OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats ended the second week of the 2018 session by passing a list of long-delayed priority legislation with bipartisan votes, including:

  • $4 billion capital construction budget (Passed the Senate 49-0)
  • Washington Voting Rights Act (29-19)
  • Same-day registration (29-20)
  • The DISCLOSE Act (32-17)
  • Breakfast After the Bell (40-8)
  • Protecting transgender students from bullying in school (30-18)
  • A ban on the so-called practice of “conversion therapy” (32-16)
  • Eliminating unfair credit “freeze” fees for consumers (46-2)

The third week will focus on more policies that put people first, led by package of bills aimed at improving health care access for women in Washington. The Senate will focus on the next steps in education funding, with a hearing in the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee on Monday afternoon. Other highlights this week include hearings on the death penalty, sexual harassment, clean energy, reducing gun violence, protecting orca whales, preventing oil spills, and many more.

Monday, Jan. 22

Health & Long Term Care, 10 am, Senate HR1

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5912 – Concerning insurance coverage of tomosynthesis or three-dimensional mammography.
  2. SB 6102 – Enacting the employee reproductive choice act.
  3. SB 6105 – Enacting the reproductive health access for all act. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)
  4. SB 6048 – Concerning the age of individuals at which sale or distribution of tobacco and vapor products may be made.
  5. SB 6026 – Prohibiting health carriers and pharmacy benefit managers from using contracts to prevent pharmacists from telling their customers about cheaper ways to buy prescription drugs. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)

Law & Justice, 10 am, Senate HR4

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6052 – Reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty and instead requiring life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole as the sentence for aggravated first degree murder.

Early Learning & K-12 Education, 1:30 pm, Senate HR1

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6362 – Modifying basic education provisions.
  2. SB 6397 – Concerning public schools.

Human Services & Corrections, 1:30 pm, Senate HR2

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6467 – Concerning families in need of services.

Tuesday, Jan. 23

Financial Institutions & Insurance, 8 am, Senate HR3

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6371 – Concerning facilities financing by the housing finance commission.

Economic Development & International Trade, 8 am, Senate HR1

Work Session: Infrastructure and Broadband

Energy, Environment & Technology, 10 am, Senate HR1

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6253 – Establishing a clean, efficient, renewable energy standard.

Law & Justice, 10 am, Senate HR4

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6297 – Concerning provisions governing firearms possession by persons who have been found incompetent to stand trial and who have a history of one or more violent acts.
  2. SB 6298 – Adding domestic violence harassment to the list of offenses for which a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks, 1:30 pm, Senate HR3

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6268 – Creating the orca protection act.

Transportation, 3:30 pm, Senate HR1 Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5110 – Enhancing youth voter registration. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)

Ways & Means, 3:30 pm, Senate HR4

Public Hearing:

  1. SSB 6086 – Protecting the state’s marine waters from the release of nonnative finfish from marine finfish aquaculture sites.

 Wednesday, Jan. 24

 State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections, 8 am, Senate HR2

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6193 – Concerning dates and timelines associated with the operation of the state primary and elections.

Energy, Environment & Technology, 8 am, Senate HR1

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6424 – Authorizing an alternative form of regulation of electrical and natural gas companies.

Labor & Commerce, 1:30 pm, Senate HR4

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5996 – Encouraging the disclosure and discussion of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace.

Ways & Means, 3:30 pm, Senate HR4

Public Hearing:

  1. 2ESHB 1508 – Promoting student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs. 

Thursday, Jan. 25

Higher Education & Workforce Development, 8 am, Senate HR2 Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6131 – Providing a tuition waiver for state residents who are members of a federally recognized Indian tribe.

Economic Development & International Trade, 8 am

Senate Full Committee Senate HR1 Work Session: The Future of Work.

Health & Long Term Care, 10 am, Senate HR2 Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6238 – Concerning long-term care services and supports.

Energy, Environment & Technology, 10 am, Senate HR1 Public Hearing:

  1. SB 6267 – Providing for an emergency response system that provides for an emergency response towing vessel.
  2. SB 6269 – Strengthening oil transportation safety.