Week Four – January 31-February 6
We are now four weeks into session with only five more weeks to go. On Wednesday afternoon both House and Senate took action on the floor to pass bills out of their respective chambers. February 3 was the House of Origin Policy Committee cutoff where all bills needed to be out of their original policy committees to stay alive and moving through the legislative process this session.
Following policy committee cutoff, the focus has now shifted to fiscal committees because the House of Origin Fiscal Committee cutoff is today. Fiscal committees met over the weekend to hear and act on bills.
Cybersecurity Breach, Legislator Priorities
House and Senate Democratic leaders came together for their weekly media availability on January 31 to discuss the 2022 legislative session and take questions from reporters. On Wednesday, House and Senate Republican leadership came together for their weekly media availability where they discussed a recent security breach involving the Washington State Auditor’s Office and answered questions from reporters. On February 3, House Minority Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R-2) discussed his top priorities; the Chair of the House Education Committee Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37) and Ranking Member Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-13) discussed K-12 education priorities. You can watch that interview here.
New Findings: Washington’s Tax Structure
Last week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee held a work session where the bipartisan Tax Structure Work Group reported its findings on Washington’s tax structure (watch that here). To learn more about the workgroup, click here. The Ways and Means Committee also held a public hearing on SB 5426, which establishes a 1% wealth tax on intangible financial assets of more than $1 billion.
Small Business Relief
On Wednesday, the House unanimously passed HB 1957 sponsored by Rep. Alicia Rule (D-42), which will create a program to assist small businesses after a natural disaster. The bill has been referred to the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee.
Deeper Dive: Some Key Bills We’re Tracking
Housing Affordability and Homelessness
Last week, legislators continued to discuss various middle housing proposals. The Seattle Metro Chamber is participating in various stakeholder groups related to this topic.
Key bills moving this session include:
HB 1782/SB 5670 – Creating additional middle housing near transit and in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing
This is governor request legislation that seeks to restore affordable housing by requiring cities to authorize the development of all middle housing types on all lots zoned for detached single-family residential use and within one-half mile of a major transit stop. The Senate version of the bill passed the committee last Thursday and has been referred to Senate Ways and Means. The House version passed out of the House Committee on Local Government with several amendments on Tuesday, February 1. The bill had a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Saturday. The Chamber signed in “pro” and submitted written testimony urging House Appropriations to advance the bill ahead of Monday’s fiscal deadline. The bill was scheduled for executive action in today.
HB 1981 – Concerning local government planning
This legislation introduced by Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46) seeks to improve the availability of middle housing by allocating $25 million from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce to provide grants to cities and counties for this purpose. The bill passed committee February 1 and has been referred to the Rules Committee.
HB 1866 – Assisting persons receiving community support services through medical assistance programs to receive supportive housing
This legislation brought forward by Rep. Frank Chopp (D-43) treats chronic homelessness as a medical condition and proposes a health care solution. The bill creates the Apple Health and Homes Program to provide a supportive housing benefit for individuals that are enrolled in medical assistance. The bill passed committee on February 2. The committee adopted a proposed substitute that made a number of changes to the underlying bill. The bill had a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Saturday. The Chamber signed in “pro.” The bill is scheduled for executive action today.
Employment Law
SB 5873/HB 2031 – Concerning unemployment insurance, family leave, and medical leave premiums.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) in the Senate and Rep. April Berg (D-40) in the House proposes a number of changes to the state’s unemployment insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave programs. SB 5873 was heard in the Ways and Means Committee last week, the business community weighed in, in support of the bill.
Last week SB 5873 passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and was referred to Rules. Last Thursday the bill was pulled from Rules to the floor calendar.
SB 5959 – Concerning the financial stability and solvency of the family and medical leave insurance account
This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R-19), appropriates $125 million in Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery funds into the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Account (FMLIA) in fiscal year 2022. Moving forward, the bill directs the transfer of Dedicated Marijuana Account funds into the FMLIA to eliminate the solvency surcharge in 2023 through 2028. The bill was heard in the Ways and Means Committee last Friday.
SB 5559 – Concerning verification for use of paid sick leave
Dead bill — This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24), would prohibit an employer that does not pay at least 85% of an employee’s health insurance from requiring a statement from a health care provider to verify paid sick leave. The bill did not advance out of the Senate Labor Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee and is now dead.
HB 2076 – Concerning rights and obligations of transportation network company drivers and transportation network companies
Legislation introduced by Rep. Liz Berry (D-36) reflects years of conversations between the labour community and transportation network companies (TNCs). The bill passed the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on February 2 and was referred to House Transportation Committee. Today, the House Transportation Committee was relieved of further consideration and the bill was pulled to Rules. It is our understanding that the bill is not yet agreed to but stakeholders continue to work toward an agreement of some kind.
Coming Soon: Transportation Package, Supplemental Budget Proposals
Following the fiscal cutoff today, both chambers will head to the floor to pass bills until the House of Origin cutoff on February 15. We expect the House and Senate Transportation Chairs to release a transportation package this week and followed by a hearing soon after. We also expect to see House and Senate supplemental budget proposals the week of February 21.
Important Dates:
Feb. 3 – House of Origin Policy Cutoff
Feb. 7 – House of Origin Fiscal Cutoff
Feb. 15 – House of Origin Floor Cutoff
Feb. 24 – Opposite House Policy Cutoff
Feb. 28 – Opposite House Fiscal Cutoff
March 4 – Opposite House Floor Cutoff
