Politics update, 15 January 2025

Seattle City Council

Finance, Native Communities, & Tribal Governments Committee

The meeting is cancelled.

Land Use Committee

The meeting is cancelled.

Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan

The committee meets at 2:00.

The committee will receive a briefing on Growth Strategy.

    The briefing will be led by Rico Quirindongo, Director of the Office of Planning & Development, Brennon Staley, of the same office; Christa Valles, of the Office of the Mayor; and Lish Whitson, of Council Central Staff.

King County Council

Local Services & Land Use Committee

The meeting is cancelled.

Regional Transit Committee

The Committee meets at 3:00.

The Committee is chaired by King County CM Teresa Mosqueda, & includes membership from the Seattle City Council & other King County municipal councils.

King County CMs: Barón & Upthegrove

Seattle CMs: Hollingsworth & Saka, Kettle as alternate.

King County municipal electeds: Covington CM Cimaomo, Issaquah CM de Michele, Federal Way CM Honda, Sammamish CM Howe, Renton CM McIrvin, Snoqualmie CM Ross, Kent CM Troutner, & Bellevue CM Zahn. Alternates: Kirkland CM Black, Newcastle CM Charbonneau, Des Moines CM Harris, and Pacific CM Mann.

On the agenda:

1. Report by Chair Mosqueda
2. Public comment
3. Report by Metro General Manager Allison
4. Briefing: Roles & Responsibilities of the Transit Committee
5. Election of the 2025 Vice Chair
6. 2025 Work Plan Discussion

Washington State House of Representatives

The House will convene at 10:00 and proceed to Joint Session at 11:30.

The Joint Session will host Inaugural Ceremonies for the swearing-in of elected officials elected in November 2024.

1. Governor Robert W. Ferguson
2. Lt. Governor Dennis L. Heck
3. Secretary of State Steven R. Hobbs
4. Treasurer Michael J. Pellicciotti
5. Auditor Patrice A. McCarthy
6. Attorney General Nicholas W. Brown
7. Commissioner of Public Lands David Upthegrove
8. Superintendent of Public Instruction Christopher P. S. Reykdal
9. Insurance Commissioner Patricia E. Kuderer

The Joint Session will then hear the Inaugural Address of Robert W. Ferguson, 24th Governor of the State of Washington.

Following the conclusion of the Inaugural Address, the Joint Session will dissolve.

Committee Meetings

Agriculture & Natural Resources, 8:00

1. Committee 101

Civil Rights & Judiciary, 8:00

1. H.B. 1144 (Adding an additional Superior Court Judge in Skagit County, by Rep. Lekanoff, by request of the Administrative Office of the Courts)
2. H.B. 1014 (Implementing recommendations of the 2023 Child Support Schedule Work Group, by Rep. Schmidt.)
3. H.B. 1218 (Concerning persons referred for competency evaluation and restoration services, by Rep. Farivar on request by Governor Jay Inslee.)

Labour & Workplace Standards, 8:00

1. H.B. 1128 (Establishing the Childcare Workforce Standards Board, by Rep. Fosse.)
2. H.B. 1141 (Concerning collective bargaining for agricultural cannabis workers, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
3. H.B. 1155 (Prohibiting noncompetition agreements and clarifying nonsolicitation agreements, by Rep. Berry.)
4. H.B. 1162 (Concerning workplace violence in healthcare settings, by Rep. Leavitt.)
5. H.B. 1173 (Concerning wages for journeypersons in high-hazard facilities, by Rep. Bronoske)
6. H.B. 1184 (Creating a narrow exemption from overtime provisions for certain nonprofits and small businesses, by Rep. Schmidt)

Local Government, 8:00

1. Briefing: In-House Work in Cities & Special Purpose Districts
2. Briefing: The Non-Compliance Process under the Growth Management Act
3. Briefing: Regulation of On-Site Sewage Systems

Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans, 8:00

1. Briefing: Earthquake Hazard & Unreinforced Masonry Vulnerability & Retrofits
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

1. H.B. 1080 (Concerning fee disclosure for lodging accommodations, by Rep. Donaghy)
2. H.B. 1081 (Establishing consumer protections for owners of solicited real estate, by Rep. Donaghy)
3. H.B. 1103 (Expanding protections against unwanted telephone calls and text messages for cellular users, by Rep. Shavers)

Early Learning & Human Services, 1:30

1. Briefing: Child welfare programs
2. Briefing: Juvenile justice

Healthcare & Wellness, 1:30

1. Briefing: Department of Health 101
2. H.B. 1009 (Adjusting the membership of the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, by Rep. Low)
3. H.B. 1090 (Concerning coverage of contraception, by Rep. Alvarado)
4. H.B. 1157 (Authorizing access to certifications of birth and death to additional family members, by Rep. Steele)

Postsecondary Education & Workforce, 1:30

1. Briefing: Introduction to Compacts
2. H.B. 1023 (Adopting the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, by Rep. Ryu)
3. H.B. 1114 (Concerning the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, by Rep. Leavitt)
4. H.B. 1036 (Adding labour trustees to college boards, by Rep. Ortíz-Self)

State Government & Tribal Relations, 1:30

1. H.B. 1147 (Supporting civic engagement for incarcerated and institutionalized individuals in state custody to promote inclusion and rehabilitation, by Rep. Farivar)
2. H.B. 1146 (Improving access and removing barriers to voting in jails and state hospitals, by Rep. Simmons by request of the Secretary of State)
3. H.B. 1055 (Enhancing access to public records, by Rep. Abbarno)

Appropriations, 4:00

1. Staff introductions
2. Briefing: The Operating Budget

Transportation, 4:00

1. Briefing: Governor Inslee’s proposed 2025-27 Biennial and 2023-25 Second Supplemental Transportation Budgets
2. H.B. 1226 (Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, by Rep. Fey by request of the Office of Financial Management)
3. H.B. 1227 (Making transportation appropriations for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, by Rep. Fey by request of the Office of Financial Management)

Washington State Senate

The Senate will convene at 11:15 for a pro forma session.

