Politics Bulletin: 21 January 2025

 It is Day 2 of the 69th Presidency.

Here's what's happening in Seattle, Olympia, and in the other Washington.

My apologies for the EXTREME tardiness of this update - yesterday was rough & busy.

Seattle City Council

Transportation Committee, 9:30 a.m.

Chair: Saka (West)

Vice Chair: Hollingsworth (East Central)

Members: Kettle (West Central), Rinck (Citywide), Strauss (Northwest)

On the agenda:

1. Res. 32158 (Boren Ave N/Denny Way pedestrian tunnel)
2. Res. 32159 (Boren Ave N/Denny Way thermal energy exchange)
3. C.B. 120846 (13th Ave SW/SW Florida Street pipeline system)
4. C.B. 120924 (Seattle Waterfront skybridge)
5. Briefing: Safe Routes to School (Dept. of Transportation)
6. Briefing: School Traffic Safety Committee presentation

Full Council, 2:00 p.m.

1. The Consent Calendar:
1. MIN 500 (Minutes for 14 January 2025)
2. C.B. 120935 (Paying bills for claims from 6 January through 10 January 2025.)
2. Report GAED-001 (C.B. 120925, the Fourth Quarter 2024 Employment Ordinance.)

Council Vacancy Public Forum, 5:30 p.m.

This will be held at the Columbia City Theater from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

4916 Rainier Ave. S.,

Seattle, WA 98118

King County Council

Transportation, Economy, & Environment, 9:30 a.m.

Chair: Dembowski (North)

Vice Chair: Mosqueda (West Seattle/Vashon)

Members: Balducci (Eastside), Barón (North Seattle), von Reichbauer (Southwest)

On the agenda:

1. Motion 2024-0358 (Appointment of Daniel Kim, Conservation Futures Advisory Committee, by CM von Reichbauer.)
2. Motion 2024-0367 (Accepting the 2024 King County Metro Transit System Evaluation, by CM Mosqueda.)
3. Motion 2024-0281 (Renewable energy contract extension, by CM Dembowski.)
4. Motion 2024-0291 and Motion 2025-0001 (Receipt of reports on mature forests & requesting two additional reports, by former CM Upthegrove and CM Dembowski.)

Full Council - Special Meeting, 11:00 a.m.

On the agenda:

1. Motion 2025-0022 (Appointment of a Representative for the 41st Legislative District, vice Tana Senn, resigned.)
1. Interview: Janice Zahn, Councilmember, City of Bellevue
2. Interview: Pamela Stuart, Councilmember, City of Sammamish
3. Interview: Ted Weinberg, Councilmember, City of Mercer Island
4. Executive session, then vote, then administration of the oath of office
2. Motion 2025-0023 (Appointment of a Senator for the 34th Legislative District, vice Joseph Nguyen, resigned.)
1. Interview: Emily Alvarado, Representative for the 34th Legislative District
2. Interview: Jordan Crawley, Chair, 34th Legislative District Democrats
3. Interview: Drew Estep, Sr. Political Advisor, Washington Democratic Party
4. Executive session, then vote, then administration of the oath of office
3. Motion 2025-0024 (Appointment of a Representative for the 34th Legislative District, vice Emily Alvarado, elevated.)
1. Interview: Gina Topp, President, Seattle School Board
2. Interview: Brianna Thomas, Policy Advisor, Office of Mayor Bruce Harrell
3. Interview: Sarah Moore, Deputy Mayor, City of Burien
4. Executive session, then vote, then administration of the oath of office
4. Proposed Substitute Ordinance 2024-0402.2 (Fingerprint system property tax levy proposal, by CM Zahilay.)
5. Proposed Substitute Ordinance 2024-0280.2 (104th Ave SW/Summit Ave/105th Ave SW/Bluff Ave vacation, petitioner Andrew Tristani, by former CM Upthegrove.)
6. Proposed Motion 2025-0013 (Sam Rapoport, Conservation Futures Advisory Committee, by CM Zahilay.)
7. Proclamation of January 2025 as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Month in King County, by CM Zahilay.

