SOUTH SOUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEGISLATIVE COALITION WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT (POST HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUT OFF) – March 14, 2025
There are running jokes around the Capitol that the Senate is the “elder” body of the Legislature – complete with naps and early bedtimes. This joke became a reality this past two weeks when the Senate adjourned by 4 p.m. most days while the House stayed for late nights and sometimes into the next morning.
Several bills moved through that are concerning to the business community:
The Senate Republicans put a budget out last week. We have the revenue forecast on the 18th. We will see the Senate Democratic budget on the 20th.
I have a number of meetings with SSCCLC legislators over the next few weeks to put forward our transportation messages and positions on business, housing and other issues. PLEASE BE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT THE KEY BILLS IN EACH CATEGORY THAT YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON!
Also, the letter on rent control will go out this weekend.
Upcoming Hearings
To weigh in on the highlighted bills, just click on the bill number
and find the tab to submit comments or testify/sign in for the hearing.
Higher Education & Workforce Development (Senate) - SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/17 @ 10:30am
• 2SHB 1587 - Public Hearing - Encouraging local government partner promise scholarship programs within the opportunity scholarship program. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
Labor & Commerce (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/17 @ 10:30am
• HB 1275 - Public Hearing - Establishing department authority to ensure payment is received from the self-insured employer after a self-insured group or municipal employer has their self-insurer certification withdrawn. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/Medium)
• 2SHB 1788 - Public Hearing - Concerning workers' compensation benefits. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/High) SIGN IN OPPOSED. – NEED EVERYONE TO SIGN IN OPPOSED
• 2SHB 1524 - Public Hearing - Concerning workplace standards and requirements applicable to employers of isolated employees. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Medium)
Community Safety (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/17 @ 1:30pm
• 2SSB 5356 - Public Hearing - Concerning training provided by the criminal justice training commission. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Environment & Energy (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/17 @ 1:30pm
• ESSB 5466 - Public Hearing - Improving reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system in Washington state. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Housing (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 3/17 @ 1:30pm
• ESB 5471 - Public Hearing - Authorizing middle housing in unincorporated growth areas and unincorporated urban growth areas, certain limited areas of more intensive rural development, and fully contained communities. (Remote Testimony Available). (High)
Local Government (Senate) - SHR 3 and Virtual JACB - 3/17 @ 1:30pm
• SHB 1576 - Public Hearing - Concerning the designation of historic landmarks by cities. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
• SHB 1935 - Public Hearing - Concerning the definition of project permit and project permit application. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium) SIGN IN SUPPORT?
Transportation (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/17 @ 4:00pm
• SHB 1264 - Public Hearing - Concerning the salaries of ferry system collective bargaining units. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
• ESHB 1923 - Public Hearing - Increasing the availability of passenger-only ferries by establishing the mosquito fleet act. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High) SIGN IN SUPPORT
Finance (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 8:00am
• HB 2020 - Public Hearing - Creating a business and occupation tax deduction and increasing the rate for persons conducting payment card processing activities. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 10:30am
• ESSB 5142 - Public Hearing - Providing owners of real estate taken through eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is not put to intended public use. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
Labor & Commerce (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/18 @ 10:30am
• ESHB 1875 - Public Hearing - Allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
• ESHB 1644 - Public Hearing - Concerning the safety and health of working minors. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
• SHB 1121 - Public Hearing - Concerning restrictions on the working conditions and hours of sixteen- and seventeen-year olds. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 10:30am
• ESSB 5023 - Public Hearing - Providing labor market protections for domestic workers. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Medium)
• ESSB 5041 - Public Hearing - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/High). NEED TESTIFIERS AND LOTS OF SIGN INS TO OPPOSE!
