Mar 29, 2023  -  Uncategorized

The big news this week, besides release of the Capital and Operating budgets in the Senate, is the decision by the State Supreme Court that the capital gains tax does fit under our state constitution. They ruled that in Washington, income is property and that the capital gains tax does not meet the definition as a property tax.  This paves the way for full implementation of the Capital Gains tax in Washington state.

 

The first budget to be released and then moved out of committee and to the Senate floor is the Capital budget (SB 5200).  This budget authorizes new appropriations of $7.9 billion in total budget funds with $4.7 billion in debt limit bonds for the 23-25 biennium.  Reappropriations total $7.6 billion for projects not yet completed with $3.7 billion funded by debt limit bonds. 

 

$650 million is provided for behavioral health funding, $625 million is provided for affordable housing projects.  $894 million is provided for K-12 education projects across the state with $588 million in state matching grants for the School Construction Assistance Program.

 

For more information on the Senate Capital Budget – including project lists – go HERE.

 

The Senate also released an operating budget (SB 5187) and is holding a hearing on Friday, March 24.   This budget increases spending by $5.1 billion for a total spending of $69.2 billion in 2023-25.

 

The most significant spending items include: $688 million in rate increase for long term care and DD providers; $457 million for enhancements to the Working Connections Child Care program; $174 million additional funding for housing and homeless programs; $116 million for response to the Blake Decision; $225 million to mitigate the impact of climate changes and $96 million in clean energy projects.

 

For more information on the Senate Operating Budget – go HERE.

 

March 29th is the deadline for bills to be out of the opposite house committee to be considered alive for the remainder of the session.

 

April 4th is the deadline for bills to be out of the opposite house fiscal committees.

 

April 12th is the deadline for bills to be passed out of the opposite house.

 

April 23rd is the last day of the regular session.

 

All deadlines mean nothing (except for the last one) if a bill is deemed necessary to implement the budget or for the legislature to go home.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Labor & Commerce (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/27 @ 10:30am

ESHB 1106 - Exec Session - Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work. (Oppose/High)

SHB 1217 - Exec Session - Concerning wage complaints. (Oppose/Medium)

 

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/27 @ 1:30pm

ESHB 1436 - Exec Session - Funding special education. (Support/High)

SHB 1658 - Exec Session - Authorizing public high school students to earn elective credit for paid work experience. (Support/Medium)

 

Education (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/27 @ 1:30pm

E2SSB 5315 - Exec Session - Concerning nonpublic agencies operating special education programs for students with disabilities. (Concerns/Medium)

 

Housing (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/27 @ 1:30pm

SSB 5235 - Exec Session - Concerning accessory dwelling units. (Support/Medium)

ESSB 5466 - Exec Session - Promoting transit-oriented development. (Support/High)

SSB 5491 - Exec Session - Allowing for residential buildings of a certain height to be served by a single exit under certain conditions. (Oppose/Medium)

 

Transportation (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/27 @ 4:00pm

HB 1125 - Public Hearing - Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Concerns/High) – NEED TO LOOK AT THE PROJECT LISTS AND MAKE SURE OUR CONNECTING WA PROJECTS ARE ON THERE AND FULLY FUNDED

 

Transportation (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/27 @ 4:00pm

SHB 1084 - Public Hearing - Concerning freight mobility prioritization. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Medium)

 

Ways & Means (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 3/27 @ 4:00pm

SB 5187 - Exec Session - Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. (High)

 

Finance (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/28 @ 8:00am

ESSB 5447 - Public Hearing - Promoting the alternative jet fuel industry in Washington. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High) NEED CHAMBERS TO SIGN IN TO SUPPORT

 

Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs (Senate) - SHR 3 and Virtual JACB - 3/28 @ 9:00am

ESHB 1245 - Exec Session - Increasing housing options through lot splitting. (Support/High)

EHB 1337 - Exec Session - Expanding housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of accessory dwelling units. (Support/High)

 

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/28 @ 10:30am

SSB 5586 - Exec Session - Concerning employees' paid family or medical leave data. (Support/Medium)

 

Consumer Protection & Business (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 3/28 @ 1:30pm

SSB 5171 - Exec Session - Addressing consumer gender discrimination. (Concerns/Medium)

 

Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/28 @ 1:30pm

ESHB 1589 - Exec Session - Supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future. (High)

 

Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/28 @ 4:00pm

ESB 5352 - Exec Session - Concerning vehicular pursuits. (Support/High)

E2SSB 5536 - Exec Session - Concerning controlled substances, counterfeit substances, and legend drug possession and treatment. (Support/High)

