional options to consumers who have purchased faulty products.
An important feature of the new law is that a basis for claims is added for two or more serious safety defects, or life threatening malfunctions, that occur within a 12-month period.
Here’s what the Motor Vehicle Warranty Act currently establishes as a basis for claims:
- a vehicle with a serious safety defect that the manufacturer has unsuccessfully attempted to repair at least two times;
- a vehicle with some other substantial defect that the manufacturer has unsuccessfully attempted to diagnose or repair at least four times; or
- a vehicle that has been out of service for 30 cumulative calendar days with at least 15 of those days occurring during the warranty period.
