The state legislature kicked off the 2023, 105-day session and the first day of the new biennium on Jan. 9. As of Jan. 13, there have been nearly 800 bills introduced. Many bills are scheduled for public hearing this week that address high-priority issues including...
Policy & Advocacy
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Just In: Chamber’s 2023 Legislative Agenda
From the CEO Welcome to 2023! As your regional chamber of commerce, our advocacy includes working in Olympia, where we focus on bringing state policymakers a broad-based business perspective from the Seattle metro area. We also coordinate regularly with our...
Federal Update: 2022 Successes, 2023 Plans
Advocating for the needs of Seattle voters and businesses with our federal elected officials is an important priority for us. In 2022, the Seattle Metro Chamber built on a strong program of advocacy begun during the pandemic to focus on key member challenges and...
Week 6 Legislative Update: Past Policy Committee Cutoff, Fiscal Committee Cutoff is Today, February 22
The sixth week of the 2021 Legislative Session is now complete, and the Legislature continues to move through the virtual legislative process. Monday, February 15 was the policy...
Legislators take action on relief and recovery
This week marked the passage of several important bills to provide COVID-19 relief and assistance to businesses. On Monday, February 8, Governor Inslee signed ESSB 5061, which...
Week 4 Legislative Update: One Week Before Policy Cutoff
The fourth week of the 2021 Legislative Session is now complete. Just one week remains until the first cutoff of February 15, when all bills that are not necessary to implement the...
Policy Snapshot: Seattle mandates pay increase for some grocery workers
POLICY SUMMARY On January 25, the Seattle City Council voted 8-0 to pass emergency legislation mandating that grocers employing more than 500 people worldwide, and with stores greater...
Week 3 Legislative Update: Unemployment Relief Passes
The legislature has now completed three weeks of the scheduled fifteen-week 2021 session. This week was filled with virtual committee hearings, executive sessions, and floor action....
Week 2 Legislative Update: Parties release major COVID relief packages
The second week of the 105-day 2021 Legislative Session is now complete. This week was full of virtual committee hearings and executive sessions. Many bills directly related to...
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2 Housing Bills Pass & Pressure Dials Up – Next Cutoff is April 12 | Legislative Report
There are only two weeks left in the legislative session. Last week, legislators primarily focused their attention on moving legislation through fiscal committees by the Opposite...
Vote Yes on King Co. Prop. 1 – Crisis Care Centers Levy
The King County Crisis Care Centers Levy will appear as Proposition 1 on the April 25 Special Election ballot. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has endorsed this measure...
What Bills Survived Cutoff? | Legislative Report
We are now in the final stretch of the 2023, 105-day legislative session. March 29 was the Opposite House Policy Committee Cutoff where all bills that passed their chambers of origin...
Public Safety, Housing + Education in Proposed Senate Budgets | Legislative Report
We have only four more weeks left in the 105-day legislative session. Last week, hearings and executive sessions on policy bills continued in advance of the March 29 opposite-house...
Small Business Disaster Relief Grants
The Washington State Department of Commerce has $9.7 million available for grants to small businesses with annual gross receipts of $5 million or less that have sustained a reduction...
Bipartisan Support Highlights Middle Housing Legislation | Legislative Report
Last week legislators returned to their respective committees to hear bills from the opposite chamber. Bills must now move forward in the opposite chamber, progressing through policy...
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