Politics Bulletin: 10 February 2025

Seattle City Council

Council Briefing, 2:00 p.m.

The Council will hear an update on the State Legislative Session by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

Councilmembers will deliver individual reports on their activity from the past week, and a look at schedules for the week ahead.

King County Council

Apparently no meetings.

Washington State House

The House will meet at 10:30 for session and caucuses and adjourn by 12:25.

Committee Meetings

Community Safety, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Roger Goodman

Ranking Member: Jenny Graham

Seattle Members: Davis, Farivar

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

On the agenda:

The committee will convene in executive session to consider the following four bills. The committee may vote some or all of them out of committee.

1. H.B. 1113 (Concerning accountability and access to services for individuals charged with a misdemeanor, by Rep. Farivar.)
2. H.B. 1180 (Implementing certain recommendations from the Sex Offender Policy Board concerning the criminal offense of "Failure to Register,' by Rep. Farivar.)
3. H.B. 1220 (Concerning appropriate response to assaults by individuals in behavioral health crisis, by Rep. Farivar.)
4. H.B. 1228 (Concerning toxicology testing by certified or accredited laboratories, by Rep. Hackney.)

Following the executive session, the committee will hear testimony on the following three bills:

1. H.B. 1276 (Concerning organized retail theft, by Rep. Leavitt.)
2. H.B. 1512 (Improving traffic safety, by Rep. Street.)
3. H.B. 1591 (Providing remedies for defendant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, by Rep. Taylor.)

Education, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Sharon Tomiko Santos

Ranking Member: Skyler Rude

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

King County Members: Callan, Reeves, Steele

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1634 (Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students, by Rep. Thai.)
2. H.B. 1683 (Adjusting school director districts, by Rep. Ortíz-Self, by request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.)
3. H.B. 1709 (Addressing the care of students with adrenal insufficiency by parent-designated adults, by Rep. Callan.)
4. H.B. 1795 (Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs, by Rep. Callan.)

Environment & Energy, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Beth Doglio

Ranking Member: Mary Dye

Seattle Members: Berry, Fitzgibbon, Street

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

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1847 (Prioritizing the development of distributed alternated energy resources in targeted circumstances, by Rep. Doglio.)
2. H.B. 1598 (Concerning fair access to community solar, by Rep. Bernbaum.)
3. H.B. 1804 (Improving accessibility of community solar projects in Washington State, by Rep. Fey.)
4. H.B. 1871 (Incentivizing grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems, by Rep. Hunt.)
5. H.B. 1656 (Authorizing electrical companies to securitize certain wildfire-related costs to lower costs to customers, by Rep. Abbarno.)
6. H.B. 1550 (Improving the end-of-life management of electric vehicle batteries, by Rep. Street.)

Housing, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Strom Peterson

Ranking Member: Sam Low

Seattle Members: Reed, Thomas

King County Members: Entenman, Gregerson, Zahn

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1696 (Modifying the Covenant Homeownership Program, by Rep. Taylor.)
2. H.B. 1732 (Preserving homeownership options by limiting excessive home buying by certain entities, by Rep. Thomas.)
3. H.B. 1768 (Preserving manufactured housing communities by limiting purchases by certain entities, by Rep. Lekanoff.)

Appropriations, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Timm Ormsby

Ranking Member: Travis Couture

Seattle Members: Bergquist, Fitzgibbon, Macri (vice chair), Pollet, Ryu, Street

King County Members: Burnett, Callan, Gregerson (vice chair), Penner (asst ranking), Springer, Thai

On the agenda:

The committee may convene in executive session to consider the following five bills. If they do, the committee may vote some or all out of committee.

1. H.B. 1102 (Increasing support and services for veterans, by Rep. Shavers.)
2. H.B. 1114 (Concerning the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, by Rep. Leavitt.)
3. H.B. 1144 (Adding an additional superior court judge in Skagit County, by Rep. Lekanoff, by request of the Administrative Office of the Courts.)
4. H.B. 1217 (Limiting rent and fee increases, and for other purposes, by Rep. Alvarado.)
5. H.B. 1540 (Expanding eligibility for the Students Experiencing Homelessness & Foster Youth Program to an accredited tribal college, by Rep. Timmons, by request of the Student Achievement Council.)

Following the executive session (or directly from convening, if there will be no executive session) the committee will hear testimony on the following four bills:

1. S.H.B. 1057 (Promoting economic development by increasing support for local communities to access federal funds, by Rep.
2. H.B. 1068 (Removing the Exclusion from Interest Arbitration of Washington management service employees at the Dept. of Corrections, by Rep. Doglio.)
3. H.B. 1105 (Exempting exclusive bargaining representatives for Dept. of Corrections employees from certain provisions related to coalition bargaining, by Rep. Fosse.)
4. H.B. 1642 (Providing additional plan choice to members of the Teachers' Retirement System plans 2 and 3, the School Employees' Retirement System plans 2 and 3, and the Public Employees' Retirement Systems, plans 2 and 3, by Rep. Bronoske.)

