Seattle City Wire

Last week the legislature cleared a major hurdle, the House of Origin cutoff. March 8 was the deadline for bills to move out of the chamber (House or Senate) in which they were introduced. This year, 2,086 bills have been introduced, and 559 made it past last week’s deadline and out of their respective chambers. With so many priority bills on the floor calendar, legislators worked late nights and weekends to get as much done as they could before Wednesday’s cutoff. 

Housing 

Last week the House passed high-profile legislation House Bill 1110, which aims to address housing’s  missing middle by allowing for the development of more diverse housing options like duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, etc. in residential neighborhoods that meet certain criteria. The bill was amended and passed with a strong bipartisan vote, 75-21. The House also passed House Bill 1167, which would streamline local processes to ease and promote the construction of  middle housing. These are two bills, along with   a package of bills that address affordable housing, made it past the cut off and are still alive this session. 

Nurse Staffing 

Last week the Senate acted on a handful of health care bills including the highly anticipated legislation related to nurse staffing ratios. The nurse staffing bill, Senate Bill 5236 was brought to the Senate floor and passed, 35-13. The body passed a striking amendment that was negotiated by hospitals and labor. To read more about this issue click here. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 5454, a bill that would recognize post-traumatic stress disorder for nurses. On March 8 the Senate passed Senate Bill 5103, which provides financial relief to hospitals for Medicaid patients who cannot be discharged while waiting for acceptance to an acute care facility. 

Environment 

Environmental issues continued to be on the agenda for majority Democrats last week. The House passed House Bill 1589, which would help Puget Sound Energy with decarbonization efforts by moving away from fossil fuels. The House also passed House Bill 1789, which would give the Department of Natural Resources the ability to sell carbon credits on Washington state lands. House Bill 1216 passed out of the House and the legislation seeking to create an Interagency Clean Energy Siting Coordinating Council to be co-chaired by the Department of Ecology and the Department of Commerce passed out of the House last week as well. 

Carbon Auction Results 

On March 7, results from the state's first carbon auction, held on Feb. 28, were released. Carbon credits were sold at $48.50 per allowance. With more than 6 million allowances sold, the state raised about $300 million in the first auction. Three more auctions will be held by the Department of Ecology later this year.  

Legislation to Watch 

Employment Law 

SHB 1570 - Concerning social insurance programs applicable to transportation network companies and drivers 

This legislation would expand social insurance program access to rideshare drivers. Specifically, SHB 1570 provides unemployment insurance to drivers providing services for transportation network companies. It also creates a pilot program in which drivers may elect to pay for Paid Family and Medical Leave coverage. On March 2 the bill passed the House, 87-9 and it is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce on March 13. 

SHB 1458 - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for apprenticeship program participants 

This bill would expand unemployment benefits to apprentices. The bill requires the Employment Security Department (ESD) to convene a work group to identify and address barriers faced by eligible claimants participating in apprenticeship programs when those claims seek timely access to unemployment insurance benefits. The bill passed the House on Feb. 28 and has beeen. scheduled for public hearing on March 13th in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce. It is also scheduled for an executive session in the same committee, on Tuesday March 14th. 

SSB 5286 - Modifying the premium provisions of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program 

This bipartisan legislation proposes changes to the Paid Family Medical Leave program including adjusting the way premiums are calculated, raising the cap on premiums, and creating a reserve fund. The bill was passed in the Senate, 48-0, on Feb. 1 and has been scheduled in the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee for a public hearing on March 14. 

SB 5217 - Concerning the state's ability to regulate certain industries and risk classes to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and disorders 

This bill would repeal the law prohibiting the Department of Labor and Industries from adopting rules related to ergonomics or musculoskeletal disorders. The bill was brought to the Senate and there was a striking amendment adopted on the floor and 14 additional amendments considered. The body ultimately adopted two additional amendments and the bill was passed, 27-21 on March 1. It is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on March 14. 

Economic Development 

HB 1258/ SB 5465 - Increasing tourism to Washington state through enhancement of the statewide tourism marketing account and changing necessary match requirements 

This legislation would implement multiple measures to expand tourism in Washington State, including increasing the revenue collected into the Statewide Tourism Marketing Account from $3 to $9 million per biennium. SHB 1258 was unanimously passed out of the House on March 1 and is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade on March 14. 

HB 1717/ SB 5379 - Supporting innovation at associate development organizations 

This bill would require the Department of Commerce to establish an annual competitive grant program to support and catalyze initiatives to foster innovation, sustainability, partnerships, and equity at associate development organizations. HB 1717 was passed in the House on March 4, 90-6 and scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade on March 14. 

Housing Affordability and Homelessness 

HB 1517/SB 5466 - Promoting transit-oriented development 

Gov. Jay Inslee’s request legislation focused on transit-oriented development seeks density of residential development near transit hubs and light rail stations. On March 1 SB 5466 passed the Senate, 40-8. The bill has now been scheduled for a public hearing on March 16. 

HB 1337- Expanding housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of accessory dwelling units 

This bill would require cities and counties to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in urban growth areas (with some restrictions) and permit homeowners to convert garages into ADUs. The measure passed the House March 2, 81-15 The bill had its First reading on March 6th and was referred to Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs where it awaits further action. 

HB 1276/SB 5235- Concerning accessory dwelling units 

This legislation would require cities and counties to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and allows homeowners to lease the ADUs as short-term rentals. SB 5235 passed the Senate Feb. 27, 42-6. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing on March 13th in the House Housing Committee. 

Public Safety 

HB 1638 - Creating a state trooper expedited recruitment incentive program 

This legislation creates the State Trooper Expedited Recruitment Incentive Program and directs Washington State Patrol to establish hiring procedures and an accelerating training program for lateral hires from other law enforcement agencies. The bill passed the House this Feb. 27, 94-1 and is scheduled on March 13th for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation. 

Environment 

HB 1505/SB 5447 - Promoting the alternative jet fuel industry in Washington 

This week bipartisan legislation was introduced related to sustainable aviation fuels. The goal of the legislation is to promote in-state use and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels through tax incentives and other tools. SB 5447 passed the Senate on March 1, 46-2. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Environment and Energy Committee on March 13. 

What’s Coming up Next 

This week the Senate is holding hearings on bills that passed the House and the House is hearing bills that passed the Senate. This will continue until the opposite house policy cutoff on March 29. The House will release its budget after the March 20 revenue forecast and the Senate will release its version soon after. Then budget negotiations will begin. 

Important Dates 

March 29, 2023 - Policy Committee Cutoff - Opposite House  

April 4, 2023 - Fiscal Committee Cutoff - Opposite House  

April 12, 2023 - Opposite House Cutoff  

April 23, 2023 - Sine Die

Original source can be found here.