Washington's pandemic session: Remote work, weighty topics

FILE - In this Wednesday, April 21, 2021 file photo, Gary Holt, who reads bills being considered in the Washington House, wears a mask as he sits behind a plexiglass shield with reflections of state representatives meeting remotely on it, at the Capitol in Olympia Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, members of the Washington National Guard stand near a fence surrounding the Capitol in anticipation of protests on the first day of the 2021 legislative session in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2021 file photo, Washington Sen. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, works at her desk on the otherwise empty Senate floor, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., during a joint session of the Washington Legislature being held remotely. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, staff members perform health checks at the entrance to the House Chambers on the first day of the 2021 legislative session at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, walks past members of the Washington National Guard and Washington State Patrol troopers as he passes through a perimeter fence gate opening on the first day of the 2021 legislative session in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2021 file photo, a pre-recorded video of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee giving his inaugural address is played in the Senate chambers at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., during a joint session of the Washington Legislature being held remotely. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2021 file photo, a Washington State Patrol vehicle drives past the Insurance Building with the Legislative Building in the background at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., the night before the opening of the 2021 legislative session. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, wipes off a microphone before speaking on the Senate floor on the first day of the 2021 legislative session at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, Sen. T'wina Nobles, D-Fircrest, is directed to the Senate floor to wait her turn to vote on new Senate rules, on the first day of the 2021 legislative session at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, Washington state senators stand as a ceremonial presentation of colors is shown on a video display on the first day of the 2021 legislative session at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2021 file photo, a Washington State Patrol trooper stands near a bust of President George Washington in the Legislative Building at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, sits at his desk on the Senate floor on the first day of the 2021 legislative session at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The 2021 session of the Washington Legislature ended Sunday, April 25 and lawmakers had no shortage of weighty topics to consider while having to conduct their work amid a pandemic that meant most meetings and votes were conducted remotely. The Capitol building was also closed to the public since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was surrounded by security fencing and national guard members at times due to fears of protests. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)