• SSB 5292 - Public Hearing - Concerning paid family and medical leave rates. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/Medium)
Local Government (House) - HHR E and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 10:30am
• ESSB 5509 - Public Hearing - Concerning the siting of child care centers. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
• ESB 5729 - Public Hearing - Encouraging construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 10:30am
• SSB 5492 - Public Hearing - Concerning sustainable state tourism promotion. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Health Care & Wellness (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 1:30pm
• SB 5084 - Exec Session - Concerning health carrier reporting. (Monitoring)
Postsecondary Education & Workforce (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 1:30pm
• SB 5542 - Public Hearing - Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
• ESSB 5663 - Public Hearing - Concerning entirely online course offerings at community and technical colleges. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Education (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 4:00pm
• SSB 5253 - Public Hearing - Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
Housing (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 3/18 @ 4:00pm
• SSB 5587 - Public Hearing - Concerning affordable housing development in counties not closing the gap between estimated existing housing units within the county and existing housing needs. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
Ways & Means (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 3/18 @ 4:00pm
• SHB 1791 - Public Hearing - Increasing the flexibility of existing funding sources to fund public safety and other facilities by modifying the local real estate excise tax. (Remote Testimony Available). (High)
• SB 5777 - Public Hearing - Creating a business and occupation tax deduction and increasing the rate for persons conducting payment card processing activities. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)
• ESHB 1210 - Public Hearing - Concerning targeted urban area tax preferences. (Remote Testimony Available). (Low)
• SHB 1650 - Public Hearing - Concerning the addition of airport capital projects as an allowable use of local real estate excise tax revenues. (Remote Testimony Available). (Low)
Business, Financial Services & Trade (Senate) - SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/19 @ 8:00am
• SHB 1081 - Public Hearing - Establishing consumer protections for owners of solicited real estate. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/19 @ 8:00am
• 2SHB 1409 - Public Hearing - Concerning the clean fuels program. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
• 2SHB 1975 - Public Hearing - Amending the climate commitment act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the department of ecology's authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions, and providing for market dynamic analysis. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Medium)
• SHB 1543 - Public Hearing - Increasing compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard. (Hearing is on the Proposed Striking Amendment.) (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/19 @ 8:00am
• E2SSB 5217 - Public Hearing - Expanding pregnancy-related accommodations. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
• SSB 5528 - Public Hearing - Concerning the installation of transportation electrification infrastructure. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Local Government (House) - HHR E and Virtual JLOB - 3/19 @ 8:00am
• SSB 5558 - Public Hearing - Concerning timelines for growth management comprehensive plan and development regulation updates. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
• SSB 5749 - Public Hearing - Concerning housing development opportunity zones. (Remote Testimony Available). (High)
Consumer Protection & Business (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/19 @ 1:30pm
• SSB 5331 - Public Hearing - Strengthening consumer protection through increased insurer accountability for violations of the insurance code. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Early Learning & Human Services (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/19 @ 1:30pm
• ESSB 5232 - Exec Session - Supporting economic security by updating provisions related to the home security fund and the essential needs and housing support program. (Monitoring)
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/19 @ 1:30pm
• HB 1796 - Public Hearing - Concerning school districts' authority to contract indebtedness for school construction. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Housing (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 3/19 @ 1:30pm
• EHB 1217 - Public Hearing - Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/High)
• 2SHB 1696 - Public Hearing - Modifying the covenant homeownership program. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
