2025 Legislative Update: Week 1

The legislature convened for the 2025 legislative session on Monday, January 13th. This year’s session is considered a “long-session” when legislators convene for 105 days and do the hard work of writing the two-year (biennial) operating, capital, and transportation budgets. They also consider policy bills that are put forward. Session is scheduled to end on April 27th this year, so this is the marathon year rather than the sprint of short session.

There is a lot of ‘new’ going into the 2025 session, including:

• A new Governor (which in turn means new heads of most state agencies and new policy staff)
• A new Attorney General
• A new Insurance Commissioner
• A new Commissioner of Public Lands
• 23 newly elected (or appointed) freshman legislators (click here to see brief bios on most of these new members)
• 9 House members who have moved over to the Senate (this includes Rep Alvarado who is anticipated to be appointed to the Senate seat for her district this week)

With so much new, there is a lot of opportunity to work with members in their new positions. But there is also a lot of learning (including helping some of them find their offices and hearing rooms!).

After this first week, there are over 800 bills introduced and committees are already moving bills out of committee (also known as executive session).

Click here to watch this week’s TVW Legislative Review. Episodes are posted every day during session and are just 10 minutes long, providing highlights of the day in Olympia.

State of the State

Outgoing Governor Inslee’s final State of the State address was delivered at a joint session of the House and Senate on Tuesday. In his address he framed his 12 year legacy that spanned a pandemic, historic natural disasters, unmatched expansion of government, and a run for president.

Wednesday, the Senate and House of Representatives convened in joint session in for the swearing in of statewide officials and for incoming Governor Bob Ferguson’s inaugural address. Governor Ferguson’s address was in contrast to Governor Inslee’s farewell address in his priorities and focus. Ferguson said “I’m not here to defend government. I’m here to reform it.” He also distanced himself from Governor Inslee and fellow Democrats on new taxes and spending.

Following his address, Governor Ferguson signed three executive orders. The orders direct agencies to take action on key issues:

• Housing: The executive order directs state agencies to review all regulations that impact housing, permitting and construction and identify any provision that can be streamlined, deferred or eliminated.
• Reproductive freedom: The executive order directs the Department of Health to convene a roundtable of medical providers, reproductive health experts and policy makers to recommend strategies for protecting reproductive freedom.
• Permitting reform: The executive order directs all state agencies to cut down their permit and license processing times. If an agency does not meet its deadline, it will refund the application fee.

Budget

On January 9th, Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson announced his 2025-2027 budget priorities during the Washington State Association of Broadcasters and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington hosted a preview of the 2025 legislative session, which can be watched on TVW here. Governor-Elect Ferguson takes a very different approach to the current budget situation by calling for 6% across-the-board cuts to most state agencies. His priority issues areas include public safety, housing, ferries, and affordability.

Upcoming Events Report

Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/20 @ 1:30pm

HB 1217 – 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.

Local Government (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 1/20 @ 1:30pm

SB 5173 – Public Hearing – Concerning county comprehensive plans and development regulations. (Remote Testimony Available).

Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/21 @ 10:30am

SB 5292 – Public Hearing – Concerning paid family and medical leave rates. (Remote Testimony Available).

SB 5041 – Public Hearing – Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available).

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/21 @ 10:30am

HB 1045 – Public Hearing – Expanding the definition of uniformed personnel to all law enforcement officers employed by a city, town, or county. (Remote Testimony Available).

HB 1213 – Public Hearing – Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program. (Remote Testimony Available).

Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/21 @ 10:30am

HB 1212 – Public Hearing – Concerning the siting of child care centers. (Remote Testimony Available).

HB 1183 – Public Hearing – Concerning building code and development regulation reform. (Remote Testimony Available).

HB 1175 – Public Hearing – Allowing small business establishments in residential zones. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/21 @ 4:00pm

HB 1195 – Public Hearing – Concerning compliance with siting, development permit processes and standards, and requirements for permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor emergency shelters. (Remote Testimony Available).

HB 1235 – Public Hearing – Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/22 @ 1:30pm

SB 5222 – Public Hearing – 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. (Remote Testimony Available).

SB 5129 – Exec Session – Concerning common interest communities.

Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/23 @ 8:00am

HB 1096 – Exec Session – Increasing housing options through lot splitting.

Local Government (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 1/23 @ 1:30pm

SB 5155 – Public Hearing – Extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects. (Remote Testimony Available).

Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/24 @ 8:00am

SB 5040 – Public Hearing – Expanding the definition of uniformed personnel to all law enforcement officers employed by a city, town, or county. (Remote Testimony Available).

Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/24 @ 10:30am

SB 5036 – Public Hearing – Strengthening Washington’s leadership and accountability on climate policy by transitioning to annual reporting of statewide emissions data. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/24 @ 10:30am

SB 5148 – Public Hearing – Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. (Remote Testimony Available).

SB 5156 – Exec Session – Concerning elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings.

SB 5184 – Public Hearing – Concerning minimum parking requirements. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available).

Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/24 @ 10:30am

HB 1135 – Exec Session – Ensuring that local government planning complies with the growth management act.

HB 1015 – Exec Session – Concerning energy labeling of residential buildings.

HB 1212 – Exec Session – Concerning the siting of child care centers.

HB 1183 – Exec Session – Concerning building code and development regulation reform.

HB 1175 – Exec Session – Allowing small business establishments in residential zones.

State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections (Senate) – SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/24 @ 10:30am

SB 5176 – Exec Session – Implementing prompt pay recommendations from the capital projects advisory review board.