 

Education (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/28 @ 4:00pm

E2SSB 5315 - Exec Session - Concerning nonpublic agencies operating special education programs for students with disabilities. (Concerns/Medium)

 

Housing (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/28 @ 4:00pm

SSB 5235 - Exec Session - Concerning accessory dwelling units. (Support/Medium)

ESSB 5466 - Exec Session - Promoting transit-oriented development. (Support/High)

SSB 5491 - Exec Session - Allowing for residential buildings of a certain height to be served by a single exit under certain conditions. (Oppose/Medium)

 

Ways & Means (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 3/28 @ 4:00pm

ESHB 1282 - Public Hearing - Requiring environmental and labor reporting for public building construction and renovation material. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/Medium)

 

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/29 @ 8:00am

SSB 5586 - Exec Session - Concerning employees' paid family or medical leave data. (Support/Medium)

 

Transportation (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/29 @ 4:00pm

HB 1125 - Exec Session - Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. (Concerns/High)

 

Transportation (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/30 @ 12:30pm

SB 5162 - Public Hearing - Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/High)

SB 5763 - Public Hearing - Increasing existing bond authority for 2015 connecting Washington projects and improvements. (Remote Testimony Available). (Neutral/High)

 


 

High Priority Bills

 

Bill #

Abbrev. Title

Short Description

Status

Sponsor

Position

ESHB 1050

Apprenticeship utilization

Expanding apprenticeship utilization requirements.

S 2nd Reading

Riccelli

Oppose

SHB 1068 (SB 5212)

Injured worker medical exams

Concerning injured workers' rights during compelled medical examinations.

S Rules 2

Bronoske

Oppose

ESHB 1106

Unemployment/voluntary

Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work.

S Labor & Comm

Fosse

Oppose

E2SHB 1110 (SSB 5190)

Middle housing

Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.

S Ways & Means

Bateman

Support

HB 1125 (SB 5162)

Transportation budget

Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.

H Transportation

Fey

Concerns

HB 1126 (SB 5164)

Transportation budget, supp.

Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.

H Transportation

Fey

Concerns

E2SHB 1167

Residential housing

Concerning residential housing regulations.

S Ways & Means

Duerr

Support

E2SHB 1181 (SSB 5203)

Climate change/planning

Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework.

S Ways & Means

Duerr

Oppose

E2SHB 1216 (SSB 5380)

Clean energy siting

Concerning clean energy siting.

S Environment, En

Fitzgibbon

Support

ESHB 1245 (SSB 5364)

Lot splitting

Increasing housing options through lot splitting.

S Loc Gov, Land

Barkis

Support

SHB 1258 (SB 5465)

Tourism marketing

Increasing tourism to Washington state through enhancement of the statewide tourism marketing account and changing necessary match requirements.

S Ways & Means

Ryu

Support

E2SHB 1320 (SSB 5061)

Personnel records

Concerning access to personnel records.

S Labor & Comm

Reed

Oppose

EHB 1337

Accessory dwelling units

Expanding housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of accessory dwelling units.

S Loc Gov, Land U

Gregerson

Support

ESHB 1436

Special education funding

Funding special education.

S EL/K-12

Pollet

Support

SHB 1521 (SSB 5524)

Industrial insurance/duties

Concerning the duties of industrial insurance self-insured employers and third-party administrators.

S Rules 2

Bronoske

Oppose

ESHB 1589 (SSB 5562)

Clean energy

Supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future.

S Environment, En

Doglio

 

SHB 1628

Real estate excise tax

Increasing the supply of affordable housing by modifying the state and local real estate excise tax.

H Finance

Chopp

Oppose

SHB 1729

Hydrogen fuel products

Creating and expanding tax incentives for the research, development, production, and sale of hydrogen fuel products in Washington state.

S Environment, En

Abbarno

 

SHB 1756

Energy/tax

Supporting clean energy through tax changes that increase revenue to local governments, schools, and impacted communities.

S Environment, E

Ramel

 

2SHB 1762

Warehouse employees

Protecting warehouse employees.

S Rules 2

Doglio

Oppose

HB 1793

Wireless devices tax

Funding digital equity by imposing a tax on certain wireless devices.

H Finance

Gregerson

Oppose

HB 1795

Estate tax

Making the estate tax more progressive.

H Finance

Street

Oppose

HJR 4206

Personal property taxation

Concerning the taxation of personal property.

H Rules R

Leavitt

Support

SB 5058

Multiunit res. buildings

Exempting buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories from the definition of multiunit residential building.