• SHB 1353 - Exec Session - Establishing a self-certification program for accessory dwelling unit project permit applications. (Monitoring)
• 3SHB 1491 - Exec Session - Promoting transit-oriented housing development. (Monitoring)
Transportation (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 3/19 @ 4:00pm
• SB 5702 - Public Hearing - Streamlining the toll rate setting process at the transportation commission. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
Education (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/20 @ 8:00am
• SSB 5253 - Exec Session - Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. (Support/High)
Higher Education & Workforce Development (Senate) - SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/20 @ 1:30pm
• 2SHB 1273 - Public Hearing - Improving student access to dual credit programs. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)
Health Care & Wellness (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/21 @ 8:00am
• SJM 8004 - Public Hearing - Concerning Universal Health Care. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/High)
Labor & Commerce (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/21 @ 8:00am
• HB 1275 - Exec Session - Establishing department authority to ensure payment is received from the self-insured employer after a self-insured group or municipal employer has their self-insurer certification withdrawn. (Oppose/Medium)
• 2SHB 1788 - Exec Session - Concerning workers' compensation benefits. (Oppose/High)
• 2SHB 1524 - Exec Session - Concerning workplace standards and requirements applicable to employers of isolated employees. (Concerns/Medium)
• ESHB 1875 - Exec Session - Allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings. (Monitoring)
Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 3/21 @ 10:30am
• ESSB 5142 - Exec Session - Providing owners of real estate taken through eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is not put to intended public use. (Medium)
Housing (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 3/21 @ 10:30am
• HB 1075 - Exec Session - Expanding housing supply by supporting the ability of public housing authorities to finance affordable housing developments. (Monitoring)
• E2SHB 1096 - Exec Session - Increasing housing options through lot splitting. (Support/High)
• EHB 1403 - Public Hearing - Simplifying condominium construction statutes. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)
• E2SHB 1108 - Public Hearing - Creating a task force on housing cost driver analysis. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High)
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 3/21 @ 10:30am
• SSB 5101 - Public Hearing - Expanding access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Medium)
• ESSB 5041 - Exec Session - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers. (Oppose/High)
• SSB 5104 - Exec Session - Protecting employees from coercion in the workplace based on immigration status. (Concerns/Medium)
• SSB 5501 - Exec Session - Concerning employer requirements for driving. (Low)
Local Government (House) - HHR E and Virtual JLOB - 3/21 @ 10:30am
• ESSB 5184 - Exec Session - Concerning minimum parking requirements. (Oppose/High)
• ESB 5559 - Exec Session - Streamlining the subdivision process inside urban growth areas. (Monitoring)
• ESSB 5509 - Exec Session - Concerning the siting of child care centers. (Medium)
• SSB 5558 - Exec Session - Concerning timelines for growth management comprehensive plan and development regulation updates. (Monitoring)
• SSB 5749 - Exec Session - Concerning housing development opportunity zones. (High)
• ESB 5729 - Exec Session - Encouraging construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process. (Support/High)
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 3/21 @ 10:30am
• SSB 5492 - Exec Session - Concerning sustainable state tourism promotion. (Monitoring)
Budget and Taxes
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
HB 1126 (SB 5315) |
Local tax rate changes |
Standardizing notification provisions relating to local tax rate changes and shared taxes administered by the department. |
S Loc Gov |
Walen |
Support |
Medium |
|
HB 1198 (SB 5167) |
Operating budget |
Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. |
H Approps |
Ormsby |
|
High |
|
Urban area tax preferences |
Concerning targeted urban area tax preferences. |
S Ways & Means |
Barnard |
|
Low |
|
|
Airport projects/local REET |
Concerning the addition of airport capital projects as an allowable use of local real estate excise tax revenues. |
S Ways & Means |
Dent |
|
Low |
|
|
Local real estate excise tax |
Increasing the flexibility of existing funding sources to fund public safety and other facilities by modifying the local real estate excise tax. |
S Ways & Means |
Paul |
|
High |
|
|
HB 2020 (SB 5777) |
Payment card processing/tax |
Creating a business and occupation tax deduction and increasing the rate for persons conducting payment card processing activities. |
H Finance |
Berg |
|
Medium |
|
HJR 4204 (SJR 8203) |
Principal residence/tax |
