First Bill Cutoff Jan. 31 in Olympia – What Will Survive?

by Boswell Consulting | January 29, 2024 | Policy & Advocacy | 0 comments

One-third of the 2024 legislative session is now complete. On Jan. 31 all bills without fiscal implications must pass their respective policy committees to remain alive. Following this deadline, attention will turn to the budget committees, which are set to convene over the upcoming weekend in preparation for the first fiscal cutoff on Feb. 5.

Key Issues

Unemployment Benefits for Employees on Strike: SB 5777/HB 1893 would provide unemployment benefits for employees on strike. SB 5777 was passed by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Jan. 16 and is now in Senate Rules where it can be pulled to the floor for a vote. On Jan. 26, HB 1893 passed out of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on a party line vote.
Paid Family and Medical Leave Small Business Exemption: HB 1959, would extend parts of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program to employers with fewer than 50 employees, passed out of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on Jan. 26 on a party line vote.
Social Equity Children’s Land Trust to Support Childcare: HB 2243 would allow the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to purchase land and use the proceeds as a revenue stream to provide funding for opening childcare centers in places where they are needed most. The bill was heard on Jan. 19 and is scheduled for executive action on Jan. 31.
Childcare and Tax Preferences: Last week, the House Finance Committee held a public hearing on two pieces of legislation related to tax preferences and childcare. HB 1716 would give businesses that provide childcare a credit on their business and occupation taxes. HB 2322 would require companies that get a preferential B&O tax rate to provide childcare for their employees. Read about the proposals here.
Gift Cards: SB 5988/HB 2095 and SB 5987/HB 2094 have all been heard in their respective committees, but no further action has been scheduled. However, due to the bills’ fiscal impacts, they will be in play until the end of session.
New Tax Options on Short-Term Rentals: SB 5334 would allow a county or city to impose an excise tax on the sale of lodging of short-term rentals through a short-term rental platform at a rate of up to 10%. The revenue from the tax would be used for the operating and capital costs of affordable housing programs, including homeless housing assistance, temporary shelters, and other related services.
Transit-Oriented Development: HB 2160, which requires larger cities to allow denser housing near train or bus stops faces challenges due to certain aspects like affordability requirements, displacement safeguards, and parking limits. This bill had a public hearing on Jan. 25 in the House Capital Budget Committee, and is awaiting further action.