2024 Legislative Update: Week 1
The legislature convened for the 2024 legislative session on Monday, January 8th. This year’s session is considered a “short session” and is scheduled to last 60 days with the end date of March 7th. In short session years, the legislature makes tweaks to the budgets and policy issues leftover from the previous session. This session, legislators will be focusing on housing and homelessness, behavioral health, childcare access opioids/fentanyl, the climate commitment account, fish culverts, and the underfunded transportation budget.
On Tuesday, Governor Inslee delivered his last State of the State address before the 2024 election determines his replacement. Governor Inslee urged Legislators to “hold their ground” on climate policy and to make the state better at mental health, safer against opioids, more supportive for educators and students. Senator Nikki Torres delivered the
Republican perspective where she urged action on public safety, education, and affordability.
Additionally, the Legislature must also decide what do to with 6 citizen initiatives to the legislature. Those initiatives are:
- I-2117 to repeal the Climate Commitment Act
- I-2109 to roll back the tax on capital gains
- I-2111 to ban state and local governments from imposing taxes on income
- I-2113 to loosen some restrictions on when law enforcement officers can engage in vehicle pursuits
- I-2081 to let parents of public-school children review student records
- I-2124 to allow residents to opt out of the long-term program
The Legislature has three options before them when it comes to dealing with initiatives: (1) ignore the initiative and allow them to go to the ballot in November; (2) pass an alternative and send the alternative and original initiative to the ballot; or (3) adopt the initiatives as they are.
The other large ticket items the legislature will have to contend with is how to deal with an increase in funding basic services and the substantial cost increase on transportation projects previously considered fully funded.
These big items will have an impact of the number of bills the legislature will be able to consider. To date, 493 house bills and 439 senate bills have been introduced. The first policy committee deadline is January 31st.
There are several bills introduced that impact the Bellevue Chamber:
- HB 2201 – Facilitating linkage of Washington’s carbon market with the California-Quebec
carbon market
- HB 2071 – Concerning residential housing regulations
- HB 2211 – Granting local taxing authority to fund criminal justice
HB 2231 – Incentivizing cities and counties to attract and retain commissioned law enforcement officers
- SB 6052 – Concerning petroleum products supply and pricing
- HB 2245 – Establishing co-response services and training as an essential component of the crisis care continuum
- HB 2276 – Increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing
- SB 5770 – Providing state and local property tax reform
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events Report
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/15 @ 10:30am
SB 5793 – Public Hearing – Concerning paid sick leave. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/15 @ 1:30pm
HB 1976 – Exec Session – Changing the incentive structure for tier 1 and tier 2 buildings. HB 2039 – Exec Session – Modifying the appeals process for environmental and land use matters.
HB 2201 – Public Hearing – Facilitating linkage of Washington’s carbon market with the California-Quebec carbon market. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/15 @ 1:30pm
HB 2071 – Public Hearing – Concerning residential housing regulations. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 2113 – Public Hearing – Concerning compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 2160 – Exec Session – Promoting community and transit-oriented housing development.
Transportation (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/15 @ 4:00pm
SB 6115 – Public Hearing – Concerning speed safety camera systems. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5959 – Public Hearing – Concerning automated traffic safety cameras. (Remote Testimony Available).
Finance (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 8:00am
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HB 1895 – Exec Session – Modifying the working families’ tax credit by clarifying the refundable nature of the credit, the application requirements, and the eligibility verification process.
Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 1/16 @ 8:00am
SB 6061 – Public Hearing – Concerning exemptions for housing development under the state environmental policy act. (Remote Testimony Available).
Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 10:30am
HB 1870 – Exec Session – Promoting economic development by increasing opportunities for local communities to secure federal funding.
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/16 @ 10:30am
SB 5793 – Exec Session – Concerning paid sick leave.