H Exec Action

Padden

Support

SSB 5110

Labor practices/penalties

Adding penalties for certain prohibited practices in chapter 49.44 RCW.

H Labor & Workpla

Keiser

Oppose

ESSB 5123

Cannabis/employment

Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis.

H Rules R

Keiser

Concerns

SB 5162 (HB 1125)

Transportation budget

Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.

S Transportation

Liias

Concerns

SB 5164 (HB 1126)

Transportation budget, supp.

Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.

S Transportation

Liias

Concerns

SB 5187 (HB 1140)

Operating budget

Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.

S Ways & Means

Rolfes

 

ESSB 5200 (HB 1147)

Capital budget

Concerning the capital budget.

S Passed 3rd

Mullet

 

ESSB 5217

Musculoskeletal injuries/L&I

Concerning the state's ability to regulate certain industries and risk classes to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.

H Approps

Dhingra

Oppose

E2SSB 5236

Hospital staffing standards

Concerning hospital staffing standards. -- AGREEMENTS WERE REACHED BETWEEN THE HOSPITALS AND NURSING ASSOCIATION

H Approps

Robinson

Neutral

2SSB 5290 (HB 1296)

Local permit review

Concerning consolidating local permit review processes.

H Exec Action

Mullet

Support

ESB 5352 (SHB 1363)

Vehicular pursuits

Concerning vehicular pursuits.

H Community Safet

Lovick

Support

E2SSB 5367 (HB 1612)

Products containing THC

Concerning the regulation of products containing THC. - THC amount moved to 0

H Approps

Robinson

Neutral

ESSB 5447 (HB 1505)

Alternative jet fuel

Promoting the alternative jet fuel industry in Washington.

H Finance

Billig

Support

ESSB 5466 (HB 1517)

Transit-oriented development

Promoting transit-oriented development.

H Housing

Liias

Support

E2SSB 5536

Controlled substances

Concerning controlled substances, counterfeit substances, and legend drug possession and treatment.

H Community Safe

Robinson

Support

SB 5763

Connecting WA bonds

Increasing existing bond authority for 2015 connecting Washington projects and improvements.

S Transportation

Liias

Neutral

SJR 8200

Revenue for highway purposes

Amending the state Constitution so that state revenue collected from a road usage charge, vehicle miles traveled fee, or other similar type of comparable charge, must be used exclusively for highway purposes.

S Transportation

Fortunato

Support

Medium Priority Bills

 

Bill #

Abbrev. Title

Short Description

Status

Sponsor

Position

HB 1052

Nonprofit housing/tax ex.

Providing a property tax exemption for qualified real and personal property owned or used by a nonprofit entity in providing qualified housing funded in whole or part through a local real estate excise tax.

S Ways & Means

Ramel

 

HB 1054

Occupancy limits

Addressing the authority of owners' associations in common interest communities to regulate or limit occupancy by unrelated persons.

S Rules 2

Walen

Support

SHB 1074

Landlord damage claims

Addressing documentation and processes governing landlords' claims for damage to residential premises.

S Rules 2

Thai

Concerns

SHB 1084

Freight mobility priority

Concerning freight mobility prioritization.

S Transportation

Fey

Concerns

EHB 1086

Community org. contracts

Increasing local governments' ability to contract with community service organizations.

S Rules 2

Shavers

 

E2SHB 1170 (SSB 5093)

Climate response strategy

Improving climate resilience through updates to the state's integrated climate response strategy.

S Ways & Means

Street

Neutral

2SHB 1176 (SB 5247)

Climate-ready communities

Developing opportunities for service and workforce programs to support climate-ready communities.

S Ways & Means

Slatter

Support

HB 1197 (SB 5310)

Workers' comp. providers

Defining attending provider and clarifying other provider functions for workers' compensation claims, and adding psychologists as attending providers for mental health only claims.

S Rules 2

Bronoske

Concerns

SHB 1217

Wage complaints

Concerning wage complaints.

S Labor & Comm

Ortiz-Self

Oppose

SHB 1236

Clean fuel/public transport.

Enhancing access to clean fuel for agencies providing public transportation.

S Environment, E

Hackney

 

ESHB 1282 (SSB 5322)

Public building materials

Requiring environmental and labor reporting for public building construction and renovation material.

S Ways & Means

Duerr

Oppose

HB 1301

License review and reporting

Creating license review and reporting requirements.

S Rules 2

McClintock

 

HB 1308

Graduation pathway options

Concerning high school graduation pathway options.