At 11:30, the Senate will cross the rotunda to the House Chamber to convene in Joint Session to witness the Inauguration of Elected Statewide Executive Officials and the Inaugural Address of Governor Robert W. Ferguson.

Committee Meetings

Business, Financial Services, & Trade, 8:00

1. Committee introductions
2. Briefing: Department of Financial Institutions 101
3. Briefing: Department of Commerce 101

Environment, Energy, & Technology - [CANCELLED]

Human Services, 8:00

1. Briefing: Economic Services Administration/Developmental Disabilities Administration 101
2. S.B. 5079 (Addressing the burden of unintentional overpayments on older adults and adults with disabilities served by the Department of Social & Health Services, by Sen. Muzzall by request of DSHS.)
3. S.B. 5052 (Modifying law enforcement ability to contact juvenile witnesses and victims not suspected of criminal involvement or activity, by Sen. Salomon)
4. S.B. 5214 (Concerning mobile market programs, by Sen. Shewmake)

Early Learning & K-12 Education, 1:30

1. S.B. 5003 (Establishing the School Security & Preparedness Infrastructure Grant Program, by Sen. Torres)
2. S.B. 5004 (Updating emergency response systems in public schools, including panic or alert buttons, by Sen. Torres)
3. S.B. 5210 (Establishing the Ninth Grade Success Grant Program, by Sen. Liias)
4. S.B. 5193 (Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs, by Sen. Cortes)
5. S.B. 5189 (Supporting the implementation of competency-based education, by Sen. Wellman)

Housing, 1:30

1. Committee introductions
2. Briefing: Understanding housing development
3. S.B. 5129 (Concerning common interest communities, by Sen. Pedersen)

United States House of Representatives

The House will convene at 10:00 E./7:00 P.

At noon E./9:00 P., the House will consider H.R. 33 United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act (by Rep. Smith of Missouri), which would institute special rules for certain residents of Taiwan with income from sources in the United States. 

The bill will be debated for one hour, with Republicans and Democrats given 30 minutes each.

Following, at approximately 4:00, the House will vote on passage of the bill, and possibly these bills:

1. H.R. 164 P.O.W.E.R. Act of 2025 (by Rep. Hoyle of OR)

2. H.R. 144 Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act (by Rep. Cohen of TN)

Committee Meetings

Homeland Security - [POSTPONED]

Armed Services, 9:30 E./6:30 P.

The committee will meet for an organizational meeting.

Transportation & Infrastructure, 10:00 E./7:00 P.

The committee will meet for an organizational meeting.

Oversight & Government Reform, 10:00 E./7:00 P.

Hearing: "The Stay-at-Home Federal Workforce: Another Biden-Harris Legacy"

The Committee will hear from witnesses to examine the telework posture of the federal workforce.

WITNESSES:

1. Ms. Mika J. Cross, a federal workforce expert
2. Mr. Tom Davis, President of the Federal City Council
3. Ms. Rachel Greszler, Visiting Fellow for Workforce, Economic Policy Innovation Center
4. The Hon. Martin O'Malley, former Commissioner of Social Security, 2023-24

Energy & Commerce, 10:00 E./7:00

The committee will meet for an organizational meeting.

United States Senate

The Senate will convene at noon E./9:00 P.

Following remarks by Majority Leader Thune and Democratic Leader Schumer, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 5 Laken Riley Act, with roll call votes possible.

Sen. Ernst will offer Amendment 8, which would include crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury to the list of offenses.

Committee Meetings

Judiciary, 9:30 E./6:30 P.

The committee will consider the President-elect's nomination of Pamel J. Bondi to be Attorney General.

Energy & Natural Resources, 10:00 E./7:00 P

The committee will consider the President-elect's nomination of Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy.

Foreign Relations, 10:00 E./7:00 P

The committee will consider the President-elect's nomination of Marco A. Rubio to be Secretary of State.

Intelligence, 10:00 E./7:00 P

The committee will consider the President-elect's nomination of John L. Ratcliffe to be Director of the CIA.

Commerce, Science, & Transportation, 10:00 E./7:00 P

The committee will consider the President-elect's nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation.

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, 10:00 E./7:00 P

The committee will consider the President-elect's nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management & Budget.

Aging, 3:30 E./12:30 P.

The committee will examine improving wellness among seniors.

The President & Vice President

The President will deliver his Farewell Address to the Nation from the Oval Office at 8:00 p.m. E./5:00 p.m. P. The Vice President will attend.

The Vice President is in DC today.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will brief the press at 10:30 a.m. P.

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