Monday
Week three of the legislative session begins with a hearing in the Housing Committee on bipartisan legislation to allow greater freedom to use homes on wheels as official dwellings. Offered by Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-SeaTac), HB 1443 requires local jurisdictions to allow one home on wheels, such as mobile homes or camping trailers, per residential lot, while requiring certain access to electricity, water, and plumbing.
Later in the Appropriations Committee, a public hearing is scheduled on Rep. Sharlett Mena’s (D-Tacoma) proposal to make Election Day a legislatively recognized day (HB 1116) and HB 1123 prime sponsored by Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Seattle) to improve access to health care for public employees. In the Transportation Committee, HB 1418 is scheduled for a public hearing. Sponsored by Rep. Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham), the bill adds two transit riders to the governing boards of public transportation benefit areas.
Tuesday
Morning committee hearings begin with two bills in the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee prime sponsored by Rep. Shaun Scott (D-Seattle). HB 1313, the Washington WARN Act, requires 60 day notice before mass layoffs or terminations can be implemented by companies of 100 employees or more. HB 1402 prohibits employers from advertising jobs saying that applicants are required to have drivers licenses if the job does not require a drivers license as part of the job function.
In the afternoon, the Consumer Protection & Business Committee has possible executive session scheduled for Rep. Mena’s bill to regulate the sale of sodium nitrite (HB 1209). In the Early Learning & Human Services Committee, the public will have a chance to testify on two bills to expand housing assistance options for families in need (HB 1177, sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo) and youth in the extended foster care program (HB 1429, sponsored by Rep. Jamila Taylor, D-Federal Way).
Also in the afternoon, the Health Care & Wellness Committee will hear testimony on HB 1291, new legislation sponsored by Rep. Alicia Rule (D-Blaine), to lower costs for new parents by minimizing or eliminating labor and delivery services from being included in a person’s deductible obligation. And in the Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee, members are scheduled to vote on a variety of bills including HB 1142 from Rep. Macri to standardize basic training and certification requirements for long-term care workers who provide in-home care for family members and HB 1298, from Rep. April Berg (D-Mill Creek), to expand insurance availability and access to current and former college athletes.
Later in the day, the Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1491, this year’s Transit-Oriented Development bill introduced by Rep. Julia Reed (D-Seattle).
Wednesday
Floor action kicks off Wednesday with a resolution and speeches honoring the National Guard.
Committee action includes a public hearing in Consumer Protection & Business on Rep. Kristine Reeves’ (D-Federal Way) HB 1066, creating a data dashboard to track use of regulated substances. The Early Learning & Human Services Committee has scheduled a public hearing on HB 1158, prime sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place), to improve community inclusion services for individuals with development disabilities.
The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee has a public hearing scheduled on HB 1321, sponsored by Rep. Mena, to limit outside militia activities within Washington state and HB 1434, prime sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D-Redmond), establishing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays.
Later in the afternoon, the Transportation Committee has possible executive session scheduled for HJM 4000, sponsored by Rep. Gregerson, to extend the naming of a portion of State Route 900 in King County as the “Martin Luther King Jr. Way” as a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thursday
The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled public hearings on several bills to address special education funding. HB 1310, prime sponsored by Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle) and HB 1357, prime sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver), provide additional funding for special education in public schools.
Friday
As the week draws to a close, and we reach the halfway mark to Policy Committee Cutoff, members of Consumer Protection & Business will hear two bills addressing tobacco products. HB 1203, sponsored by Rep. Reeves, ends the sale of flavored tobacco products in Washington state and HB 1534, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle), changes regulations for when retailers break laws regarding sale of tobacco and nicotine products. The Health Care & Wellness Committee will hear Rep. Dan Bronoske’s (D-Lakewood) HB 1531, which improves public health officials’ abilities to address communicable diseases.
In the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, possible executive session is scheduled on Rep. Mena’s HB 1321, limiting outside militia activities within Washington state. Possible executive session is also scheduled in the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Rep. Liz Berry’s (D-Seattle) proposal (HB 1155) to ban noncompetition agreements, modeling an FTC rule put in place under the Biden Administration.