Amending the Constitution to allow for a property tax exemption for a principal place of residence. |
H Finance |
Berg |
Oppose |
High |
|
SB 5167 (HB 1198) |
Operating budget |
Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. |
S Ways & Means |
Robinson |
|
High |
|
SSB 5314(2SHB 1614) |
Capital gains tax |
Modifying the capital gains tax. |
H Finance |
Stanford |
|
High |
|
SB 5315 (HB 1126) |
Local tax rate changes |
Standardizing notification provisions relating to local tax rate changes and shared taxes administered by the department. |
H Finance |
Gildon |
Support |
Medium |
|
Tax and revenue laws |
Modifying tax and revenue laws in a manner that is not estimated to affect state or local tax collections. |
H Finance |
Schoesler |
|
Medium |
|
|
SB 5777 (HB 2020) |
Payment card processing/tax |
Creating a business and occupation tax deduction and increasing the rate for persons conducting payment card processing activities. |
S Ways & Means |
Robinson |
Support |
Medium |
|
Investment/LTSS accounts |
Amending the Constitution to allow the state to invest moneys from long-term services and supports accounts. |
H Approps |
Braun |
Support |
High |
|
|
SJR 8203 (HJR 4204) |
Principal residence/tax |
Amending the Constitution to allow for a property tax exemption for a principal place of residence. |
S Rules 2 |
Robinson |
Oppose |
High |
Childcare
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
Child care qualifications |
Modifying child care provider qualifications. |
S EL/K-12 |
Dent |
|
Medium |
|
|
ESSB 5509(SHB 1212) |
Child care center siting |
Concerning the siting of child care centers. |
H Local Govt |
Alvarado |
|
Medium |
Energy and Climate Change
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
SHB 1543(SSB 5514) |
Clean buildings standard |
Increasing compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard. |
S Environment, En |
Doglio |
|
Monitoring |
|
ESHB 1610(SB 5582) |
Critical energy infra./PRA |
Concerning the disclosure of critical energy infrastructure information. |
S State Gov/Trib |
Hunt |
|
Monitoring |
|
Energy standard/comply cost |
Regarding the costs of compliance with the state energy performance standard. |
S Environment, En |
Dye |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Transmission capacity |
Increasing transmission capacity. |
S Environment, En |
Barnard |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Climate commitment act |
Amending the climate commitment act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the department of ecology's authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions, and providing for market dynamic analysis. |
S Environment, En |
Fitzgibbon |
Concerns |
Medium |
|
|
Environmental crimes |
Concerning environmental crimes. |
H Env & Energy |
Trudeau |
Oppose |
Medium |
Health Care
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
E2SHB 1589(SB 5588) |
Health carriers & providers |
Concerning the relationships between health carriers and contracting providers. |
S Health & Long-T |
Bronoske |
|
Monitoring |
|
E2SSB 5083(SHB 1123) |
Health carrier reimbursement |
Ensuring access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services. |
H Approps |
Robinson |
|
Monitoring |
|
SB 5084 (HB 1379) |
Health carrier reporting |
Concerning health carrier reporting. |
H HC/Wellness |
Robinson |
|
Monitoring |
|
SSB 5331 (HB 1199) |
Insurance code violations |
Strengthening consumer protection through increased insurer accountability for violations of the insurance code. |
H ConsPro&Bus |
Cortes |
|
Monitoring |
|
Hospital price transparency |
Concerning hospital price transparency. |
H HC/Wellness |
Riccelli |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Universal health care |
Concerning Universal Health Care. |
H HC/Wellness |
Hasegawa |
Oppose |
High |
Housing Attainability
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
Affordable housing financing |
Expanding housing supply by supporting the ability of public housing authorities to finance affordable housing developments. |
S Housing |
Walen |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Solicited real estate |
Establishing consumer protections for owners of solicited real estate. |
S Business, Fin S |
Donaghy |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Lot splitting |
Increasing housing options through lot splitting. |
S Housing |
Barkis |
Support |
High |
|
|
Housing cost task force |
Creating a task force on housing cost driver analysis. |
S Housing |
Klicker |
Support |
High |
|
|
Local government planning |
Ensuring that local government planning complies with the growth management act. |
S Loc Gov |
Duerr |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
E2SHB 1217(SSB 5222) |
Residential tenants |
Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement. |
H Passed 3rd |
Alvarado |
Oppose |
High |
|
ADU self-certification |
Establishing a self-certification program for accessory dwelling unit project permit applications. |
S Housing |
Ramel |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Condominium construction |
