Published date: January 27, 2025
Welcome to the end of week 2 of the legislative session. The Legislature has introduced 1,092 bills as of this writing. The hearing schedules for the policy committees are full, and bills are already being voted out. The pace is quite busy for a 105-day session.
When will this fun end? It is scheduled to end on April 27th, but the first policy bill cutoff is February 21st. The fiscal bill cutoff is a week later, and the “House of Origin” cutoff is March 12th. Then, we start all over again, but, this time, each chamber will consider the other chamber’s bills. The bill cutoffs come faster at that point, with less time between deadlines. The official cutoff calendar can be found here:
https://leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/session/session-documents/cutoff-calendars/
This week, House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Jake Fey held a stakeholder meeting on the green transportation act and its associated funding grants. The Act sunsets in 2025, and this meeting was to gauge support for the program. This follows a stakeholder meeting the week before on a road utility charge. The state has significant transportation funding issues and will consider both new and existing revenue sources in the coming weeks.
Revenue bills expected to be considered for both the operating and transportation budgets are anticipated to appear in late February. At this time, the Senate and the House do not appear to be aligned on their approach. If similar revenue bills are introduced in late February, it may indicate they are serious about the proposals.
Last Friday, the House adopted changes to its permanent rules. Typically, this occurs without much attention and involves minimal changes. However, this year, the House Majority Caucus proposed a change to the duration a member can speak on a bill. Previously, a house member could speak for 10 minutes on each vote, requiring a 2/3 vote of the chamber to call the question. Now, a simple majority suffices. Additionally, the rules regarding who is allowed on wings of the House floor were amended. Previously, the Governor and his staff had access; now, only the Governor does. Finally, vaping is prohibited on the floor.
While the last two weeks have been filled with committee hearings, the Legislature increased activity this week. Here are the hearings we are monitoring on behalf of APWA:
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 1:30pm
HB 1461 – Public Hearing – Concerning contracts for materials or work required by joint operating agencies. (Remote Testimony Available).
Agriculture & Natural Resources (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 10:30am
HB 1208 – Public Hearing – Extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 10:30am
HB 1097 – Public Hearing – Extending governmental services beyond the urban growth area in specific circumstances. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/28 @ 1:30pm
SB 5284 – Public Hearing – Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/29 @ 8:00am
HB 1305 – Public Hearing – Concerning reimbursement by property owners for street, road, and water or sewer projects. (Remote Testimony Available).
Transportation (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/29 @ 4:00pm
HB 1537 – Public Hearing – Expanding access to funding from the multiuse roadway safety account for eligible cities and for the Washington state departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife for maintenance and guidance of motorized recreation on green dot roads. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 8:00am
HB 1461 – Exec Session – Concerning contracts for materials or work required by joint operating agencies.
Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 1:30pm
HB 1256 – Public Hearing – Concerning products manufactured in the United States for the purposes of public works projects. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/31 @ 10:30am
HB 1305 – Exec Session – Concerning reimbursement by property owners for street, road, and water or sewer projects.