Deadline pressure is growing to get bills out of committees

It’s Day 22 of 60 of the 2020 session of the Washington Legislature in Olympia.

Deadline pressure is growing to get bills out of committees

2020 Washington Legislature, Day 22 of 60

Everett Herald political reporter Jerry Cornfield: jcornfield@heraldnet.com | @dospueblos

Want this in your inbox Monday-Friday? Subscribe here.

OLYMPIA, Feb. 3, 2020 — Good morning.

Today there will be caucuses in Iowa, closing arguments in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and continuing Super Bowl victory celebrations in Kansas City, Missouri. (Not Kansas, as the nation’s commander-in-chief tweeted.)

At the Capitol here, lawmakers will be focusing on the legislative session’s first important deadline. Friday is the cutoff for getting a policy bill out of committee. Those that don’t make it out by 5 p.m. Feb. 7 are pretty much done for the session. I say pretty much because around here no legislation is truly dead until Sine Die. Expect lots of hearings, after which their respective authors will be lobbying to get them voted on.

• A mandate for a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum in public schools could be voted out of the House Education Committee today. This would be a big deal because that panel did not vote on a sex-ed bill a year ago. In the meantime, the Democrat-controlled Senate passed a similar bill last month.

• Meanwhile, down the hall, the House environment panel will be hearing Gov. Jay Inslee request legislation to revise and expand provisions of his proposed Clean Air Rule.

• That revamped business tax to fund the state’s promise of college financial aid to thousands of students is on a fast-track. It passed the Senate last week and will get a hearing at 11 a.m. in the House Finance Committee. This new tax will replace the surcharge created last year that is, at least for the moment, in effect. Supporters are trying to get the fix to Inslee for his signature by Feb. 10 to avoid a bookkeeping mess.

• Bills to phase out elections in odd-numbered years and to move the state’s non-presidential primary to May stalled last Friday. Each had been in line for action in committees, but neither was voted on.


What we’re writing and reading

• How to help people with mental illness who refuse care? Republican Sen. Steve O’Ban has a plan, reports James Drew of The News Tribune in Tacoma.

• Should diaper purchases be exempt from sales tax? They would be under legislation pushed by an Everett lawmaker, writes Daisy Zavala of the Spokane Spokesman-Review.

• ICYMI: The state Senate has voted for the third time in three years to repeal Washington’s death penalty law. Now it goes to the House, where supporters are hoping the chamber’s new Democratic leadership will act, writes AP’s Rachel La Corte.


What’s happening

• It’s Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. Several hundred folks will be here for a noon rally on the Capitol steps. From there, some will likely head to the Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee for hearings at 1:30 p.m. on proposals to provide incentives for shared housing and affordable housing.

• Budget nerds will be interested in this: A bill to do away with the state’s spending limit and to impose new four-year balanced-budget requirements will be in front of the Senate Ways and Means Committee today. The Democratic chairwoman and ranking Republican are the authors.

Here’s today’s line-up of committee hearings.

Legislative agendas, schedules and calendars


On TV

Non-profit TVW covers state government in Olympia and selected events statewide. Programs are available for replay on the internet, and the channel is widely available on Washington cable systems.

TVW schedule | Current and recent video | Archives | Shows


Links

Contact your legislator | District lookup | Bill lookup

Legislature home | House | Senate

Caucuses: House Democrats | House Republicans | Senate Democrats | Senate Republicans

Office of the Governor

Laws and agency rules

Beat reporters: Jerry Cornfield (Herald) | Rachel La Corte (AP) | Joseph O’Sullivan (Times) | Jim Brunner (Times) | Melissa Santos (Crosscut) | Jim Camden (Spokesman-Review) | Austin Jenkins (NW News Network) | James Drew (News Tribune)

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Liam Shakya, 3, waves at a float passing by during the Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates Fourth of July with traditional parade

Thousands celebrated Independence Day by going to the annual parade, which traveled through the the city’s downtown core.

Ian Saltzman
Everett Public Schools superintendent wins state award

A group of school administrators named Ian Saltzman as a top educational leader.

Former Lake Stevens City Council member sworn in to fill vacant position

Kurt Hilt fills the seat left vacant after the sudden passing of former council member Marcus Tageant.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.