Week 3 is the last full week of committee action ahead of policy committee cutoff on Jan. 31. This week features a slate of bills dealing with criminal justice reform in Washington’s jails, modernized recycling programs, better access to addiction treatment programs, and on Thursday Ways & Means will hear bills that will make home ownership more possible by lowering property taxes across Washington.
LAW & JUSTICE
Monday, Jan. 22
10:30 am
The Law & Justice Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 6009, which would prohibit law enforcement from using “hog-tying” to detain a suspect. You can read more on the practice here from the Tacoma News Tribune. The committee will also hear SB 6146, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra. Under current law, state and local law enforcement has no ability to execute warrants for crimes committed on tribal lands and reservations when the person suspected of the crime is not on tribal land. This bill provides law enforcement power to serve those warrants. Watch on TVW.
MARIJUANA POTENCY, ALCOHOL DELIVERY
Monday, Jan. 22
10:30 am
It’s alcohol and marijuana day in the Labor & Commerce Committee with several bills on those topics scheduled for public testimony. Bills include one sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway to better regulate alcohol delivery (Senate Bill 6122.) Another sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser studies high-potency THC products (SB 6271) and one sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon sets limits on the levels of THC in cannabis products (SB 6220.) Watch on TVW.
JAIL OVERSIGHT
Monday, Jan. 22
10:30 am
The Human Services Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 6189, which establishes oversight authority for a new state entity to track data and work with Washington jails on improvements. This is in response to some of the highest rates of jail deaths in the nation and represents some of the recommendations from the jail standards task force. Watch on TVW.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Monday, Jan. 22
1:30 pm
Students and staff all deserve to feel safe at school. Senate Bill 5966, which will be heard in the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, intends to provide clarity and training around the issue of when and how isolation and restraint can and cannot be used as well as increasing staffing levels in order to help schools provide safe, supportive learning environments. Watch on TVW.
HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE
Tuesday, Jan. 23
8 am
The Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee will hear Senate Bill 6231, a proposal brought to the committee by a group of high school students that prohibits the use of hostile architecture — spikes, boulders and other obstructions meant to prevent unsheltered people from finding refuge in public spaces. Watch on TVW.
MORE HELP TO TREAT ADDICTION
Tuesday, Jan. 23
8 am
The Health & Long Term Care Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 6228, which increases access to substance use disorder treatment by improving insurance coverage and removing barriers for people who want to help treat people battling addiction. Watch on TVW.
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE
Tuesday, Jan. 23
10:30 am
The Human Services Committee will hear Senate Bill 5953, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson. The bill provides financial aid for incarcerated people through access to PELL grants and the State Need Grant for those who are eligible. This will significantly increase higher education access for those in institutions, and help improve their reentry into society after prison. Watch on TVW.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Tuesday, Jan. 23
1 pm
Senate and House Democratic Leadership will answer questions from the press on Tuesday during their weekly media availability. Watch on TVW.
MODERNIZING RECYCLING
Tuesday, Jan. 23
1:30 pm
The Environment, Energy & Technology Committee will hear Senate Bill 6005, The WRAP Act, or the Washington Recycling And Packaging Act sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett. The bill would modernize the state’s recycling system by establishing a program to increase recycling rates and incentivize companies to reduce packaging and switch remaining packaging to reusable, compostable, or recyclable alternatives. The committee will also hear Sen. John Lovick’s SB 6180, which would reduce food waste through a number of measures, including food rescue, composing, and waste reduction. Watch on TVW.
SAFE PASSAGE FOR WILDLIFE
Tuesday, Jan. 23
4 pm
The Transportation Committee will hear Senate Bill 6237, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon, which would help position Washington to compete for federal grant money available to build wildlife crossings similar to the one located across I-90 on Snoqualmie Pass. Each year, collisions between vehicles and wildlife cost Washingtonians millions of dollars and average 165 injuries and one fatality. Watch on TVW.
NON-REFUNDABLE PET FEES
Wednesday, Jan. 24
10:30 am
The Housing Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 6064, which prohibits landlords from charging non-refundable fees or pet deposits. Watch on TVW.
FLOOR ACTION
Wednesday, Jan. 24
1:30 pm
The Senate will take to the floor Wednesday afternoon. Watch on TVW.
COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION
Thursday, Jan. 25
1:30 pm
The Early Learning & K-12 Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 6264, which better ensures Washington students have mastery of a subject rather than just time in the classroom. Watch on TVW.
HOUSING FOR ALL
Thursday, Jan. 25
4 pm
The Ways & Means Committee will hear public testimony on several bills aimed at helping Washingtonians make ends meet, including Senate Bill 6191, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame, which lowers real estate taxes on the vast majority of Washingtonians while increasing them on properties sold for more than $3 million. The committee will also hear SB 6249, the Homeowner Relief Property Tax Exemption, which exempts the first $100,000 of property tax value on all homes in Washington. Watch on TVW.
DACA RECIPIENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
Friday, Jan. 26
8 am
The State Government & Elections Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 6157, which would permit DACA recipients to apply for civil service jobs, including in law enforcement. Watch on TVW.
