The House Hot Sheet for Week 4 of the 2025 Legislative Session
Monday
The beginning of February marks the fourth week of the 2025 Legislative Session. In the Environment & Energy Committee, the public has the opportunity to comment on HB 1673, prime sponsored by Rep. Alex Ramel (D-Bellingham), to improve the reliability and capacity of the state’s electrical grid. In the Community Safety Committee, Rep. Osman Salahuddin’s (D-Redmond) HB 1484 allows exceptional sentences for sexual offenses resulting in pregnancy.
Later in the Appropriations Committee, Rep. April Berg (D-Mill Creek) has a bill to expand free school meals to all students (HB 1404). The committee will also hear public testimony on Rep. Berg’s HB 1338, which increases funding for maintenance, supplies, and operating costs of public schools. The committee will also hear public testimony on Sen. Emily Alvarado’s (D-Seattle) SHB 1217, establishing rent stabilization in Washington state to keep rent increases stable. The Transportation Committee will meet at the same time to hear Rep. Jake Fey’s (D-Tacoma) bill to provide a longevity bonus to Washington State Patrol Troopers (HB 1605).
Tuesday
Tuesday morning, the Finance Committee meets to hold a public hearing on Rep. My-Linh Thai’s (D-Bellevue) bill to expand eligibility for the Working Families Tax Credit (HB 1214). In the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee, Rep. Shaun Scott’s (D-Seattle) latest bill to limit health care nondisclosure agreements is scheduled for a public hearing (HB 1507). At the same time, the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee has a public hearing scheduled on HB 1644. Offered by Rep. Mary Fosse (D-Everett), the bill creates more accountability for businesses that have workplace violations involving minors.
The Local Government Committee has a public hearing scheduled on HB 1562, offered by Rep. Victoria Hunt (D-Issaquah), to increase the number of baby diaper changing stations. Local Government will also hear HB 1299, from Rep. Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds), to limit parking requirements. In the Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee, a public hearing is scheduled on Rep. Joe Timmon’s (D-Bellingham) HB 1554 to provide greater equity for eligibility in the College Bound Scholarship Program, as well as HB 1556, from Rep. Debra Entenman (D-Kent), to expand tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges. The committee will also meet to hold executive session on HB 1395, offered by Rep. Darya Farivar (D-Seattle), to streamline the home care worker background check process.
Later in the day, the Community Safety Committee will hold a public hearing on Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self’s (D-Mukilteo) bill to ensure that private detention facilities have sanitary, hygienic, and safe conditions (HB 1232). The Education Committee will also meet to hold a public hearing on HJR 4201, prime sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver), which amends the state constitution to allow a majority of voters to authorize school bonds. Finally, the Housing Committee will meet to vote on HB 1491, Rep. Julia Reed’s (D-Seattle) bill to promote transit-oriented housing development.
Wednesday
Wednesday morning, the Labor & Workplace Standards committee has a public hearing scheduled for HB 1622. Prime sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley (D-Olympia), the bill allows state workers to bargain over the use of artificial intelligence. The public will also be able to testify on HB 1623, new legislation offered by Rep. Edwin Obras (D-SeaTac) to prohibit deductions for credit card transaction process fees from employee tips.
In the Consumer Protection & Business Committee, Rep. Amy Walen’s (D-Kirkland) bill to provide greater access to pet insurance (HB 1078) is scheduled for executive session. In the Health Care & Wellness Committee, the Psychedelic Substances Act (HB 1433) prime sponsored by Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Seattle) is scheduled for public hearing. In the Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee, a public hearing is scheduled for HB 1565, prime sponsored by Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor), expanding the eligibility and timeline for the Washington Dual Enrollment Scholarship Pilot Program. The committee will also hear HB 1657, from Rep. Steve Bergquist (D-Renton), establishing the Washington 13 Free Guarantee.
Members in the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee will hear two bills addressing Washington state’s Voting Rights Act: HB 1710 from Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma) concerning compliance with the Washington Voting Rights Act and HB 1750 from Rep. Hill which creates guidelines for voter suppression and voter dilution claims. In the Appropriations Committee, a public hearing is scheduled on two bills offered by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place): HB 1114, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate compact, and HB 1162, concerning workplace violence in health care settings.
Thursday
Thursday, legislative session is scheduled in the morning. In the Education Committee that morning, a vote is scheduled on HB 1189, prime sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons (D-Bremerton), addressing parental volunteers in schools after a criminal conviction. In the Transportation Committee, Rep. Fey’s bill to establish a state patrol longevity bonus is scheduled for executive session (HB 1605).
Friday
The week comes to a close with more committee meetings, including the Health Care & Wellness Committee holding a public hearing on HB 1639 from Rep. Adam Bernbaum (D-Port Angeles). The bill requires companies offering Medicare Advantage coverage in Washington state to disclose how often claims are denied, how often denied claims are granted upon appeal, and the process for appealing a denial of coverage. In the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, Rep. Mena’s bill to make December 12 “The Day of the 12s” a legislatively recognized day has a public hearing scheduled (HB 1759).
In the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, a public hearing is scheduled for Rep. Parshley’s HB 1735, which prohibits the force-feeding of birds, a common practice to produce large, fatty livers, a requirement of foie gras. In the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee, an executive session is scheduled for HB 1155, from Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle), to ban noncompete agreements, and HB 1402 from Rep. Scott, which 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.
The Local Government Committee will meet for possible executive session on Rep. Peterson’s bill to limit parking requirements (HB 1299) and Rep. Hunt’s HB 1562 to increase the number of baby diaper changing stations. In the Finance Committee, the public will have the opportunity to testify on HB 1318 from Rep. Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) to provide a sales tax exemption for children’s diapers and HB 1751 from Rep. Timmons to provide a sales tax exemption for course materials at our public colleges and universities.