From staff reports

OLYMPIA – A proposal to maintain net neutrality in Washington despite federal regulations was sent Thursday to the House.

With strong bipartisan support, the House Technology and Economic Development Committee approved a bill that would keep internet service providers from blocking lawful content, slowing content from sites or prioritizing content in exchange for payments.

Those activities are considered possible by critics of the Federal Communications Commission’s decision late last year to remove restrictions put in place in 2015.

Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, said “we want to maintain these protections for Washington consumers even after they go away at the federal level.”