Simplifying condominium construction statutes. |
S Housing |
Taylor |
|
Medium |
|
|
Transit-oriented housing dev |
Promoting transit-oriented housing development. |
S Housing |
Reed |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Multiple-unit dwellings/tax |
Concerning the property tax exemptions for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings in urban centers. |
S Ways & Means |
Ramel |
|
Medium |
|
|
Historic landmarks/cities |
Concerning the designation of historic landmarks by cities. |
S Loc Gov |
Walen |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Covenant homeownership prg. |
Modifying the covenant homeownership program. |
S Housing |
Taylor |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Deed of trust assignment/fee |
Eliminating the exemption for assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust from the document recording fee and the covenant homeownership program assessment. |
S Ways & Means |
Scott |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Project permit definition |
Concerning the definition of project permit and project permit application. |
S Loc Gov |
Duerr |
Support |
Medium |
|
|
Eminent domain purchase back |
Providing owners of real estate taken through eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is not put to intended public use. |
H Civil R & Judi |
Hasegawa |
|
Medium |
|
|
E2SSB 5148(HB 1235) |
GMA housing element |
Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. |
H Housing |
Bateman |
|
Monitoring |
|
ESSB 5184(HB 1299) |
Minimum parking requirements |
Concerning minimum parking requirements. |
H Local Govt |
Bateman |
Oppose |
High |
|
ESSB 5232(SHB 1263) |
Essential needs program uses |
Updating eligible uses for the essential needs and housing support program. |
H EL & Human Svc |
Wilson |
|
Monitoring |
|
Rental housing market |
Prohibiting algorithmic rent fixing and noncompete agreements in the rental housing market. |
H Housing |
Salomon |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
ESB 5471 (HB 1840) |
Middle housing |
Authorizing middle housing in unincorporated growth areas and unincorporated urban growth areas, certain limited areas of more intensive rural development, and fully contained communities. |
H Housing |
Goehner |
|
High |
|
ADU tax exemptions |
Amending the county population threshold for counties that may exempt from taxation the value of accessory dwelling units to incentivize rental to low-income households. |
H Finance |
Gildon |
Support |
High |
|
|
Kit homes/building codes |
Concerning the creation of building codes for kit homes. |
H Local Govt |
Wilson |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Growth management plans |
Concerning growth management comprehensive plans. |
H Local Govt |
Goehner |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
UGA subdivision process |
Streamlining the subdivision process inside urban growth areas. |
H Local Govt |
Lovelett |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
ESSB 5576(HB 1763) |
Affordable housing funding |
Providing state funding for essential affordable housing programs. |
H Finance |
Lovelett |
|
Monitoring |
|
Affordable housing dev. |
Concerning affordable housing development in counties not closing the gap between estimated existing housing units within the county and existing housing needs. |
H Housing |
Cleveland |
|
Medium |
|
|
Land use permitting workload |
Streamlining and clarifying local governments' land use permitting workloads. |
H Local Govt |
Salomon |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Residential development |
Concerning the development of clear and objective standards, conditions, and procedures for residential development. |
H Housing |
Salomon |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Housing permitting |
Encouraging construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process. |
H Local Govt |
Gildon |
Support |
High |
|
|
Housing opportunity zones |
Concerning housing development opportunity zones. |
H Local Govt |
Wilson |
|
High |
Public Safety
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
Public safety funding |
Improving public safety funding by providing resources to local governments and state and local criminal justice agencies, and authorizing a local option tax. |
S Law & Justice |
Entenman |
Support |
High |
|
|
Criminal justice trainings |
Concerning training provided by the criminal justice training commission. |
H Community Safet |
Orwall |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Public safety/local tax |
Expanding local taxing authority to fund public safety and community protection focused programs and services. |
H Finance |
Slatter |
Support |
High |
Supporting Small Business
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
Work restrictions/age 16, 17 |
Concerning restrictions on the working conditions and hours of sixteen- and seventeen-year olds. |
S Labor & Comm |
McClintock |
Support |
Medium |
|
|
Maritime careers task force |
Directing the statewide career and technical education task force to consider educational opportunities for careers in maritime professions. |