Washington State House of Representatives

The House will convene in pro forma session at 9:55.

Committee Meetings

Finance, 8:00 a.m.

Chair: Berg

Ranking Member: Orcutt

Seattle Members: Street (vice chair), Santos, Scott

King County Members: Springer, Walen

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1206 (Multifamily Tax Exemption program expansion, by Rep. Low.)
2. H.B. 1126 (Local tax rate change notifications, by Rep. Walen, by request of the Dept. of Revenue.)
3. H.B. 1386 (Tax on firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition, by Rep. Thai.)

Agriculture & Natural Resources, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Reeves

Ranking Member: Dent

Seattle Members: none

King County Members: Reeves (chair), Springer

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Ecosystems Services & Carbon Sequestration on State Lands
2. Briefing: Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Organizational Review
3. Briefing: Urban Agriculture

Civil Rights & Judiciary, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Taylor

Ranking Member: Walsh

Seattle Members: Farivar (vice chair)

King County Members: Taylor (chair), Burnett, Entenman, Goodman, Salahuddin, Thai, Walen

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1163 (Requirements for purchase, transfer, & possession of firearms, by Rep. Berry.)
2. H.B. 1132 (Limiting bulk purchases & transfers of firearms & ammunition, by Rep. Farivar.)
3. H.B. 1152 (Establishing secure storage requirements for firearms in vehicles & residences, by Rep. Doglio.)
4. H.B. 1118 (Restoration of rights to possess firearms, by Rep. Simmons.)

Labour & Workplace Standards, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Berry
Ranking Member: Schmidt

Seattle Members: Berry (chair), Scott (vice chair)

King County Members: Obras

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1045 (Expanding the definition of "uniformed personnel" to all law enforcement officers employed by a city, town, or county, by Rep. Bronoske.)
2. H.B. 1182 (Granting interest arbitration to certain employees of the Parks & Recreation Commission, by Rep. Paul.)
3. H.B. 1213 (Expanding protections for workers in the state Paid Family & Medical Leave Program, by Rep. Berry.)
4. H.B. 1264 (Concerning salaries of Ferry System collective bargaining units, by Rep. Fey.)
5. H.B. 1275 (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, by Rep. Scott, by request of the Dept. of Labour & Industries.)

Local Government, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Duerr

Ranking Member: Klicker
Seattle Members: Alvarado

King County Members: Duerr (chair), Hunt

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1212 (Siting of childcare centers, by Rep. Alvarado.)
2. H.B. 1183 (Building code & development regulation reform, by Rep. Duerr.)
3. H.B. 1175 (Allowing small business establishments in residential zones, by Rep. Klicker.)

Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Ryu

Ranking Member: Volz

Seattle Members: Ryu (chair), Street

King County Members: Kloba (vice chair)

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1201 (Identifying accommodations allowing pets in an emergency or extreme weather event, by Rep. Leavitt.)

The committee will then enter executive session to consider the following bills, and may vote on their passage out of committee:

1. H.B. 1057 (Increasing support for local communities to access federal funds, by Rep. Barnard.)
2. H.B. 1073 (Keeping Our Washington National Guard Strong Act, by Rep. Leavitt.)
3. H.B 1102 (Increasing support and services for veterans, by Rep. Shavers.)

Consumer Protection & Business, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Walen

Ranking Member: McClintock

Seattle Members: Berry, Ryu, Santos

King County Members: Walen (chair), Hackney (vice chair), Kloba, Reeves, Steele

On the agenda:

Early Learning & Human Services, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Bergquist

Ranking Member: Eslick

Seattle Members: Bergquist (chair)

King County Members: Burnett (asst. ranking), Goodman, Taylor

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1028 (Addressing child exposure to violence, by Rep. Goodman.)
2. H.B. 1243 (Addressing the burden of unintentional overpayments on older adults and adults with disabilities served by the Dept. of Social & Health Services, by Rep. Simmons, by request of the Dept. of Social & Health Services.)
3. H.B. 1272 (Extending the Program to Address Complex Cases of Children in Crisis, by Rep. Callan.)

