Politics Bulletin: 17 February 2025

Seattle City & King County Councils

It's a holiday, so nothing going on here. Check back tomorrow.

WA State House

The House meets for session & caucus at 10:30 a.m., with both concluding 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 three bills. The committee may vote some or all out of committee.

1. H.B. 1110 (Vacating convictions for driving under the influence, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
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. 1736 (Concerning procedures and requirements for reporting and investigating missing persons, by Rep. Lekanoff.)

Following the executive session, the committee will hear public testimony on the following two bills, and may vote one or both out of committee.

1. H.B. 1668 (Concerning community custody, by Rep. Davis.)
2. H.B. 1968 (Concerning Endangerment with a Controlled Substance, by Rep. Rule.)

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:

The committee will be in executive session to consider the following nine bills. The committee may vote some or all out of committee.

1. H.B. 1079 (Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
2. H.B. 1257 (Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22, by Rep. Pollet, by request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.)
3. H.B. 1273 (Improving student access to dual credit programs, by Rep. Paul.)
4. H.B. 1285 (Making financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools, by Rep. Rude.)
5. H.B. 1289 (Gathering survey information to improve the public school system, by Rep. McClintock.)
6. H.B. 1634 (Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students, by Rep. Thai.)
7. H.B. 1651 (Concerning teacher residency and apprenticeship programs, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
8. H.B. 1795 (Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs, by Rep. Callan.)
9. H.B. 1827 (Concerning the effective delivery and administration of basic education services to justice-involved students, 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.J.M. 4003 (Concerning the United States Government joining the global community in formally developing a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, by Rep. Street.)
2. H.B. 1715 (Regarding the costs of compliance with the State Energy Compliance Standards, by Rep. Dye.)
3. H.B. 1937 (Establishing a presumption of compliance for entities covered under the state's Industrial Stormwater General Permit under certain circumstances, by Rep. Fey.)
4. H.B. 1947 (Reducing satellite management agency requirements for simple group B public water systems, by Rep. Engell.)
5. H.B. 1975 (Amending the Climate Commitment Act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices; addressing the Dept. of Ecology's authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions; and providing for market dynamic analysis, by Rep. Fitzgibbon.)

Following the public hearing, the committee will proceed to executive session to further consider H.B. 1409 (Concerning the Clean Fuels Program, by Rep. Fitzgibbon), and may vote it out of committee.

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. 1915 (Strengthening tenant protections, by Rep. Richards.)
2. H.B. 1927 (Facilitating positive rent payment information to consumer reporting agencies at tenant request, by Rep. Hill.)

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:

1. S.H.B. 1070 (Concerning industrial insurance coverage for post-traumatic stress disorders affecting correctional facility workers, by Rep. Davis.)
2. H.B. 1119 (Concerning Supervision Compliance Credit, by Rep. Goodman, by request of the Dept. of Corrections.)
3. H.B. 1131 (Concerning clemency and pardons, by Rep. Goodman.)
4. H.B. 1137 (Establishing uniform policies and procedures within Dept. of Corrections facilities relating to disciplinary proceedings and administrative segregation, by Rep. Peterson.)
5. H.B. 1175 (Allowing small business establishments in residential zones, by Rep. Klicker.)
6. S.H.B. 1777 (Concerning the Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program, by Rep. Ortíz-Self.)
7. H.B. 1272 (Extending the program to address complex cases of children in crisis, by Rep. Callan.)

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. 1264 (Concerning the salaries of Ferry System collective bargaining units, by Rep. Fey.)
   
2. H.B. 1898 (Concerning truck and trailer length limitations, by Rep. Klicker.)
3. H.B. 1902 (Convening a work group regarding the streamlining of permitting for transportation projects, by Rep. Richards.)

WA State Senate

The Senate meets for session and caucus at 12:30, and will adjourn by 1:30 p.m.

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:

The committee will convene in executive session to consider the following three bills and 14 appointments. The committee may vote some or all items out of committee.

1. S.B. 5355 (Improving safety at institutions of higher education while supporting student survivors of sexual assault, by Sen. Orwall.)
2. S.B. 5523 (Concerning the role of students on the governing boards of institutions of higher education, by Sen. Riccelli.)
3. S.B. 5663 (Establishing a virtual campus for all Washingtonians, by Sen. Slatter.)
4. 14 appointments:
1. Wallace Webster, Trustee, Edmonds Community College (9173)
2. Rosendo Alvarado, Trustee, Big Bend Community College (9174)
3. Shahryar Qadri, Trustee, Cascadia College (9176)
4. Yongmi Yim, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (9177)
5. Adria Buchanan, Trustee, Clover Park Technical College (9180)
6. 2 appointments to the Central Washington University Board of Trustees:
1. Gladys Gillis 9182
2. Zabrina Jenkins 9183
7. Evangelina Shreeve, Washington Student Achievement Council (9187)
8. Joe Davis II, Trustee, Everett Community College (9189)
9. Wilma Cartagena, Trustee, Wenatchee Valley College (9191)
10. Carrie Heaton, Trustee, Peninsula College (9193)
11. Heather Kurtenbach, Workforce Education Investment Accountability & Oversight Board (9198)
12. HS Wright, Regent, Washington State University (9201)
13. Michelle Smith, Trustee, Columbia Basin College (9204)

