Week Six – Feb. 14-18

February 15 marked a major deadline for the 2022 legislative session — all bills needed to pass out of their chamber of origin to stay alive.

Leading up to the deadline the legislature debated many controversial proposals for several hours taking up significant floor time, leaving several bills to die on the House and Senate floor calendars. However, any bill that is deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB) is not subject to cutoff deadlines.

Transportation Package Unveiled

Two weeks ago, the Democrats released the transportation plan called Move Ahead Washington. On February 15, the Senate brought the revenue portion of the package, SB 5974, to the floor for a vote and passed it, 29-20. On Wednesday, House transportation leadership Reps. Jake Fey (D-27) and Andrew Barkis (R-2) joined “The Impact” on TVW for an in-depth interview on the $16.8 billion dollar proposal. To watch that video, click here. Read more about the Seattle Metro Chamber’s work to support the transportation package here or let legislators you know support the bill by using our action tool here.

Middle Housing Momentum Halts

Priority pieces of legislation that failed to make it through the cutoff include governor request legislation, HB 1782, related to middle housing. The bill requires local jurisdictions to allow for more dense housing options in areas that have been traditionally zoned for single-family housing. The bill has been controversial as it moved through the legislative process. Low-income housing advocates support the legislation while some local jurisdictions have concerns. This year, there was more broad support for the bill as environmentalists, realtors, and other groups, including the Chamber, weighed in with support. Ultimately, the bill failed when it wasn’t passed out of the House February 15.

Controversial L&I Bill Advances

House Bill 1837, also call the ergonomics bill, legislation that would restore the state’s ability to address work-related musculoskeletal injuries, is particularly controversial as it would seek to overturn a longstanding prohibition on Labor & Industries (L&I) rulemaking authority on this topic because of an initiative. Initiative 841 was passed by voters in 2003. It repealed the ergonomics rule and prevented new rulemaking unless a federal standard is adopted. The floor debate on this bill took nine hours total. The House debated 18 amendments and final adoption through the night. Ultimately the vote passed by a very slim margin, 50-48, on February 14. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs on February 23 and an executive session on February 24.

Capital Budget Proposals + Revenue Forecast

On February 16, the Senate released its Capital Budget Proposal and the largest spending areas are as follows: $472 million for housing, $120 million for broadband, $327 million for water, and $115 million for school seismic safety. On February 21 the House released its Capital Budget Proposal, which includes $520 million for housing and $100 mill for community-based behavioral health beds. To see a more detailed report, click here.

Last Wednesday, the state Economic & Revenue Forecast Council released the February Revenue Forecast, which projected a $2.774 billion increase in revenue. This amount, combined with the prior increases since lawmakers adopted the 2021-23 budget, means revenues have now exceeded expectations by $10.5 billion.

Negotiations between the House and Senate will begin, and the final budget must pass the legislature by March 10, the last day of session.

[WATCH] Governor, Leadership Highlight Priorities

Some notable videos of interest this week include the Virtual Town Hall on Climate where Gov. Jay Inslee joined former Vice President Al Gore and current White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy; click here to watch.

A Republican leadership availability was hosted by House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox (R-2), Rep. Eric Robertson (R-31), Senate Minority Leader John Braun (R-20), and Senate Whip Keith Waggoner (R-39). During this discussion, the Republicans discussed bill cutoffs, their perspectives on how session is going so far, and their priorities for the remainder of session. During the Democratic leadership availability, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-3), Senate Deputy Majority Leader Rebecca Saldaña (D-37), House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-27), and House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-47) spoke. Democrats were given the opportunity to provide insight on many different issues they are facing right now.

Some Key Bills We’re Tracking

Economic Development and Community Investment

HB 1015 – Creating the Washington Equitable Access to Credit Act 

This legislation would create the Washington Equitable Access to Credit Program that would be housed at the Department of Commerce. The program would be funded by a B&O tax credit for contributions to the program. Commerce would then award grants to community development financial institutions for lending or investing in historically underserved communities. The bill was heard on February 17 Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee. The Seattle Metro Chamber testified in support of the bill along with Association of Washington Business and Tabor 100. You can watch the public hearing here. HB 1015 was the last bill taken up. Comments start 1 hour, 27 minutes into the hearing. The bill is scheduled for an executive session on February 24 and needs to be voted out of committee to stay alive.

Housing Affordability and Homelessness 

HB 1981 – Concerning local government planning

This legislation introduced by Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46) seeks to improve the availability of middle housing by allocating $25 million from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce to provide grants to cities and counties for this purpose. The bill did not advance out of the House before the cutoff but could be considered NTIB.

HB 1866 – Assisting persons receiving community support services through medical assistance programs to receive supportive housing

This legislation brought forward by Rep. Frank Chopp (D-43) treats chronic homelessness as a medical condition and proposes a health care solution. The bill creates the Apple Health and Homes Program to provide a supportive housing benefit for individuals that are enrolled in medical assistance. The bill passed the House on February 13, 96-2, and is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care on February 23.

HB 1660 – Concerning accessory dwelling units

This legislation sponsored by Rep. Sharon Shewmake (D-42) requires cities and counties to allow for the construction of accessory dwelling units within urban growth areas. The bill passed the House February 14, 50-48, and is scheduled to be heard on February 23 in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government. The bill is scheduled for executive action on February 24..

Employment Law

SB 5873/HB 2031 – Concerning unemployment insurance, family leave, and medical leave premiums.

This legislation sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) and Rep. April Berg (D-40) in the House proposes changes to the state’s unemployment insurance program. As a result of the Paid Family and Medical Leave solvency issue, those program provisions have been removed from the bill. The remaining unemployment insurance provisions in the bill would decrease the maximum social tax (social cost factor) for 2022 and 2023. The bill was heard and passed out of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and has been referred to Rules.

SB 5649 – Modifying the Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave Act

This legislation sponsored by Sen. June Robinson (D-38) proposes several changes to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. As a result of the recent solvency issues, there was an amendment in the Senate that includes an audit, an outside contract to hire a financial consulting firm to help with fund analysis and solvency projections, a legislative task force to develop recommendations for 2023 legislative session changes and several other accountability measures. The bill passed the Senate February 12, 42-7, and was heard on February 18 in the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. The bill was scheduled for executive session February 21.

HB 2076 – Concerning rights and obligations of transportation network company drivers and transportation network companies

This legislation introduced by Rep. Liz Berry (D-36) reflects years of conversations between the labour community and transportation network companies. The bill remains on the House floor calendar however it is not subject to cutoffs. It is our understanding that stakeholders continue to work toward an agreement.

Coming Up Next

Following the House of Origin cutoff legislators will go back to committee hearings and executive sessions until the Opposite House Fiscal Cut Off on February 24.

Important Dates:

Feb 3 – House of Origin Policy Cutoff

Feb 7 – House of Origin Fiscal Cutoff

Feb 15 – House of Origin Floor Cutoff

Feb 24 – Opposite House Policy Cutoff

Feb 28 – Opposite House Fiscal Cutoff

March 4 – Opposite House Floor Cutoff