Policy committees have until the end of the day today to pass bills out of committee. Bills that don’t make it out of committee will no longer be considered during the 2021 session. The Ways & Means and Transportation Committees have another week until they face the same deadline. Ways & Means is expected to take executive action Tuesday on Senate Bill 5096, an amended version of the governor’s capital gains excise tax proposal.

The majority of the week in the Senate will be spent on the floor. Senate Democrats will continue to focus on legislation to help Washingtonians bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This week will also see Gov. Inslee sign House Bill 1368, which puts $2.2 billion in economic relief in the hands of people most impacted by the pandemic. You can read more about that bill here.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Senator Rebecca Saldana and Senator Andy Billig answer questions from the media in olympia
Sens. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) and Andy Billig (D-Spokane) take questions from the media.

Monday, February 15
2:15 p.m.

Members of the Senate and House Democratic Leadership teams will answer questions from the media. Watch live on TVW.

EXPANDING BROADBAND

Monday, February 4
4 p.m.

With Washington continuing to expand broadband access to people across our state, the Transportation Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5439. The bill will require that during new projects and preservation work crews also complete projects so that they are ready for broadband cable installation. Watch live on TVW.

CAPITAL GAINS EXCISE TAX

Senator June Robinson speaks to colleagues on the floor of the House of representatives
Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett) sponsor of Senate Bill 5096.

Tuesday, February 16
1:30 p.m.

The Ways & Means Committee is scheduled to take executive action on Senate Bill 5096, an excise tax on capital gains. A striking amendment has made substantive changes to the bill. Now, the tax will apply only to individuals and couples who turn a profit in excess of $250,000 annually on the sale of stocks and bonds.

The capital gains excise tax will NOT apply to the sale of a home, commercial real estate and other properties, a family-owned small business, retirement account, or agricultural and timber lands.

In all, the capital gains excise tax would impact just 2% of the wealthiest Washingtonians. Revenue from SB 5096 would be split between child care priorities and future tax reduction efforts. Watch live on TVW. 

FLOOR ACTION

The Senate floor at the Washington State Capital in Olympia, WA
The Senate will begin four days of floor action Tuesday morning.

Tuesday-Thursday
Approximately 9 a.m. – Noon

Three days of floor action begins in earnest Tuesday, and will pick up the following week culminating with the March 9 house of origin cutoff. This week the Senate is expected to consider additional bills aimed at helping Washingtonians recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.