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 10:30am
HB 2097 – Public Hearing – Assisting workers in recovering wages owed. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 10:30am
HB 2211 – Public Hearing – Granting local taxing authority to fund criminal justice. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 2231 – Public Hearing – Incentivizing cities and counties to attract and retain commissioned law enforcement officers. (Remote Testimony Available).
Health Care & Wellness (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 1:30pm
HB 2102 – Public Hearing – Establishing requirements for the disclosure of health care information for qualifying persons to receive paid family and medical leave benefits. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 4:00pm
HB 2070 – Public Hearing – Integrating environmental justice considerations into certain project decisions. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 4:00pm
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HB 2114 – Exec Session – Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/16 @ 4:00pm
SB 5839 – Public Hearing – Modifying the working families’ tax credit by clarifying the refundable nature of the credit, the application requirements, and the eligibility verification process. (Remote Testimony Available).
SSB 5133 – Public Hearing – Modifying the responsible bidder criteria for public works projects. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/17 @ 8:00am
SB 6052 – Public Hearing – Concerning petroleum products supply and pricing. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/17 @ 8:00am
HB 1991 – Public Hearing – Concerning paid sick leave. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/17 @ 10:30am
SB 6136 – Public Hearing – Reestablishing a business and occupation tax on the privilege of providing property for rent and supporting access to affordable rental property by exempting from tax landlords participating in a rent stabilization program. (Remote Testimony Available).
Health Care & Wellness (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/17 @ 1:30pm
HB 2245 – Public Hearing – Establishing co-response services and training as an essential component of the crisis care continuum. (Remote Testimony Available).
Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/18 @ 8:00am
HB 2027 – Exec Session – Concerning certification, background checks, and training requirements for sheriffs, police chiefs, marshals, reserve officers, and volunteers.
Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/18 @ 8:00am
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HB 1956 – Public Hearing – Addressing fentanyl and other substance use prevention education. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/18 @ 8:00am
2SHB 1433 – Exec Session – Concerning energy labeling of residential buildings.
Housing (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/18 @ 8:00am
HB 2071 – Exec Session – Concerning residential housing regulations.
HB 2113 – Exec Session – Concerning compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act.
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/18 @ 8:00am
SB 5935 – Public Hearing – Concerning noncompetition covenants. (Remote Testimony Available).
Law & Justice (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/18 @ 8:00am
SB 5917 – Public Hearing – Concerning criminal penalties for bias-motivated defacement of private or public property. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5796 – Public Hearing – Concerning common interest communities. (Remote Testimony Available).
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/18 @ 1:30pm
HB 2276 – Public Hearing – Increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing. (Remote Testimony Available).
Transportation (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/18 @ 4:00pm
SB 5812 – Public Hearing – Concerning the response to electric vehicle fires. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/18 @ 4:00pm
SB 5770 – Public Hearing – Providing state and local property tax reform. (Remote Testimony Available).
Consumer Protection & Business (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/19 @ 8:00am
HB 1934 – Public Hearing – Establishing an artificial intelligence task force. (Remote Testimony Available).
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Cadena Consulting January 14, 2024
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HB 1951 – Public Hearing – Promoting ethical artificial intelligence by protecting against
algorithmic discrimination. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/19 @ 8:00am
SB 5838 – Exec Session – Establishing an artificial intelligence task force.
Health Care & Wellness (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/19 @ 8:00am
HB 2271 – Public Hearing – Promoting access to information regarding the long-term services and supports trust program. (Remote Testimony Available).
State Government & Tribal Relations (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/19 @ 8:00am
HB 2023 – Exec Session – Improving meaningful access to elections by increasing language assistance.
Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/19 @ 10:30am
SB 5989 – Public Hearing – Confirming property ownership or owner authorization for short- term rentals. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 6173 – Public Hearing – Encouraging investments in affordable homeownership unit development. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/19 @ 10:30am
HB 2211 – Exec Session – Granting local taxing authority to fund criminal justice.
HB 2231 – Exec Session – Incentivizing cities and counties to attract and retain commissioned law enforcement officers.