Healthcare & Wellness, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Bronoske

Ranking Member: Schmick

Seattle Members: Davis, Macri

King County Members: Obras, Thai

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1034 (Concerning non-opioid drugs for the treatment of pain, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
2. H.B. 1062 (Providing coverage for biomarker testing, by Rep. Stonier.)
3. H.B. 1129 (Concerning health plan coverage of fertility-related service, by Rep. Stonier.)
4. H.B. 1251 (Improving the timeliness and accuracy of the issuance of a report of death, by Rep. Wylie.)

Postsecondary Education & Workforce, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Paul

Ranking Member: Ybarra
Seattle Members: Pollet, Reed
King County Members: Entenman, Salahuddin

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1143 (Washington college grant award amounts, by Rep. Mena.)

The committee will then enter executive session to consider the following bills, and may vote on their passage out of committee:

1. H.B. 1023 (Adopting the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, by Rep. Ryu.)
2. H.B. 1035 (Creating policies and resources to address secondary traumatic stress in the higher education workforce, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
3. H.B. 1114 (Concerning the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, by Rep. Leavitt.)
4. H.B. 1136 (Providing student navigational supports to increase post-secondary enrollment, by Rep. Leavitt.)
5. H.B. 1161 (Establishing the Veteran Employability Training & Career Advancement for Re-Entry program, by Rep. Ryu.)

State Government & Tribal Relations, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Mena

Ranking Member: Waters

Seattle Members: Farivar

King County Members: Stearns (vice chair)

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1222 (Public inspection & copying of proprietary financial and security information submitted to, or obtained by, the Gambling Commission, by Rep. Stearns by request of the Gambling Commission.)
2. H.B. 1339 (Shifting general elections for local governments to even-numbered years to increase voter participation, by Rep. Gregerson.)
3. H.B. 1372 (Modifying provisions on studies conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee, by Rep. Orcutt.)
4. H.B. 1381 (Improving meaningful access to elections by increasing language assistance, by Rep. Shavers.)

Community Safety, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Goodman

Ranking Member: Graham

Seattle Members: Davis, Farivar

King County Members: Burnett, Goodman (chair), Obras

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Policy options for modifying the Blood Alcohol Concentration threshold for impaired driving
2. H.B. 1074 (Excluding any person who is convicted of a hit and run resulting in death from being eligible for a first-time offender waiver, by Rep. Jacobsen.)
3. H.B. 1101 (Vehicular homicide offenses, by Rep. Jacobsen.)
4. H.B. 1110 (Vacating convictions for Driving Under the Influence, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
5. H.B. 1315 (Impaired driving, by Rep. Donaghy.)

Education, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Santos

Ranking Member: Rude

Seattle Members: Bergquist, Pollet, Santos (chair), Scott

King County Members: Callan, Reeves, Steele

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Legislative Efforts to Address Student Behavioral & Mental Health

Environment & Energy, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Doglio
Ranking Member: Dye

Seattle Members: Berry, Hackney, Street

King County Members: Duerr, Hunt (vice chair), Kloba, Stearns

On the agenda: 

1. H.B. 1293 (Concerning litter, by Rep. Klicker.)
2. H.B. 1290 (Developing a Water Quality Trading Program for recipients of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permits, by Rep. Dye.)
3. H.B. 1150 (Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes, by Rep. Berry.)

Housing, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Peterson

Ranking Member: Low
Seattle Members: Alvarado, Reed

King County Members: Entenman, Gregerson

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1195 (Compliance with siting and other requirements when building and developing housing meant to support homeless and formerly-homeless people, and people at risk for homelessness, by Rep. Peterson.)
2. H.B. 1235 (Compliance with the housing elements requirements of the Growth Management Act, by Rep. Peterson.)
3. H.B. 1380 (Allowing objectively reasonable regulation of the utilization of public property, by Rep. Gregerson.)

