WA legislators prepare for long list of climate change bills | Crosscut
Washington Legislature goes virtual for second year amid omicron spike | The Spokesman-Review
State’s 2022 Legislative Session looks to be fast-paced | WAWG
While legislators attempted to lower expectations for the forthcoming short session, the lengthy list of emerging legislative proposals suggests the 2022 session will once again be fast-paced and filled with robust policy discussions.
Omicron scrambles plans for start of Washington’s legislative session | Northwest News Network
The highly contagious omicron variant of COVID-19 has upended what was supposed to be a mostly in-person start to the 60-day session, at least in the House of Representatives.
State Legislature adjourns 105-day session, OKs $59B budget – KIRO 7 News Seattle
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington lawmakers adjourned their legislative session Sunday after giving final approval to a two-year state budget, a new capital gains tax and a low-carbon fuel standard.
As was the case for the entirety of the 105-day session, just a handful of lawmakers were in the Senate and House for the last day, under remote rules established for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Democratic leaders in each chamber noted the pandemic’s impact, not just on their workplace with a new focus on remote testimony and voting, but on the details within the spending plan.
Civics 101: What Is A Legislative Rules Committee With Sen. Andy Billig | Spokane Public Radio
Andy Billig: “I counted once and found there were 37 places that a bill could die along the legislative process, but really no place where it can get a direct route to becoming a law..."
"The most significant piece of climate legislation the state has ever considered" - Washington State Wire
SB 5126 passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee last night, bringing one of the legislature’s most ambitious pieces of climate legislation ever considered one step closer to enactment.
The bill creates a system referred to as “cap and invest” where funds generated from auctioning the rights or licenses to create carbon emissions will be invested into capital infrastructure. In the case of the current bill, this would equal between $272m and $551m per year dedicated to transportation infrastructure starting in FY 2023.
State legislative report 0314: Budget negotiations picking up steam | WAWG
The focus of the Legislature has shifted from approving bills on the floor of the House and Senate to meeting in committees, holding public hearings and voting on bills that the opposite chamber approved. Bills need to pass out of their respective policy committees by March 26 to continue to advance through the legislative process.
Morning Wire: State of the Legislature post-cutoff - Washington State Wire
Measure allowing overtime for farmworkers moves forward
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Agricultural workers in Washington state would become eligible for overtime pay under a bill moving through the Legislature in Olympia.
The bills we’re tracking in the 2021 Washington state Legislature | Crosscut
Pandemic relief, climate change, taxes and more — here’s what we’re watching halfway into the session.
State legislative report 0307: Senate passes capital gains tax | WAWG
Senate Floor Session and debates for the week of March 1 - Washington State Wire
This week is the second week in a two week stretch of floor action in the House and Senate.
WA Senate OK’s bill for state-run meat inspection program | The Olympian
A bill to make it easier for Washington ranchers to get their meat directly to consumers unanimously passed the state Senate this week.
The bill would create a state-run meat and poultry inspection program with requirements equal to those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
State legislative report 0302: Action moves to Senate, House floor | WAWG
Monday, Feb. 22, was the second legislative deadline, when all bills must have been voted out of their respective fiscal committees to remain “alive.” Since then, the Legislature has mostly ceased committee action and is focused on floor action for the time being, which entails the entire chamber (either the House of Representatives or the Senate) considering and voting on bills. Once a bill passes out of its original chamber, it moves to the other chamber, and the entire committee process repeats.
12th District Senator Brad Hawkins Utility Wildfire Legislation Passes Out of State Senate – NewsRadio 560 KPQ
The Senate unanimously passed 12th District Senator Brad Hawkins Senate Bill 5158, legislation to implement the Electric Utilities Wildland Fire Prevention Task Force recommendations for wildfire prevention.
What conservationists want to see in upcoming budget proposals - Washington State Wire
To hear about what key players in Washington’s broad environmental coalition would like to see prioritized in budget proposals, I spoke to Adam Maxwell, Campaigns Manager for the Washington Audubon Society, a group focused on conserving natural ecosystems and building healthy communities.
The 14 bills passed by the Senate this week - Washington State Wire
Tracking plans to tax the rich in the 2021 Washington Legislature | Crosscut
Wealth tax, capital gains tax, payroll tax — what’s the difference? We break it down.
Morning Wire: Policy cutoff, Republican budget proposal, Capital gains proposals - Washington State Wire
State legislative report 2/15: House Republicans release proposed budget | WAWG
Requiem for a mega-dairy: Bills seek moratorium on supersize dairy farms in Oregon - OPB
To build up urban forests, WA cities could get help from the state | Crosscut
WA Legislature debates cost and value of launching Equity Office | Crosscut
How to follow and participate in the Washington Legislature - The Columbian
Q&A: Rep. Alex Ybarra breaks down the "Public Broadband Act" - Washington State Wire
How to follow and participate in the Washington state Legislature | Crosscut
With the pandemic forcing lawmakers to meet remotely, it’s never been easier to make your voice heard right from home.