Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
HB 1250
Brief Description: Designating Washington a purple heart state.
Sponsors: Representatives Orcutt, Ryu, Boehnke, Dufault and Riccelli.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Designates Washington as a Purple Heart State that honors people who have received the Purple Heart award.
  • Authorizes various agencies to erect signs recognizing that Washington is a Purple Heart State and to accept gifts or donations to assist efforts related to Washington being a Purple Heart State.
Hearing Date: 1/27/21
Staff: Desiree Omli (786-7105) and Erik Olson (786-7296).
Background:

The Purple Heart Award.
The Purple Heart medal is presented to armed service members who have been wounded or killed as the result of enemy action while serving in the United States Military.
 
Washington celebrates August 7th as Purple Heart Recipient Recognition Day and offers a distinctive license plate for Purple Heart recipients.  Moreover, Washington has multiple counties, cities, and locations that recognize portions of the transportation system as part of the Purple Heart Trail.  The Purple Heart Trail, designated by signs placed along the trail, is a system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that honors the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal.
 
Motorist Informational Signs.
The Department of Transportation is authorized to erect and maintain motorist information sign panels within the right-of-way of the interstate highway system to give the traveling public specific information as to gas, food, lodging, camping, or tourist-oriented businesses available on a crossroad at or near an interchange.
Summary of Bill:

Washington is designated a Purple Heart State that honors people who have received the Purple Heart award.
 
The Department of Veterans Affairs and any state agency operating pursuant to the statutory provisions pertaining to the state militia and military affairs are authorized to:

  • erect signs recognizing that Washington is a Purple Heart State; and
  • accept gifts or donations to assist efforts related to Washington being a Purple Heart State.

 
The Department of Transportation is authorized to:

  • erect signs as part of the transportation system recognizing that Washington is a Purple Heart State, especially at entry points to the state; and
  • accept gifts or donations to assist efforts related to Washington being a Purple Heart State.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.