2023 Legislative Update: Week 1

Weekly Update

The legislature convened for the 2023 legislative session on Monday, January 9th. This year’s session is considered a “long-session” and is scheduled to last 105 days with the end date of April 23rd. The legislature is kicking off the start of a new 2-year budget cycle during which new Operating, Capital, and Transportation budgets will be negotiated.

This is the first in-person session since the end of the 2020 legislative session. The legislature is conducting committee and legislative meetings in a “hybrid” manner. This means the legislature is open for in-person attendance as well as allowing for virtual meetings and virtual public testimony.

There are 29 new legislators and 10 new committee chairs – lots of new faces. Legislators will focus on homelessness, housing affordability, the behavioral health system, education funding, and workforce shortages.

On Tuesday, Governor Inslee delivered his State of the State address, which focused on affordable housing, banning assault weapons, shoring up the behavioral health system, and combating climate change. 

After this first week, there are over 600 bills introduced and committees are already passing bills out of committee (what we call executive session). There are several bills introduced that impact the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce:

• SB 5286: Modifying the premium provisions of the paid family and medical leave program
• SB 5203/HB 1181: Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework 
• HB 1110: Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing
• SB 5202: Reducing homelessness in WA state through capital expenditures for programs that address housing insecurity

Click here to watch this week’s TVW Week in Review, which provides a good wrap-up of the week.

Upcoming Events Report

Labor & Commerce (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 1/16 @ 10:30am

• SB 5186 - Public Hearing - Requiring antidiscrimination clauses in public contracting. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5286 - Public Hearing - Modifying the premium provisions of the paid family and medical leave program. (Remote Testimony Available).

Law & Justice (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 1/16 @ 10:30am

• SB 5002 - Public Hearing - Concerning alcohol concentration. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 1/16 @ 1:30pm

• HB 1042 - Exec Session - Concerning the use of existing buildings for residential purposes.
• HB 1054 - Exec Session - Addressing the authority of owners' associations in common interest communities to regulate or limit occupancy by unrelated persons.

Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs (Senate) - SHR 3 and Virtual JACB - 1/17 @ 8:00am

• SB 5203 - Public Hearing - Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available).

Labor & Commerce (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 1/17 @ 10:30am

• SB 5088 - Exec Session - Adding references to contractor registration and licensing laws in workers' compensation, public works, and prevailing wage statutes.
• SB 5286 - Exec Session - Modifying the premium provisions of the paid family and medical leave program.

Local Government (House) - HHR E and Virtual JLOB - 1/17 @ 10:30am

• HB 1181 - Public Hearing - Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 1/17 @ 4:00pm

• HB 1110 - Public Hearing - Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. (Remote Testimony Available).

Transportation (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 1/17 @ 4:00pm

• SB 5023 - Public Hearing - Concerning roadside safety measures. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5162 - Public Hearing - Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. (Remote Testimony Available).

Local Government (House) - HHR E and Virtual JLOB - 1/18 @ 8:00am

• HB 1135 - Public Hearing - Authorizing impact fee revenue to fund improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 1/18 @ 1:30pm

• SB 5202 - Public Hearing - Reducing homelessness in Washington state through capital expenditures for programs that address housing insecurity. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5224 - Public Hearing - Establishing performance requirements of homelessness service providers. (Remote Testimony Available).

Appropriations (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 1/18 @ 4:00pm

• HB 1218 - Public Hearing - Adding a new caseload for the official caseload forecast for the number of people eligible for the working families' tax credit under RCW 82.08.0206. (Remote Testimony Available).

Transportation (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 1/18 @ 4:00pm

• HB 1125 - Public Hearing - Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. (Remote Testimony Available).
• HB 1126 - Public Hearing - Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium. (Remote Testimony Available).

Housing (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 1/19 @ 8:00am

• HB 1167 - Public Hearing - Concerning residential housing regulations. (Remote Testimony Available).

Law & Justice (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 1/19 @ 8:00am

• SB 5002 - Exec Session - Concerning alcohol concentration.

Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs (Senate) - SHR 3 and Virtual JACB - 1/19 @ 10:30am

• SB 5235 - Public Hearing - Concerning accessory dwelling units. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5289 - Public Hearing - Concerning allowing the use of impact fees for law enforcement. (Remote Testimony Available).

Ways & Means (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 1/19 @ 4:00pm

• SB 5285 - Public Hearing - Adding a new caseload for the official caseload forecast for the number of people eligible for the working families' tax credit under RCW 82.08.0206. (Remote Testimony Available).

Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 1/20 @ 8:00am

• HB 1045 - Exec Session - Creating the evergreen basic income pilot program.

State Government & Elections (Senate) - SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 1/20 @ 8:00am

• SB 5133 - Exec Session - Modifying the responsible bidder criteria for public works projects.
• SB 5268 - Public Hearing - Addressing equity and efficiencies in public works procurement including modifying small works roster requirements. (Remote Testimony Available).

Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) - HHR A and Virtual JLOB - 1/20 @ 10:30am

• HB 1080 - Exec Session - Concerning body worn cameras.

Housing (Senate) - SHR 4 and Virtual JACB - 1/20 @ 10:30am

• SB 5197 - Public Hearing - Addressing landlord-tenant relations by providing technical changes to eviction notice forms and modifying certain eviction processes. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5279 - Public Hearing - Expanding a sales and use tax deferral program for affordable housing to include structures initially used as temporary employee housing for employees constructing warehouses, distribution centers, and other large facilities. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5301 - Public Hearing - Concerning housing programs administered by the department of commerce. (Remote Testimony Available).

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 1/20 @ 10:30am

• HB 1106 - Exec Session - Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work.

Local Government (House) - HHR E and Virtual JLOB - 1/20 @ 10:30am

• HB 1135 - Exec Session - Authorizing impact fee revenue to fund improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
• HB 1181 - Exec Session - Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework

Stay tuned for next week's update!