Washington State Senate

The Senate meets for a pro forma session at 12:30.

Committee Meetings

Early Learning & K-12 Education, 8:00 a.m.

Chair: Wellman

Ranking Member: Harris
Seattle Members: none

King County Members: Wellman (chair), Claire Wilson (vice chair)

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5181 (Amending the Parents' Rights Initiative to bring it into alignment with existing law, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
2. S.B. 5180 (Securing the rights of students to have a safe, civil, and respectful learning community, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
3. S.B. 5123 (Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools, by Sen. Nobles.)
4. S.B. 5179 (Establishing a complaint process to address non-compliance with certain state education laws, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)

Law & Justice, 8:00 a.m.

Chair: Dhingra

Ranking Member: Holy

Seattle Members: Salomon, Valdez

King County Members: Dhingra (chair), Fortunato

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5060 (Creating a Law Enforcement Hiring Grant Program, by Sen. Holy)
2. S.B. 5068 (Extending eligibility for employment to agencies, firefighters, prosecutors, and law enforcement to all United States citizens, or persons legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law, by Sen. Lovick.)
3. S.B. 5209 (Explicitly listing the Dept. of Labour & Industries in the definition of "limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" while not granting new enforcement authority, by Sen. Lovick, by request of L&I.)
4. S.B. 5224 (Concerning officer certification definitions, processes, and commissioning, by Sen. Lovick, by request of the Criminal Justice Training Commission.)
5. S.B. 5099 (Establishing additional requirements for the business operations of licensed firearm dealers, by Sen. Lovick.)

Health & Long-Term Care, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Cleveland

Ranking Member: Muzzall

Seattle Members: none
King County Members: Orwall (vice chair), Slatter

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Access to behavioral health care & dental care
2. S.B. 5075 (Cost sharing for prenatal and postnatal care, by Sen. Muzzall.)
3. S.B. 5051 (Consolidating regulatory authority for nursing assistants, by Sen. Bateman, by request of the Board of Nursing.)
4. S.B. 5239 (Retention of hospital medical records, by Sen. Slatter.)

The committee will then enter executive session to consider S.B. 5084 (health carrier reporting, by Sen. Robinson), and may vote on its passage out of committee.

Labour & Commerce, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Saldaña

Ranking Member: King
Seattle Members: Saldaña (chair)

King County Members: Ramos, Stanford

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5041 (Unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers, by Sen. Riccelli.)
2. S.B. 5291 (Implementing recommendations of the Long-Term Services & Supports Trust Commission, by Sen. Conway.)
3. S.B. 5292 (Paid Family & Medical Leave rates, by Sen. Conway.)
4. S.B. 5101 (Expanding access to leave & safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents, by Sen. Valdez.)

Environment, Energy, & Technology, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Shewmake

Ranking Member: Boehnke

Seattle Members: none
King County Members: Dhingra, Ramos, Slatter (vice chair), Wellman

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Utilities & Transportation Commission
2. Briefing: Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
3. S.B. 5241 (Adding fusion energy to facilities that may obtain site certification for the purposes of Chapter 80.50 RCW, by Sen. Liias, by request of the Energy Facilities Siting & Evaluation Council.)
4. S.B. 5246 (Facilitating predictable and timely application decisions by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, by Sen. Shewmake.)

Human Services, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Claire Wilson

Ranking Member: Christian

Seattle Members: Frame (vice chair)

King County Members: Claire Wilson (chair), Orwall.

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5005 (Transparency, public safety, & independent oversight of the city, county, and regional jail system in Washington state, by Sen. Saldaña.)
2. S.B. 5031 (Healthcare coordination regarding confined individuals, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
3. S.B. 5139 (the Re-entry Council, by Sen. Claire Wilson by request of the Dept. of Commerce.)
4. S.B. 5182 (Programs and services for incarcerated parents at the Dept. of Corrections, by Sen. Nobles.)
5. S.B. 5219 (Partial confinement eligibility and alignment, by Sen. Claire Wilson, by request of the Governor.)