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. Four appointments to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission
1. Jeremiah Bourgeois 9106
2. Carmen Rivera 9109
3. Amy Howell-Anselmi 9159
4. Sharona Amamilo 9168
2. S.B. 5116 (Concerning the immediate use of marriage licenses for medical necessity, by Sen. Christian.)
3. S.B. 5569 (Recognizing a court's authority to authorize a defendant's direct transfer from jail to inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment, by Sen. Gildon.)
4. S.B. 5745 (Concerning appointed counsel for individuals detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act, by Sen. Dhingra.)
5. S.B. 5333 (Concerning penalties related to eluding police vehicles and resisting arrest, by Sen. Lovick.)
6. S.B. 5714 (Declaring civil immigration enforcement as unprofessional conduct of bail bond recovery agents, by Sen. Trudeau.)

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. S.B. 5572 (Promoting the efficient administration of School Construction Assistance Program projects, by Sen. Conway, by request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.)
2. S.B. 5694 (Establishing a Statewide Boiler Operator Certification, by Sen. King.)
3. S.B. 5722 (Creating a grant program to promote local workforce development, reduce transportation pollution, and strengthen food sovereignty and climate and disaster resiliency, by Sen. Saldaña.)
4. S.B. 5422 (Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of Artificial Intelligence, by Sen. Bateman.)
5. S.B. 5653 (Concerning collective bargaining by Fish & Wildlife officers, by Sen. Chapman.)
6. S.B. 5456 (Removing cannabis industry barriers, by Sen. Stanford.)

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. S.B. 5354 (Providing flexibility for the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife to collaborate with local government to manage grey wolves, by Sen. Short.)
2. S.B. 5482 (Concerning the use of dogs to hunt black bear, cougar, or bobcat, by Sen. Liias.)
3. S.B. 5590 (Protecting livestock from wolf predation, by Sen. Wagoner.)
4. S.B. 5669 (Concerning irrigation district elections, by Sen. Torres.)

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:

The committee will convene in executive session to consider the following six bills and three appointments. The committee may vote some or all of the bills and/or appointments out of committee.

1. S.B. 5296 (Improving outcomes for individuals adjudicated of juvenile offenses by increasing opportunities for community placement options and refining procedural requirements, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
2. S.B. 5260 (Concerning emergency measures for managing juvenile populations at state juvenile correctional institutions, by Sen. Christian.)
3. S.B. 5278 (Concerning emergency measures for managing juvenile populations at state juvenile correctional institutions, by Sen. Braun.)
4. S.B. 5490 (Providing parameters for conducting searches of transgender and intersex individuals confined in a local jail in compliance with federal law, by Sen. Dhingra.)
5. S.B. 5617 (Providing for a Child in Need of Services Petition process for juveniles in and exiting detention, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
6. S.B. 5620 (Codifying the rights of children and youth in foster care, by Sen. Cleveland.)
7. Three appointments to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board:
1. Jeffrey Patnode 9108
2. Corey McNally 9125
3. Meghan Kelly-Stallings 9196

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. Briefing: Puget Sound Shoreline mapping
2. S.B. 5662 (Concerning the waiver of municipal utility connection charges for certain properties, by Sen. Riccelli.)
3. S.B. 5703 (Concerning fair treatment of municipal solid waste systems, by Sen. Holy.)
4. S.B. 5723 (Concerning covenants, conditions, and restrictions of an airpark, by Sen. Cortes.)
5. S.B. 5611 (Streamlining and clarifying local governments' land use permitting workloads, by Sen. Salomon.)
6. S.B. 5719 (Concerning local government hearing examiners, by Sen. Salomon.)
7. S.B. 5699 (Concerning limited areas of more intensive rural development, by Sen. Goehner.)

Transportation [ CANCELLED ]

More info: Sen. Marko Liias, chairman.

Email Sen. Marko Liias, or call (360) 786-7640

Ways & Means, 4:00 p.m.

Chair: June Robinson

Ranking Members: Chris Gildon (operating) & Mark Schoesler (capital) 

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.S.B. 5095 (Concerning school districts' authority to contract indebtedness for school construction, by Sen. Dhingra.)
2. S.B. 5189 (Supporting the implementation of competency-based education, by Sen. Wellman.)
3. S.S.B. 5179 (Establishing a complaint process to address noncompliance with certain state education laws, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
4. S.S.B. 5164 (Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment, by Sen. Nobles.)
5. 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.)
6. S.S.B. 5030 (Improving access to educational services by reducing barriers to obtaining vital records and allowing alternative forms of documentation, by Sen. Claire Wilson.)
7. S.S.B. 5342 (Providing access for legislators to facilities owned and operated by the state, by Sen. Christian.)
8. S.B. 5388 (Concerning Dept. of Corrections behavioral health certification, by Sen. Dhingra.)
9. S.S.B. 5163 (Modernizing the Child Fatality Statute, by Sen. Orwall.)
10. S.B. 5125 (Calculating the provider rate for certain community residential services, by Sen. Lovick.)

U.S. House

They're out until 24 February on recess. See you then...

U.S. Senate

Out until tomorrow. Check back then...

The President

The White House is not telling us anything lol. Check back tomorrow.