S Rules 2

Stonier

 

2SHB 1316

Dual credit program access

Expanding access to dual credit programs.

S Ways & Means

Paul

Support

HB 1416

Consumer-owned utilities

Applying the affected market customer provisions of the Washington clean energy transformation act to nonresidential customers of consumer-owned utilities.

S Environment, En

Doglio

 

2SHB 1491

Employee personal vehicles

Prohibiting unjustified employer searches of employee personal vehicles.

S Ways & Means

Orcutt

 

ESHB 1508 (SB 5519)

Health care cost board

Improving consumer affordability through the health care cost transparency board.

S Health & Long T

Macri

Concerns

HB 1527 (SB 5539)

Tax increment financing

Making technical corrections to the local tax increment financing program.

S Rules 2

Wylie

Support

HB 1530

Law enf. employ. eligibility

Expanding eligibility for employment of certain law enforcement and prosecutor office positions.

S Law & Justice

Cortes

Support

2SHB 1534

Construction consumers

Strengthening protections for consumers in the construction industry.

S Ways & Means

Orwall

Support

HB 1544 (SB 5159)

Shoreline program review

Concerning shoreline master program review schedules.

S Rules 2

Alvarado

 

ESHB 1547

Out-of-state health prov.

Increasing the health care workforce by authorizing out-of-state providers to practice immediately.

S Rules 2

Caldier

Support

2SHB 1559 (SB 5566)

Postsecondary student needs

Establishing the student basic needs at public postsecondary institutions act.

S Ways & Means

Entenman

Support

HB 1656 (SB 5240)

Unemployment ins. appeals

Concerning unemployment insurance benefits appeal procedures.

S Rules 2

Schmidt

Support

SHB 1658

Work experience/H.S. credit

Authorizing public high school students to earn elective credit for paid work experience.

S EL/K-12

Shavers

Support

HB 1716

Child care B&O credit

Supporting employers providing child care assistance to employees by establishing a business and occupation tax credit for businesses and requiring the department of revenue to provide a report to the legislature.

H Finance

Rule

 

2SHB 1746 (SB 5718)

State broadband map

Concerning a state broadband map.

S Environment, En

Ryu

 

ESHB 1838 (SB 5757)

Transp. revenue forecast

Transferring the responsibilities for the transportation revenue forecast for the transportation budget to the economic and revenue forecast council.

S Ways & Means

Fey

 

E2SSB 5045

ADU rental/property tax

Incentivizing rental of accessory dwelling units to low-income households.

H Finance

Kuderer

 

ESSB 5111

Sick leave/construction

Concerning payments for accrued and unused sick leave for certain construction workers.

H Labor & Workpla

Keiser

Oppose

SSB 5165 (SHB 1192)

Electric transm. planning

Concerning electric power system transmission planning.

H ENVIDPA

Nguyen

Concerns

SSB 5171 (HB 1152)

Consumer products/gender

Addressing consumer gender discrimination.

H ConsPro&Bus

Dhingra

Concerns

SSB 5235 (HB 1276)

Accessory dwelling units

Concerning accessory dwelling units.

H Housing

Shewmake

Support

SB 5240 (HB 1656)

Unemployment ins. appeals

Concerning unemployment insurance benefits appeal procedures.

H Labor & Workpla

Braun

Support

E2SSB 5315

Special education/nonpublic

Concerning nonpublic agencies operating special education programs for students with disabilities.

H Education

Wilson

Concerns

ESB 5336

Main street trust fund

Concerning population criteria for the main street trust fund tax credit.

H Finance

Cleveland

 

SB 5452 (HB 1135)

Impact fee use

Authorizing impact fee revenue to fund improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

H Rules R

Shewmake

Oppose

SB 5457

Small cities/GMA

Implementing growth management task force legislative recommendations regarding small cities.

H Exec Action

Short

Support

SSB 5491

Residential building exits

Allowing for residential buildings of a certain height to be served by a single exit under certain conditions.

H Housing

Salomon

Oppose

2SSB 5502

Sub. use disorder treatment

Ensuring access to substance use disorder treatment.

H CSJRDPA

Gildon

Support

SSB 5565

Tax and revenue laws

Modifying tax and revenue laws by making technical corrections, clarifying ambiguities, easing compliance burdens for taxpayers, and providing administrative efficiencies.

H 2nd Reading

Schoesler

Support

SSB 5586

Paid leave data

Concerning employees' paid family or medical leave data.

H Labor & Workpla

King

Support

 

Share
Tweet
Share