Left to right, EASC Director of Governmental Relations Rashma Agarwal, Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, Rep. elect Sam Low, and Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Everett talk on a panel during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Left to right, EASC Director of Governmental Relations Rashma Agarwal, Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, Rep. elect Sam Low, and Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Everett talk on a panel during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Lawmakers prepare for first in-person session since 2020

More homes, less homelessness, a Blake ruling fix and an assault weapons ban are among the issues to watch.

OLYMPIA — Washington’s 147 citizen legislators return to the state Capitol on Monday for the 2023 session.

Their return is kind of a big deal.

Most everything got transacted virtually the past two years. Only in the final days of last session did the House and Senate allow a limited number of masked lawmakers to participate from their regular seats on the floor.

Working remotely certainly didn’t slow lawmakers. They churned out hundreds of bills in the past two years.

Still, with a 105-day session, in which a new two-year operating budget must be passed, there’s bipartisan joy at the chance to discuss, negotiate and iron out wrinkles in person — barring any COVID resurgence, of course.

“It’s definitely a net positive,” said Rep. Strom Peterson,D-Edmonds, who is chair of the House Housing Committee, which is expected to be one of the busiest panels this session.

Rep. elect Sam Low, left, and Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Everett, right, talk on a panel during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Rep. elect Sam Low, left, and Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Everett, right, talk on a panel during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Democrats hold majorities in the House, 58-40, and the Senate, 29-20. Add Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee and the party’s grip on the reins of legislating power is complete.

Republican leaders will press hard to slow the majority’s agenda — with the help of a few moderate Democrats — and keep a focus on theirs.

There are 24 lawmakers — 16 representatives and 8 senators — whose districts include a slice of Snohomish County. That’s three more than last session due to redistricting.

The roster includes four newly elected state representatives. Three are Democrats — Julio Cortes and Mary Fosse, both of Everett, and Clyde Shavers of Oak Harbor — and the other is Republican Sam Low.

Here are five things to watch this session.

Snohomish County Executive Policy Officer Stephanie Wright speaks during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Snohomish County Executive Policy Officer Stephanie Wright speaks during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

More homes, less homelessness

Increasing the supply of housing and decreasing the number of people without shelter sit atop most lawmakers’ agendas. Gov. Jay Inslee’s too. He’s gone big, proposing a $4 billion bond to catalyze the building of thousands of new affordable housing units in the next six years. Lawmakers would need to put it on the ballot and voters would need to approve it. Meanwhile, there’s a bipartisan push to intensify development in neighborhoods near transit centers by allowing development of at least four units on residential lots, and six units if two of them are affordable. Expect the capital budget to again contain very large sums to remove homeless encampments from roadways and assist local governments with buying and converting motels into transitional housing.

Drugs and guns

Since the state Supreme Court in 2021 erased a law that made drug possession a felony, lawmakers have been trying to find a good solution. What’s on the books, and expires in June, makes drug possession a misdemeanor and requires cops to direct folks to where they can get treatment. What’s on the drawing board now would increase the penalty for possession to a gross misdemeanor, create paths for those arrested to avoid prosecution or get convictions vacated by completing treatment, and increase availability of services. A ban on assault weapons will be debated for a seventh year. Also expect discussions on the need for longer waiting periods to obtain a firearm and a means to hold gun makers and sellers accountable if one of their products harms someone.

Highways and byways

Last session Democrats muscled through a 16-year, $17 billion transportation package without a single Republican vote. At the time, they only laid out where money would go in the first two years. This session they will try to decide, maybe in a bipartisan way, what sums will go to which projects and when. A new U.S. 2 trestle and a wider Highway 522 are among those vying for some serious cash. There will be a search for ways to reduce fatal accidents and pedestrian deaths. And a bill has been introduced to lower the maximum blood-alcohol content, or BAC, for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05%. At that mark, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation.

EASC President and CEO Garry Clark speaks during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

EASC President and CEO Garry Clark speaks during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County 2023 Legislative Kick-off on Thursday, at Hotel Indigo in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Staffing shortage

Arguably the most widespread problem facing public and private sector employers is a lack of workers. There aren’t enough nurses, cops, ferry crews, child care providers, health care professionals, etc. And there are too few people applying, let alone in the pipeline, to fill vacancies of retiring Baby Boomers and Great Resignees. Lawmakers may provide money for higher wages, retention bonuses, and school loan payments to help out in several fields. License requirements for health care professionals may get overhauled in hopes of bolstering their ranks. A revamped nurse staffing bill will be rolled out soon. Last session a bill to limit the number of patients assigned to a nurse and to fine hospitals that failed to comply with staffing plans died in the final days.

Budget wild cards

State bean counters are gearing up to start collecting a new capital gains tax. It’s supposed to generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year for childcare, early learning and education-related programs. The money is assumed in the next budget. But the tax might not be legal. A Douglas County judge reached that conclusion last March. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Jan. 26. While a decision might not come before adjournment, if justices uphold the lower court ruling, it will create an impressive hole that may require filling with reserves until the 2024 session.

In the meantime, the Department of Ecology is expecting a big pay day for state coffers Feb. 28 when it holds its first auction of carbon emission allowances under Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. There are going to be four auctions a year. Officials think they might net around $480 million this year — more than double previous projections. Higher-than-expected receipts are anticipated for the next few years. Lawmakers will want to spend the extra dough if they can agree on exactly where it should go.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.

This story has been modified to correct the number of Republican state Representatives.

Talk to us

More in Local News

FILE - Former President Donald J. Trump watches the NCAA Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Lawyer: Trump indicted, 1st ex-president charged with crime

Former president Donald Trump has been indicted on charges in New York regarding payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter.

Jeanette Westover poses for a photo at her home in Snohomish, Washington on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tenant: Housing Hope ignored meth contamination at Snohomish apartment

Jeanette Westover says meth contamination far exceeding state limits gave her seizures and kidney infections.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Police investigating cause of fatal 3-vehicle crash on Highway 9

The man, 61, crossed the center line in Snohomish on Monday and crashed into the truck, the sheriff’s office said.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
1 dead, 1 in hospital after 3-vehicle crash on Highway 9

A concrete pumping truck and two sedans crashed Monday afternoon, closing the highway near Bickford Avenue.

Moses Malachi Brewer appears in court for sentencing Friday, March 24, 2023, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Man sentenced to 18 years for 2019 shooting in Everett

Moses Brewer, 23, shot four people in an Everett apartment, which left one victim paralyzed on his right side.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
Health care spending continues to outpace inflation, driven by prices

Can state efforts curb 6.7% growth per year in overall health care spending?

NO CAPTION NECESSARY: Logo for the Cornfield Report by Jerry Cornfield. 20200112
A buffet of budgets, a bunch of whales and a request for your miles

It’s Day 78. Here’s what’s happening in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature

Erinn Dearth and Dan Beckmann will perform 7 p.m. at The Historic Everett Theater, on Friday, April 14, 2023. Their "Letters From Home" show features music from the soundtracks of WWII, Vietnam and more. (Photo provided)
USO-style variety show to make stop at Historic Everett Theatre

The cast of “Letters from Home” hopes to reach veterans, active military members and their families.

Jack Yoke, 5, runs through the Roozengaarde tulip fields on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 in Mount Vernon, Wash. This is the final week to head out to Mount Vernon to enjoy the of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival which ends on May 2nd.(Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tulip Festival brings spectacular traffic jams, blooms to Skagit Valley

Thousands will visit the annual flower fest that kicks off Saturday and runs through April. Here are some tips.

Most Read