Senate Bill 5,420, which updates state definitions to include members of the U.S. Space Force and related uniformed services for eligibility to certain state benefits, received a due-pass recommendation from the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Feb. 14 and was sent to the Ways and Means Committee.

William, committee staff, briefed the committee that the bill expands definitions used to qualify persons for particular benefits for military veterans and uniformed-service members. Staff described the change as facilitating the possible future entry of a National Guard unit associated with Space Force duties, noting that Washington currently has Army and Air National Guard units but no Space Force National Guard unit.

Committee members asked for clarification about the practical effect and cost to the state, including whether the state has a direct chain-of-command relationship with the Space Force and questions about costs when National Guard units are deployed under federal orders. William said the military department indicated the change would allow facilitation of a Space Force unit should one be located in Washington and that the benefits language also applies to commissioned officers in NOAA and the U.S. Public Health Service, which federal law treats as 'uniformed services.'

The vice chair moved that the bill receive a due-pass recommendation and be sent to Ways and Means; the motion carried by voice vote. The chair ruled the bill passed the committee subject to signatures. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.