Transportation, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Jake Fey

Ranking Member: Andrew Barkis

Seattle Member: Reed (vice chair)

King County Members: Duerr, Entenman, Hunt, Taylor, Zahn

On the agenda:

1. H.B. 1772 (Establishing shared streets, by Rep. Reed.)
2. H.B. 1774 (Modifying allowable terms for the lease of unused highway land, by Rep. Fey.)
3. H.B. 1822 (Establishing a Driver Work Zone & First Responder Safety course requirement, by Rep. Low.)
4. H.B. 1823 (Modifying Transportation Improvement Board provisions, by Rep. Low.)
5. H.B. 1837 (Establishing intercity passenger rail improvement priorities, by Rep. Reed.)

Washington State Senate

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

Committee Meetings

Higher Education & Workforce Development, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: T'Wina Nobles

Ranking Member: Judy Warnick
Seattle Members: none

King County Member: Slatter

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Independent Colleges of Washington and Heritage University
2. S.B. 5658 (Concerning the workforce education investment account, by Sen. Hansen.)

Following the public hearing (including on SEVERAL nominations [see below]), the committee will consider several other nominations in executive session (again, see below), as well as three bills.

1. S.B. 5275 (Modifying funding and award levels for the Passport to Careers Program and eligibility for the Washington College Grant, by Sen. Nobles.)
2. S.B. 5542 (Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges, by Sen. Boehnke, by request of the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges.)
3. S.B. 5543 (Providing equity in eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship, by Sen. Boehnke, by request of the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges.)

For the full list of nominations to be considered (there are SO MANY), go here.

Law & Justice, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Manka Dhingra

Ranking Member: Jeff Holy
Seattle Members: Salomon, Valdez

King County Members: Dhingra (chair), Fortunato

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5632 (Protecting the confidentiality of records and information that may be relevant to another state's enforcement of its laws, by Sen. Hansen.)
2. S.B. 5651 (Increasing the amount exempt from garnishment in non-bankruptcy cases, by Sen. Alvarado.)
3. S.B. 5534 (Concerning spring blade knives, by Sen. Fortunato.)
4. S.B. 5536 (Concerning the just and equitable distribution of real property and liabilities in the dissolution of marriage or domestic partnerships, by Sen. Fortunato.)

Labour & Commerce, 10:30 a.m.

Chair: Rebecca Saldaña

Ranking Member: Curtis King
Seattle Members: Alvarado, Saldaña (chair)

King County Members: Ramos, Stanford

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Cannabis retail ownership
2. Briefing: Social equity licenses and zoning.
3. S.B. 5206 (Concerning cannabis retailer advertising, by Sen. MacEwen.)
4. S.B. 5700 (Concerning the Medical Cannabis Authorization Database, by Sen. King.)
5. S.B. 5368 (Studying taxes and fees related to alcohol, by Sen. Chapman.)
6. S.B. 5371 (Eliminating the Per Transaction Limit for wine and spirit sales, by Sen. MacEwen.)
7. S.B. 5399 (Concerning liquor licenses, by Sen. Schoesler.)
8. S.B. 5511 (Regarding low-proof alcoholic beverages, by Sen. King.)

Agriculture & Natural Resources, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Mike Chapman

Ranking Member: Shelly Short
Seattle Member: Saldaña

King County Members: none

On the agenda:

1. Briefing: Food insecurity.
2. S.B. 5454 (Extending the Dairy Inspection Program until 30 June 2031, by Sen. Chapman.)
3. S.B. 5491 (Establishing a Prescribed Fire Claims Fund pilot program, by Sen. Warnick.)
4. S.B. 5599 (Concerning commercial fishery licenses, by Sen. MacEwen.)
5. S.B. 5605 (Concerning the operation, authorization, and permitting of microenterprise home kitchens, by Sen. Frame.)
6. S.B. 5656 (Modifying the definition of Inflation Rate for aquatic leases, by Sen. Krishnadasan.)

Human Services, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Claire Wilson

Ranking Member: Leonard Christian
Seattle Member: Frame (vice chair)

King County Members: Orwall, Claire Wilson (chair)

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5617 (Providing for a Child in Need of Services Petition process for juveniles in and exiting detention, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
2. S.B. 5620 (Codifying the rights of children and youth in foster care, by Sen. Cleveland.)
3. S.B. 5643 (Expanding the purview of child fatality and near fatality reviews, by Sen. Christian.)
4. S.G.A. 9175 and S.G.B. 9195 (Rhonda Salvesen and Aline Flower to be Members of the Clemency & Pardons Board.)

