2025 Legislative Update: Week 3
Week three of session continued with a focus on policy committee activity that again included work sessions, hearings, and executive session. The first cutoff of session is quickly approaching. All bills must pass out of their policy committee in their house of origin (in other words the chamber in which they were introduced) by February 21st. The exception to this are bills that are deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB). Bills considered NTIB are not subject to the cutoff calendar. With the house of origin policy cutoff getting closer, advocates and legislators are working hard to get their bills scheduled for hearings, work through any changes that need to be made through amendment and passage out of committee.
So far this session there have been 1,500 bills introduced (some of which are companion bills).
The brief federal funding freeze caught everyone’s attention, and budget and bill discussions are occurring with an eye on Washington D.C.
Change to the Permanent Rules of the House of Representatives
On January 24th, the House updated and adopted their permanent rules, which are essentially the operating procedures that dictate decorum, rules, and procedures for the House floor. The adoption of a chamber’s rules is often done without many changes and minimal drama or fanfare. But this year was different as the House Democrats made some notable changes to their permanent rules (EHR 4607).
- Floor Access for Governor’s Designees: House Democrats edited a longstanding rule allowing automatic admission to the chamber for both governors and their designees. The rules were updated to remove access to designees, so it now applies only to the governor. A member of the governor’s staff or administration will no longer be admitted to the House without the invitation of a member.
- Ending Debate: The Democrats also change the rules for what’s called “the previous question”, which essentially is a motion to end debate and vote. Any member can call ‘the previous question’, but the previous rule had been that a two-thirds majority vote was required to end debate in the House. The rule has now been changed to a simple majority. The Democrats hold 59 of the House’s 98 seats, so this can be easily accomplished. In addition, they also changed it so that once they’ve called ‘the previous question’ and the bill is on final passage, one member from each side (one proponent and one opponent) each has up to 3 mins to speak and close debate.
TVW Highlights
During the Legislative Democratic Leadership Availability and the Legislative Republican Leadership Media Availability from last week, you’ll hear the very different views about the House Rule changes outlined above.
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.
Looking Ahead
This week will see more public hearings and movement of bills out of committee. Follow where we are in the process by consulting the 2025 Session Cutoff Calendar.
Upcoming Events Report
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/3 @ 10:30am
SB 5528 – Public Hearing – Concerning the installation of transportation electrification infrastructure. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/3 @ 1:30pm
HB 1500 – Public Hearing – Concerning resale certificates for units in common interest communities. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1501 – Public Hearing – Concerning inquiries into association governance or operations by unit owners in common interest communities. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 2/3 @ 1:30pm
SB 5558 – Public Hearing – Concerning growth management comprehensive plans. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5559 – Public Hearing – Streamlining the subdivision process inside urban growth areas. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/3 @ 4:00pm
SHB 1217 – 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). (Oppose)
Transportation (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/3 @ 4:00pm
HB 1643 – Public Hearing – Supporting transportation system improvements by addressing utility facility removal and relocation responsibilities. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/3 @ 4:00pm
SSB 5060 – Public Hearing – Increasing the number of law enforcement agency personnel. (Remote Testimony Available).
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/4 @ 8:00am
HB 1016 – Public Hearing – Providing employer tax incentives for the support of veterans and military families. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1040 – Public Hearing – Concerning rental income received by people eligible for certain property tax exemption programs. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1165 – Public Hearing – Expanding access to the property tax exemption program for seniors, people retired due to disability, and veterans with disabilities. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1214 – Public Hearing – Expanding eligibility for the working families’ tax credit to everyone age 18 and older. (Remote Testimony Available).
Agriculture & Natural Resources (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/4 @ 10:30am
HB 1208 – Exec Session – Extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects.
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/4 @ 10:30am
SB 5501 – Public Hearing – Concerning employer requirements for driving. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/4 @ 10:30am
HB 1299 – Public Hearing – Concerning minimum parking requirements. (Remote Testimony Available). (Neutral)
HB 1353 – Public Hearing – Establishing a self-certification program for accessory dwelling unit project permit applications. (Remote Testimony Available).
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/4 @ 10:30am
HB 1671 – Public Hearing – Protecting personal data privacy. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/4 @ 4:00pm
HB 1099 – Public Hearing – Creating a tenant assistance program. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/5 @ 8:00am
HB 1622 – Public Hearing – Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/5 @ 8:00am
HB 1458 – Public Hearing – Reducing embodied carbon emissions of buildings and building materials. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1160 – Exec Session – Concerning local government design review. (Oppose/High)
Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/5 @ 10:30am
SB 5555 – Public Hearing – Concerning zoning regulations in commercial, retail, and mixed-use areas in cities and code cities. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5148 – Exec Session – Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act.
SB 5184 – Exec Session – Concerning minimum parking requirements. (Neutral)
SB 5496 – Public Hearing – Preserving homeownership options by limiting excessive home buying by certain entities. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available).
Early Learning & Human Services (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/5 @ 1:30pm
HB 1385 – Public Hearing – Concerning fingerprint background check on applicants. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/5 @ 4:00pm
HB 1435 – Public Hearing – Creating a law enforcement hiring grant program. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 8:00am
HB 1543 – Exec Session – Increasing compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard.
Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 8:00am
HB 1687 – Public Hearing – Concerning social housing public development authorities. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1757 – Public Hearing – Modifying regulations for existing buildings used for residential purposes. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1443 – Exec Session – Concerning mobile dwellings. (Concerns)
Local Government (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 2/6 @ 1:30pm
SB 5429 – Public Hearing – Concerning membership in the state building code council. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5509 – Public Hearing – Concerning the siting of child care centers. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 4:00pm
HB 1468 – Public Hearing – Concerning accounts. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1473 – Public Hearing – Making expenditures from the budget stabilization account for declared catastrophic events. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/6 @ 4:00pm
SB 5314 – Exec Session – Modifying the capital gains tax.
Consumer Protection & Business (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 8:00am
HB 1516 – Public Hearing – Conducting a study of insurance coverage options for permanently affordable homeownership units. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/7 @ 8:00am
SB 5041 – Exec Session – Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.
SB 5528 – Exec Session – Concerning the installation of transportation electrification infrastructure.
Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 10:30am
HB 1403 – Exec Session – Simplifying condominium construction statutes. (Support)
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/7 @ 10:30am
SB 5360 – Exec Session – Concerning environmental crimes.
SB 5036 – Exec Session – Strengthening Washington’s leadership and accountability on climate policy by transitioning to annual reporting of statewide emissions data.
Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/7 @ 10:30am
SB 5580 – Public Hearing – Concerning the registration of certain corporations and trusts that own single-family homes and condominium units. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5591 – Public Hearing – Creating a sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5613 – Public Hearing – Concerning the development of clear and objective standards, conditions, and procedures for residential development. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 10:30am
HB 1332 – Exec Session – Concerning transportation network companies.
HB 1155 – Exec Session – Prohibiting noncompetition agreements and clarifying nonsolicitation agreements.
HB 1213 – Exec Session – Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program.
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/7 @ 10:30am
HB 1299 – Exec Session – Concerning minimum parking requirements. (Neutral)
HB 1353 – Exec Session – Establishing a self-certification program for accessory dwelling unit project permit applications.
HB 1438 – Exec Session – Ensuring efficient approval of certain housing permit applications. (Support)
HB 1135 – Exec Session – Ensuring that local government planning complies with the growth management act.
