The House Hot Sheet for Week 1 of the 2026 Legislative Session
Monday
The 2026 Legislative Session kicks off with opening ceremonies and remarks from the Speaker of the House.
In the afternoon, the Education Committee hosts a work session on restraint and isolation, along with a public hearing on HB 1795, legislation addressing restraint or isolation in public schools, from Rep. Lisa Callan (D-Issaquah). Community Safety will hold a public hearing on HB 1982, sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-Anacortes), which vacates convictions involving the exercise of treaty rights by Indian tribal members.
The Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental operating budget (HB 2289, sponsored by Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane).
Tuesday
The morning kicks off with a public hearing in the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on HB 2264, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle), which would allow employees who are included in layoffs through voluntary inclusion to qualify for unemployment benefits.
In the Early Learning & Human Services Committee, lawmakers will hear public comment on HB 2319 to rename several of the state’s rehabilitation facilities, sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar (D-Seattle).
In the Community Safety Committee, the public will hear comment and share their testimony on HB 2173 from Rep. Julio Cortes (D-Everett), which would ban law enforcement from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties.
The Education Committee will hold a work session on student mental health and well-being and then hold a public hearing on Rep. My-Linh Thai’s (D-Bellevue) HB 1634, which provides public schools with assistance and training to support behavioral health for students.
Wednesday
Wednesday morning, the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee is holding a public hearing on HB 2238, legislation from Rep. Kristine Reeves (D-Federal Way), which seeks to enhance statewide food security in order to end hunger, reduce health disparities, and increase agricultural viability and supply chain resilience. There will also be executive session on a variety of bills, including HB 1735, from Rep. Lisa Parshley (D-Olympia), to prohibit the force-feeding of birds.
In the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee, public hearings are scheduled for HB 2303 from Rep. Brianna Thomas (D-Seattle), prohibiting employers from microchipping employees, and HB 2144 from Rep. Parshley requiring employers to notify employees when using AI or other electronic monitoring to assist in performance evaluations.
In the Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, public hearings are scheduled on bills addressing AI, including:
- HB 1170, prime sponsored by Rep. Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor), informing users when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence,
- HB 2157, prime sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline), regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use, and
- HB 2225, prime sponsored by Rep. Callan, concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.
The afternoon includes possible executive session on Rep. Amy Walen’s (D-Kirkland) bill to provide greater access to pet insurance (HB 1078) in the Consumer Protection & Business Committee. In the Early Learning & Human Services Committee, there is a public hearing for HB 1544, from Rep. Alicia Rule (D-Blaine), improving the risk assessment process used when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals, and HB 2219, prime sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self (D-Mukilteo), enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers.
Finally, in the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, a public hearing is scheduled on Rep. Berry’s HB 2333, new legislation responding to the rise in political violence.
Thursday
Thursday morning kicks off in the Community Safety Committee with a public hearing on HB 2362 from Rep. Brandy Donaghy (D-Everett) to lower the legal blood alcohol limit to 0.05. At the same time in the Environment & Energy Committee, a public hearing is scheduled on HB 1420, prime sponsored by Rep. Reeves, to require apparel and textile product manufacturers to establish and fund a producer responsibility organization.
Later in the afternoon, the Capital Budget Committee will hear a presentation on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 Supplemental Capital Budget along with public testimony on the capital budget (HB 2295, sponsored by Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend). The Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1859, prime sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D-Redmond), expanding opportunities for affordable housing developments on properties owned by religious organizations.
Friday
Week 1 ends with more public hearings, starting with bipartisan legislation in the Consumer Protection & Business Committee prime sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place), to establish a minimum age to access certain online adult content (HB 2112). In the Health Care & Wellness Committee, public testimony will be heard on Rep. Dan Bronoske’s (D-Lakewood) HB 2242, preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority.
In the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, a public hearing is scheduled for HB 2205, prime sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma), also known as the Sports Wagering Integrity Act. Later in the morning, the Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee is hearing Rep. Parshley’s HB 2351, which seeks to protect emergency responders and emergency response operations in Washington. The committee will also consider executive session on HB 1170, by Rep. Shavers bill requiring users are informed when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence.