2025 Legislative Update: Week 5
One third of the 2025 session is done! This week committees were busy voting on bills before the first deadline next Friday, February 21st. If a bill has not moved out of its policy committee by this Friday, it will be considered dead (unless it’s deemed necessary to implement the budget). Even though committees will be busy with executive sessions this coming week, there will be a few bill hearings. Some of those hearings will try to squeeze a bill in to move it along, and some are likely ‘courtesy hearings’ for bills that are not anticipated to move this year. For the most part, the number of hearings will slow to a trickle and committees will focus mostly on moving bills out of committee.
The next cutoff is just one week later, Friday, February 28th which is the house of origin fiscal cutoff. Bills that will cost the state money and have been referred to one of the House fiscal committees (Appropriations, Capital Budget, and Finance), Senate Ways and Means, or the House or Senate Transportation Committee must be voted out of those fiscal committee by February 28th. Fiscal week is always one of the more intense times during session. To build in more time to hear bills, the Senate Ways & Means and House Appropriations committees have committee meetings on Saturday, February 22nd. Which means a fiscal Saturday with a marathon of hearings.
The number of bills being dropped (aka introduced) slowed down a lot this week, but there are still new ones being introduced every day. So far this session there have been over 1,800 bills and resolutions introduced (some of which are companion bills). For comparison to other long sessions, by the end of week 5 in 2023 there were around 1,600 bills introduced, and in 2021 there were around 1,300 bills introduced by this point.
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.
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.
Budget
The significant budget shortfall the state is facing (est. $10-12 billion down over the 4-year outlook) continues to be a dominant focus this session. As a reminder, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) directed state agencies to go through a ‘cuts exercise’ where they are looking for 6% in spending reductions at most agencies. The proposed reductions from agencies were due on February 6th and OFM’s website states they are taking those under analysis. During a press conference this week, Governor Ferguson stated he will be releasing his proposal relating to the 6% cuts sometime during the week of February 24th. To get a sense of the magnitude of how much 6% for each state agency, see this piece from the Washington Standard.
Also being discussed this week is that some numbers relating to Governor Inslee’s ‘book 1 budget’ have now been posted on OFM’s website. As a reminder, the book 1 budget is not allowed to factor in new revenue proposals, so we anticipate it is a full cuts budget with significant impact to programs and services. What is posted on OFM’s website are very high level numbers that don’t provide meaningful detail and is not understandable to a layperson. The legislature is working with those numbers, and it is anticipated something will be released in the coming days that will explain the extent of cuts needed to balance the budget if no new revenue is passed.
Upcoming Events Report
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/17 @ 10:30am
SB 5422 – Public Hearing – Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/17 @ 1:30pm
HB 1409 – Exec Session – Concerning the clean fuels program.
HB 1975 – Public Hearing – Amending the climate commitment act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the department of ecology’s authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions, and providing for market dynamic analysis. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/17 @ 1:30pm
HB 1915 – Public Hearing – Strengthening tenant protections. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (Senate) – SHR 3 and Virtual JACB – 2/17 @ 1:30pm
SB 5611 – Public Hearing – Streamlining and clarifying local governments’ land use permitting workloads. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5719 – Public Hearing – Concerning local government hearing examiners. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/17 @ 4:00pm
SHB 1175 – Public Hearing – Allowing small business establishments in residential zones. (Remote Testimony Available).
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/18 @ 8:00am
SB 5655 – Exec Session – Concerning child care centers operated in existing buildings.
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 8:00am
HB 1614 – Public Hearing – Modifying the capital gains tax. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1763 – Public Hearing – Providing state funding for essential affordable housing programs. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1882 – Public Hearing – Imposing an additional temporary state tax on lodging. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1983 – Exec Session – Amending the definition of timberland for purposes of determining the real estate excise tax for a governmental entity. (If measure is referred to committee.)
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/18 @ 10:30am
SB 5437 – Public Hearing – Prohibiting noncompetition agreements and clarifying nonsolicitation agreements. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5539 – Public Hearing – Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5292 – Exec Session – Concerning paid family and medical leave rates.
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 10:30am
HB 1622 – Exec Session – Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence.
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 10:30am
HB 1576 – Exec Session – Concerning the designation of historic landmarks by cities.
HB 1966 – Public Hearing – Concerning public works contracting. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1935 – Exec Session – Concerning the definition of project permit and project permit application.
State Government & Tribal Relations (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 1:30pm
HB 1934 – Public Hearing – Concerning the disclosure of information pertaining to complainants, accusers, and witnesses in an employment investigation. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 4:00pm
HB 1808 – Exec Session – Creating an affordable homeownership revolving loan fund program.