State Government, Tribal Affairs, & Elections, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Valdez

Ranking Member: Jeff Wilson

Seattle Members: Hasegawa, Valdez (chair)

King County Members: Fortunato, Kauffman

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5143 (Ethics in Public Service Act, by Sen. Gildon, by request of the Legislative Ethics Board.)
2. S.B. 5034 (Eliminating the expiration of the Interagency Multi-Jurisdictional System Improvement Team, by Sen. Boehnke, by request of the Public Works Board.)
3. S.B. 5014 (Election security, by Sen. Boehnke, by request of the Secretary of State.)
4. S.B. 5077 (Expansion of voter registration services by government agencies, by Sen. Valdez.)
5. S.B. 5225 (Candidate filing requirements, by Sen. MacEwen.)

Transportation, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Liias

Ranking Member: King

Seattle Members: Valdez

King County Members: Fortunato, Goehner (asst. ranking), Ramos (vice chair)

On the agenda:

1. Briefings:
1. Transportation Improvement Board
2. County Road Administration Board
3. Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board
4. Local programs of the Dept. of Transportation

Ways & Means, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Robinson
Ranking Members: Gildon and Schoesler

Seattle Members: Frame (vice chair, finance), Hasegawa, Pedersen, Saldaña

King County Members: Dhingra, Kauffman, Stanford (vice chair, operating), Wellman, Claire Wilson

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Developments in Childcare and other early learning programs.

United States House of Representatives

House meets at noon Eastern (9:00 a.m. Pacific), and commences legislative business at 2:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Pacific).

The House will consider the following bills:

1. H.R. 207 S.H.A.R.K.E.D. Act of 2025 (by Rep. Wittman of Arkansas.)
2. H.R. 186 Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act (Rep. Moore of Utah.)
3. H.R. 187 M.A.P. Waters Act of 2025 (by Rep. Moore of Utah.)
4. H.R. 197 Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025 (by Rep. Stauber.)
5. H.R. 204 A.C.R.E.S. Act (by Rep. Tiffany.)
6. H.R. 165 Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Sit Act (by Rep. Johnson of South Dakota.)
7. H.R. 375 Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act (by Rep. Tokuda.)

Committee Meetings

Rules, 4:00 p.m. Eastern/1:00 p.m. Pacific

Chair: Virginia Foxx (South Carolina)
Ranking Member: Jim McGovern (Massachusetts)
Washington Members: None

On the agenda:

1. H.R. 471 Fix Our Forests Act (by Rep. Westerman.)
2. S. 5 Laken Riley Act (by Sen. Britt of Alabama.)

United States Senate

The Senate will convene at 11:00 a.m. Eastern/8:00 a.m. Pacific.

Following remarks by Majority Leader Thune and Democratic Leader Schumer, the Senate will continue debate on S. 6 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (by Sen. __).

The Senate may also vote on the President's nominations of Peter Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, and John Ratcliffe as Director of the CIA.

Committee Meetings

Foreign Relations, 10 a.m./7:00 Pacific

Chair: Jim Risch

Ranking Member: Jeanne Shaheen

Washington Member: neither

On the agenda:

Considering the President's nomination of Elise Stefanik as Ambassador to the UN.

Health, Education, Labour, & Pensions, 10 a.m./7:00 Pacific

Chair: Bill Cassidy
Ranking Member: Bernie Sanders
Washington Member: Patty Murray

On the agenda:

Organizational meeting

Veterans' Affairs, 10 a.m./7:00 Pacific

Chair: Jerry Moran
Ranking Member: Richard Blumenthal
Washington Member: Patty Murray

On the agenda: 

Considering the President's nomination of Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Finance, 10:15 a.m./7:15 Pacific

Chair: Mike Crapo

Ranking Member: Ron Wyden
Washington Member: Maria Cantwell

On the agenda:

Considering the President's nomination of Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury.

The President & Vice President

The President

10:30 a.m.: The President and First Lady attend a service at Washington National Cathedral.

4:00 p.m.: The President will make an announcement regarding infrastructure.