Local Government, 1:30 p.m.

Chair: Jesse Salomon

Ranking Member: Nikki Torres
Seattle Member: Salomon (chair)

King County Member: Goehner

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5475 (Concerning maintenance for salmon recovery projects, by Sen. Dozier.)
2. S.B. 5573 (Concerning electric security alarm systems, by Sen. Chapman.)
3. S.B. 5635 (Concerning approval of certain alternative on-site sewer systems, by Sen. Christian.)
4. S.B. 5660 (Making it possible for more properties to have access to water, storm drains, and sanitary sewage systems, by Sen. Goehner.)
5. S.B. 5571 (Regulating exterior cladding materials, by Sen. Bateman.)

Transportation, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: Marko Liias

Ranking Member: Curtis King
Seattle Members: Alvarado, Valdez

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

On the agenda:

1. S.B. 5432 (Addressing license plate production issues, by Sen. Liias.)
2. S.B. 5440 (Allowing single license plates for certain vehicles, by Sen. MacEwen.)
3. S.B. 5444 (Creating several new special license plates, by Sen. Cortes.)
4. S.B. 5524 (Creating the Donate Life Special License Plate, by Sen. Goehner.)
5. S.B. 5692 (Creating the Seattle Reign FC Special License Plate, by Sen. Nobles.)
6. S.B. 5581 (Implementing safe system approach strategies for active transportation infrastructure, by Sen. Shewmake.)
7. S.B. 5595 (Establishing shared streets, by Sen. Alvarado.)

Ways & Means, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: June Robinson

Ranking Member, Operating: Chris Gildon

Ranking Member, Capital: Mark 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. S.G.A. 9104 (Tracy Stanley, to be a Member of the State Investment Board.)
2. S.B. 5130 (Eliminating childcare licensing fees, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
3. S.S.B. 5062 (Establishing a Childcare Workforce Standards Board, by Sen. Stanford.)
4. S.B. 5211 (Authorizing payment for parental caregivers of minor children with developmental disabilities, by Sen. Frame.)
5. S.B. 5648 (Encouraging Achieving a Better Life Experience Accounts, by Sen. Braun.)
6. S.B. 5361 (Delaying the use of the ASAM 4 criteria, treatment criteria for addictive, substance related, and co-occurring conditions, by Sen. Dhingra, by request of the Office of Financial Management.)
7. S.S.B. 5064 (Creating an Advisory Council on Rare Diseases, by Sen. Liias.)
8. S.B. 5304 (Expanding eligibility for the Students Experiencing Homelessness & Foster Youth Program to an accredited tribal college, by Sen. Kauffman, by request of the Student Achievement Council.)
9. S.B. 5334 (Adding the Dept. of Natural Resources' Civil Enforcement Decisions under RCW 76.04.205 to appeals that may be heard by the Pollution Control Hearings Board, by Sen. Short, by request of the Dept. of Natural Resources.)
10. S.B. 5234 (Concerning snowmobile registration fees, by Sen. Shewmake, by request of the Parks & Recreation Commission.)
11. S.B. 5109 (Concerning the Mortgage Lending Fraud Prosecution Account, by Sen. Kauffman.)

United States House

The House will convene at noon/9:00 a.m. for Morning Hour, and 2:00 p.m./11:00 a.m. for Legislative Business.

The House will debate the following bills:

1. H.R. 224 Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act (by Rep. de la Cruz.)
2. H.R. 386 Chinese Currency Accountability Act of 2025 (by Rep. Davidson.)
3. H.R. 692 China Exchange Rate Transparency Act of 2025 (by Rep. Meuser.)
4. H.R. 736 Protect Small Business from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 (by Rep. Nunn.)
5. H.R. 975 Credit Union Board Modernization Act (by Rep. Vargas.)
6. H.R. 965 Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (by Rep. Sherman.)

Votes are postponed until 6:30 p.m./3:30 p.m.

Committee Meetings

Rules

Meets at 4:00 p.m./1:00 p.m.

The committee will debate H.R. 77 Midnight Rules Relief Act (by Mr. Biggs.)

United States Senate

The Senate convenes at 3:00 p.m./12:00 noon.

Following remarks by Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, or their designees, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence.

The vote to limit debate on the Gabbard nomination will begin at 5:30 p.m./2:30 p.m.

Last Thursday, the Majority Leader requested to end debate on five nominations:

1. Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence
2. Robert F. Kennedy to be Secretary of Health & Human Services
3. Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce
4. Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture
5. Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration

The President of the United States

The President will sign executive orders at 1:00 p.m./10:00 a.m.