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.
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)
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
|
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 |
|
Real estate excise tax |
Increasing the supply of affordable housing by modifying the state and local real estate excise tax. |
H Finance |
Chopp |
Oppose |
|
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 |
|
|
Energy/tax |
Supporting clean energy through tax changes that increase revenue to local governments, schools, and impacted communities. |
S Environment, E |
Ramel |
|
|
Warehouse employees |
Protecting warehouse employees. |
S Rules 2 |
Doglio |
Oppose |
|
Wireless devices tax |
Funding digital equity by imposing a tax on certain wireless devices. |
H Finance |
Gregerson |
Oppose |
|
Estate tax |
Making the estate tax more progressive. |
H Finance |
Street |
Oppose |
|
Personal property taxation |
Concerning the taxation of personal property. |
H Rules R |
Leavitt |
Support |
|
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 |
|
Labor practices/penalties |
Adding penalties for certain prohibited practices in chapter 49.44 RCW. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Keiser |
Oppose |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
Controlled substances |
Concerning controlled substances, counterfeit substances, and legend drug possession and treatment. |
H Community Safe |
Robinson |
Support |
|
Connecting WA bonds |
Increasing existing bond authority for 2015 connecting Washington projects and improvements. |
S Transportation |
Liias |
Neutral |
|
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 |
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
Landlord damage claims |
Addressing documentation and processes governing landlords' claims for damage to residential premises. |
S Rules 2 |
Thai |
Concerns |
|
Freight mobility priority |
Concerning freight mobility prioritization. |
S Transportation |
Fey |
Concerns |
|
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 |
Wage complaints |
Concerning wage complaints. |
S Labor & Comm |
Ortiz-Self |
Oppose |
|
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 |
License review and reporting |
Creating license review and reporting requirements. |
S Rules 2 |
McClintock |
|
|
Graduation pathway options |
Concerning high school graduation pathway options. |
S Rules 2 |
Stonier |
|
|
Dual credit program access |
Expanding access to dual credit programs. |
S Ways & Means |
Paul |
Support |
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
Law enf. employ. eligibility |
Expanding eligibility for employment of certain law enforcement and prosecutor office positions. |
S Law & Justice |
Cortes |
Support |
|
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 |
|
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 |
Work experience/H.S. credit |
Authorizing public high school students to earn elective credit for paid work experience. |
S EL/K-12 |
Shavers |
Support |
|
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 |
|
ADU rental/property tax |
Incentivizing rental of accessory dwelling units to low-income households. |
H Finance |
Kuderer |
|
|
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 |
Special education/nonpublic |
Concerning nonpublic agencies operating special education programs for students with disabilities. |
H Education |
Wilson |
Concerns |
|
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 |
Small cities/GMA |
Implementing growth management task force legislative recommendations regarding small cities. |
H Exec Action |
Short |
Support |
|
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 |
|
Sub. use disorder treatment |
Ensuring access to substance use disorder treatment. |
H CSJRDPA |
Gildon |
Support |
|
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 |
|
Paid leave data |
Concerning employees' paid family or medical leave data. |
H Labor & Workpla |
King |
Support |