Legislators worked long hours last week to ensure priority support legislation survived two key deadlines on Feb. 26 and March 1.

The final cutoff date will be Sine Die (last day of session) on March 7. This week it is anticipated the legislature will vote on the three citizen-led initiatives heard last week, pass negotiated budgets and reconcile changes made to bills in the opposite house. 

Key Issues

  • Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers – HB 1893 failed to advance before the March 1 cutoff. The bill was hotly debated all session and was a key priority for labor. The employer community and members in both caucuses expressed concerns with the bill and the potential negative impact the bill would have on the state’s unemployment system.
  • AI Task Force – SB 5838 passed off of the House floor, 68-28. The bill creates an Artificial Intelligence Task Force to assess uses, develop guiding principles and make recommendations to the legislature for the regulation of generative artificial intelligence. It will now return to the House for concurrence.
  • Keep Our Care Act – SB 5241 works to implement attorney general approval for mergers and affiliations of hospitals with the intent of protecting access to health care and cost of care. Advocates say the bill will preserve access to critical services like reproductive health, gender affirming care and death with dignity while also preventing consolidation in the health care marketplace. Providers believe the bill would have the opposite effect, by delaying critical mergers that are necessary to preserve care. After four hours of caucus the House came back and deferred action on the bill. While no bill is ever dead until they adjourn, this legislation is unlikely to move forward.
  • Limiting Natural Gas to Decarbonize Energy Grid – HB 1589 aims to decarbonize Washington state’s energy grid by limiting the expansion of natural gas services. After four hours of floor debate in the Senate last Thursday, Republican floor leader Shelly Short made a point of order that the bill was improperly before the Senate because it violated Senate Rule 26. Senate Rule 26 states that “no act shall ever be revised or amended by mere reference to its title, but the act revised, or the section amended shall be set forth at full length.” The Senate went at ease while Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck considered the point of order. After two hours they came back, and Heck ruled that the point was well taken. The bill had to be moved back to second reading so that it could be amended. The amended bill was brought back to the floor on Friday and passed, 27-22.
  • Rent Stabilization – HB 2114 failed to see executive action in the Senate Ways & Means Committee before cutoff and is now considered dead for this session.

We’re Also Keeping an Eye On…

Budgets

It is anticipated that final budget proposals will be released early this week and then will work their way through the legislative process before the legislature adjourns Sine Die on March 7. 

    • Capital Budget
    • Operating Budget 
    • Transportation Budget

Citizen-Led Initiatives

Three initiatives had public hearings last week and were all voted out of their respective committees on Friday. They now move to the floor for debate and a vote. 

    • I-2111 – Seeks to codify Washington state’s longstanding tradition of prohibiting state and local personal income taxes. Supporters believe it will stabilize the economy and attract business, seeking a guarantee against future income taxes due to dissatisfaction with current fiscal policies. Critics argue the initiative is unnecessary and harmful, pointing out that Washington’s heavy reliance on sales taxes unfairly burdens lower earners. They also warn that banning an income tax could hinder the state’s ability to improve its tax system and fund public services. Read more here. 
    • I-2113 –  Seeks to roll back current state restrictions on police pursuits. The initiative proposes changes to the criteria for police pursuits, allowing officers more discretion by requiring that a person must pose a “threat to the safety of others” rather than a “serious risk of harm” for a pursuit to be initiated. Supporters argue that the initiative is necessary for public safety and to allow police officers to more effectively combat crime. Opponents cite studies indicating that police pursuits often result in injuries and deaths making streets more dangerous.
      • House: 7-2, Senate: 7-4 
    • I-2081 – Seeks to enhance parents’ rights regarding their children’s education. This would include access to textbooks, medical and disciplinary records and notifications about medical services provided to their children. Supporters argue that the law is necessary to reinforce parental rights and address concerns over curriculum content and school policies. Critics express worries that the initiative’s language is confusing and could negatively impact vulnerable students.
      • House: 14-1, Senate: Unanimous

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