Published date: January 26, 2026
Policy Committee Deadline – Feb 4th
There are only about 8 committee days left until the policy committee deadline on February 4th and most committees will only meet about 5 times during that span. Hence, this week and next week the committee schedules are packed as committee chairs struggle to satisfy their committee’s thirst to pass their bills. Fatigue is starting to set in.
Limited Opportunity for Testimony
Due to the corpulent committee agendas, testifiers are routinely given, at most, 2 minutes to speak, and, in my experience this week, only 60 seconds if you are lucky enough to be called to testify. Moreover, even with the first bill deadline within shouting distance, legislators are still introducing bills.
Tort Reform – Potential for $1Billion in WA State Liability
One of those recently introduced bills concerns tort reform. SB 6239 requires arbitration for tort claims against the State of Washington and its subdivisions. A hearing is scheduled for January 27th in the Senate Law & Justice Committee. The State is struggling with an avalanche of lawsuits, most due to their repealing in 2024 of the statute of limitations on civil causes of action concerning child sexual assault. Many of the cases are associated with the state foster care system, and potential claims are estimated to be over $1 billion. This could be one of the most consequential bills of session.
Week 3 hearings:
Below are the hearings of interest as we enter week 3:
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 10:30am
HB 2566 – Public Hearing – Concerning local government procurement. (Remote Testimony Available).
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 10:30am
HB 2351 – Exec Session – Protecting emergency responders and emergency response operations in Washington.
Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 8:00am
HB 2095 – Exec Session – Protecting vulnerable users of public ways.
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 8:00am
HB 2191 – Exec Session – Concerning workers’ wages and benefits in the construction industry.
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 8:00am
HB 2397 – Exec Session – Requiring timely reimbursement of state agencies and local jurisdictions mobilized under the Washington state fire services mobilization plan.
Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/29 @ 1:30pm
HB 2420 – Public Hearing – Increasing small works roster contract limits. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/29 @ 4:00pm
HB 2251 – Exec Session – Concerning climate commitment act accounts.
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/30 @ 8:00am
SB 6302 – Public Hearing – Concerning misclassification in the finishing trades on public works projects. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 10:30am
HB 2566 – Exec Session – Concerning local government procurement.
HB 1529 – Exec Session – Increasing opportunities for cities to utilize county resources for road construction and maintenance.