Excellent news on the breastfeeding legislation front as today Governor Chris Gregoire signed into law a breastfeeding civil rights bill. House Bill 1596 (PDF) amends the state anti-discrimination statutes RCW 49.60.030 and 2007 c 187 s 3 to add the following civil right:
(g) the right of a mother to breastfeed her child in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.
The law goes into effect in late July, 90 days after today. It adds on to the existing Washington laws that exempt breastfeeding and expressing breast milk from indecent exposure, and allow employers to call themselves “infant-friendly” if they …read more

There are several breastfeeding bills making their way through the state legislatures at the moment. Here I discuss three such bills that illustrate how the text of each bill makes a huge difference in the quality and enforceability of the breastfeeding protection. Breastfeeding advocates in Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Washington state need to follow the legislation closely to ensure appropriate measures are passed.
Wisconsin
On February 24, 2009, the Wisconsin Senate passed the Right to Breastfeed Act (SB 16). If it becomes law, it would affirm a woman’s right to breastfeed in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise …read more