S EL/K-12 |
Shavers |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
E2SHB 1213(SB 5539) |
Paid family & medical leave |
Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program. |
S Labor & Comm |
Berry |
Oppose |
High |
|
HB 1275 (SB 5381) |
Self-insurer withdrawal |
Establishing department authority to ensure payment is received from the self-insured employer after a self-insured group or municipal employer has their self-insurer certification withdrawn. |
S Labor & Comm |
Scott |
Oppose |
Medium |
|
SHB 1308 (SB 5345) |
Access to personnel records |
Concerning access to personnel records. |
S Labor & Comm |
Reed |
Oppose |
High |
|
Transp. network companies |
Concerning transportation network companies. |
S Labor & Comm |
Obras |
|
Medium |
|
|
Job posting/driver's license |
Concerning job postings requiring driver's licenses. |
S Labor & Comm |
Scott |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
ESHB 1483(SB 5423) |
Digital electronics/repair |
Supporting the servicing and right to repair of certain products with digital electronics in a secure and reliable manner. |
S Environment, En |
Gregerson |
|
Monitoring |
|
Isolated employees |
Concerning workplace standards and requirements applicable to employers of isolated employees. |
S Labor & Comm |
Obras |
Concerns |
Medium |
|
|
ESHB 1644(SB 5756) |
Working minors |
Concerning the safety and health of working minors. Imposes significant restrictions and penalties on employers' ability to get minor work permits - particularly variances. |
S Labor & Comm |
Fosse |
|
Monitoring |
|
EHB 1747 (SB 5549) |
Job applicants and employees |
Expanding protections for applicants and employees under the Washington fair chance act. |
S Labor & Comm |
Ortiz-Self |
|
Medium |
|
2SHB 1788(2SSB 5548) |
Workers' compensation |
Concerning workers' compensation benefits. |
S Labor & Comm |
Richards |
Oppose |
High |
|
AI grant program |
Creating an artificial intelligence grant program. |
S Environment, En |
Keaton |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Sick leave/immigration |
Allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings. |
S Labor & Comm |
Salahuddin |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
ESSB 5023(HB 1561) |
Domestic workers |
Providing labor market protections for domestic workers. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Saldana |
Concerns |
Medium |
|
Unemp ins/strikes & lockouts |
Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Riccelli |
Oppose |
High |
|
|
Public works wages |
Requiring certain wages in public works contracts to be at least the prevailing wage in effect when the work is performed. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Conway |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Worker leave/hate crimes |
Expanding access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Valdez |
Concerns |
Medium |
|
|
Immigration status coercion |
Protecting employees from coercion in the workplace based on immigration status. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Hasegawa |
Concerns |
Medium |
|
|
Pregnancy accommodations |
Expanding pregnancy-related accommodations for all employers. Only impact for construction would be the provisions requiring payment for break or leave time if accommodations not made that can adapt in a way that works during work time. Changes this piece to a wage and hour issue. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Nobles |
|
Medium |
|
|
ESSB 5291(HB 1415) |
Long-term services trust |
Implementing the recommendations of the long-term services and supports trust commission. |
H EL & Human Svc |
Conway |
|
Medium |
|
Family & medical leave rates |
Concerning paid family and medical leave rates. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Conway |
Oppose |
Medium |
|
|
SSB 5408 (HB 1831) |
Wage and salary disclosures |
Allowing for corrections to wage and salary disclosures. |
H Labor & Workpla |
King |
Support |
Medium |
|
SSB 5492(SHB 1437) |
Tourism promotion |
Concerning sustainable state tourism promotion. |
H Tech, Econ Dev |
Riccelli |
|
Monitoring |
|
Employee driving requirement |
Concerning employer requirements for driving. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Stanford |
|
Low |
|
|
Layoffs |
Concerning employment loss due to businesses closing or mass layoffs. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Cleveland |
|
Medium |
|
|
SB 5649 (HB 1860) |
Supply chain competitiveness |
Creating a Washington state supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program. |
H Tech, Econ Dev |
Liias |
|
Monitoring |
Transportation
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
County ferry contracts |
Concerning county ferry maintenance and repair contracts. |
S Loc Gov |
Leavitt |
|
High |
|
|
HB 1227 (SB 5161) |
Transportation budget |
Making transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. |
H Transportation |
Fey |
|
High |
|
Ferry system salaries |
Concerning the salaries of ferry system collective bargaining units. |