HB 1899 – Exec Session – Concerning the homelessness point-in-time count.
HB 1974 – Public Hearing – Establishing land banking authorities. (Remote Testimony Available).
Transportation (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/18 @ 4:00pm
SB 5726 – Public Hearing – Establishing new sources of transportation revenue based on motor vehicle use of public roadways. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/18 @ 4:00pm
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).
SSB 5148 – Public Hearing – Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5314 – Exec Session – Modifying the capital gains tax.
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/19 @ 8:00am
HB 1672 – Exec Session – Addressing technology used by employers in the workplace.
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/19 @ 8:00am
HB 1576 – Exec Session – Concerning the designation of historic landmarks by cities.
HB 1935 – Exec Session – Concerning the definition of project permit and project permit application.
HB 1966 – Exec Session – Concerning public works contracting.
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/19 @ 8:00am
HB 1860 – Exec Session – Creating a Washington state supply chain competitiveness infrastructure program.
Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/19 @ 10:30am
SB 5222 – 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.
SB 5612 – Public Hearing – Creating a categorical exemption for multiunit housing development within the incorporated areas in an urban growth area under the state environmental policy act. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5729 – Public Hearing – Encouraging construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5740 – Public Hearing – Concerning eviction reform and tenant safety. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5613 – Exec Session – Concerning the development of clear and objective standards, conditions, and procedures for residential development.
SB 5747 – Public Hearing – Concerning an exemption for affordable housing. (Remote Testimony Available).
Health Care & Wellness (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/19 @ 1:30pm
HB 1811 – Exec Session – Enhancing crisis response services through co-response integration and support.
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/19 @ 4:00pm
SHB 1303 – Public Hearing – Increasing environmental justice by improving government decisions. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/20 @ 8:00am
HB 1975 – Exec Session – Amending the climate commitment act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the department of ecology’s authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions, and providing for market dynamic analysis.
Housing (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/20 @ 8:00am
HB 1859 – Exec Session – Expanding opportunities for affordable housing developments on properties owned by religious organizations.
Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/20 @ 1:30pm
HB 1687 – Public Hearing – Concerning social housing public development authorities. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1950 – Public Hearing – Requiring subcontractors on public works contracts to be indemnified for certain expenses incurred as a result of late payments from a contractor or a subcontractor. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1967 – Public Hearing – Modifying bonding requirements in the design portion of design-build public works projects. (Remote Testimony Available).
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/20 @ 1:30pm
HB 1494 – Public Hearing – Concerning the property tax exemptions for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings in urban centers. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1913 – Public Hearing – Repealing the public utility tax credit for home energy assistance. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1986 – Public Hearing – Concerning the application of taxes to sales of motor vehicles for use in retail car rentals. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/20 @ 4:00pm
SHB 1183 – Public Hearing – Concerning building code and development regulation reform. (Remote Testimony Available).
SHB 1212 – Public Hearing – Concerning the siting of child care centers. (Remote Testimony Available).
SHB 1443 – Public Hearing – Concerning mobile dwellings. (Remote Testimony Available).
Transportation (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/20 @ 4:00pm
SB 5690 – Public Hearing – Concerning utility relocation. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5702 – Public Hearing – Streamlining the toll rate setting process at the transportation commission. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/21 @ 8:00am
SB 5422 – Exec Session – Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence.
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/21 @ 10:30am
SB 5380 – Public Hearing – Increasing environmental justice by improving government decisions. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5091 – Public Hearing – Concerning motor vehicle emission standards for Washington. (Remote Testimony Available).
Housing (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/21 @ 10:30am
SB 5731 – Public Hearing – Creating a tenant assistance program. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5733 – Public Hearing – Concerning updating comprehensive plans. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5749 – Public Hearing – Concerning housing development opportunity zones. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5732 – Public Hearing – Creating greater accountability for increasing the supply of housing consistent with growth management. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5753 – Public Hearing – Establishing a public housing task force. (Remote Testimony Available).
SB 5755 – Public Hearing – Incentivizing residential development with public benefits on underutilized commercial properties. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/21 @ 10:30am
HB 1672 – Exec Session – Addressing technology used by employers in the workplace.
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/21 @ 10:30am
HB 1576 – Exec Session – Concerning the designation of historic landmarks by cities.
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/21 @ 1:30pm
HB 1095 – Public Hearing – Incentivizing cities and counties to attract and retain commissioned law enforcement officers. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1805 – Public Hearing – Creating a local sales and use tax to fund services for children and families that enhance well-being, promote mental health, and provide early interventions. (Remote Testimony Available).
HB 1717 – Public Hearing – Creating a sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/22 @ 9:00am
SHB 1213 – Public Hearing – Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program. (Remote Testimony Available).