S Transportation |
Fey |
|
Medium |
|
|
Clean fuels program |
Concerning the clean fuels program. |
S Environment, En |
Fitzgibbon |
|
Medium |
|
|
PTBA governing body members |
Adding two voting members that are transit users to the governing body of public transportation benefit areas. |
S Transportation |
Timmons |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Roadway safety account use |
Expanding access to funding from the multiuse roadway safety account for eligible cities and for the Washington state departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife for maintenance and guidance of motorized recreation on green dot roads. |
S Transportation |
Barkis |
|
High |
|
|
ESHB 1837(SB 5667) |
Intercity passenger rail |
Establishing intercity passenger rail improvement priorities. |
S Transportation |
Reed |
|
Monitoring |
|
Transp. project permitting |
Convening a work group regarding the streamlining of permitting for transportation projects. |
S Transportation |
Richards |
Support |
Medium |
|
|
Passenger-only ferries |
Increasing the availability of passenger-only ferries by establishing the mosquito fleet act. |
S Transportation |
Nance |
Support |
High |
|
|
SB 5161 (HB 1227) |
Transportation budget |
Making transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. |
S Transportation |
Liias |
|
High |
|
Transportation/tribal rep. |
Including tribal representation in certain transportation activities. |
H Local Govt |
Kauffman |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
ESSB 5466(SHB 1673) |
Electric transmission system |
Improving reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system in Washington state. |
H Env & Energy |
Shewmake |
|
Monitoring |
|
Transp. electrification |
Concerning the installation of transportation electrification infrastructure. |
H Labor & Workpla |
Liias |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
SB 5581 (HB 1992) |
Safe system approach strat. |
Implementing safe system approach strategies for active transportation infrastructure. |
H Transportation |
Shewmake |
|
Monitoring |
|
Toll rate setting process |
Streamlining the toll rate setting process at the transportation commission. |
H Transportation |
Ramos |
|
Medium |
|
|
Transportation procurement |
Concerning alternative procurement and delivery models for transportation projects. |
H Transportation |
Liias |
|
High |
Workforce Education
|
Bill # |
Abbrev. Title |
Short Description |
Status |
Sponsor |
Position |
Priority |
|
Dual credit program access |
Improving student access to dual credit programs. |
S Higher Ed & Wor |
Paul |
Support |
Medium |
|
|
Postsecondary ed protections |
Providing postsecondary education consumer protections. |
S Higher Ed & Wor |
Pollet |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Financial education |
Making financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools. |
S EL/K-12 |
Rude |
Support |
Medium |
|
|
Commencement/cultural exp. |
Providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies. |
S EL/K-12 |
McEntire |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
CTE careers work group |
Improving access to career opportunities for students. |
S EL/K-12 |
Connors |
|
High |
|
|
HB 1556 (SB 5542) |
HS completers/CTC tuition |
Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges. |
S Rules 2 |
Entenman |
|
Monitoring |
|
Higher ed. accreditation |
Modifying higher education accreditation standards. |
S Higher Ed & Wor |
Pollet |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
Partner promise scholarships |
Encouraging local government partner promise scholarship programs within the opportunity scholarship program. |
S Higher Ed & Wor |
Bergquist |
Support |
High |
|
|
Secondary career education |
Reviewing state restrictions affecting students participating in secondary career and technical education programs and other state-approved career pathways. |
S Labor & Comm |
Connors |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
HB 1796(2SSB 5095) |
School construction debt |
Concerning school districts' authority to contract indebtedness for school construction. |
S EL/K-12 |
Callan |
|
Monitoring |
|
SSB 5253(SHB 1257) |
Special education services |
Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. |
H Education |
Cortes |
Support |
High |
|
Special education funding |
Concerning special education funding. |
H Approps |
Pedersen |
Support |
High |
|
|
2SSB 5358(HB 1280) |
Career & tech. ed./6th grade |
Concerning career and technical education in sixth grade. |
H Approps |
Braun |
Support |
Medium |
|
SB 5542 (HB 1556) |
HS completers/CTC tuition |
Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges. |
H Postsec Ed & Wk |
Boehnke |
|
Monitoring |
|
CTC online course offerings |
Establishing a virtual campus for all Washingtonians. |
H Postsec Ed & Wk |
Slatter |
|
Monitoring |
|
|
SB 5682 (HB 1883) |
Employment training program |
Concerning the Washington customized employment training program. |
H Finance |
Warnick |
|
Monitoring |
Bill Status & Upcoming Events Report
March 14, 2025
Page 1 of 2
