On Tuesday, the first half of the 2021 Legislative Session will officially come to a close. House of origin cutoff arrives at 5 p.m. that day meaning policy bills that have yet to clear their respective chambers can no longer be considered this session. Week 9 arrives on the heels of a historic Week 8 that saw the Senate pass policies to help people going through a mental health crisis, access health care, better election security, more police accountability, more access to college, and a bill to help renters and landlords as they navigate through the pandemic.

On Saturday, the Senate took a historic step toward fixing Washington’s broken tax structure and expanding access to childcare and early learning programs with the passage of the capital gains excise tax and the Fair Start for Kids Act. You can read more about these monumental policies here.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021

Monday, March 8

Please join us today on Twitter and Facebook as Senate Democrats celebrate International Women’s Day 2021 and recognize the challenges overcome and those still to fall.

FLOOR ACTION

Washington State Senate floor debate, Feb. 2021
The Washington State Senate convenes for floor debate, February 17, 2021.

Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9
Morning and into the evening

The Senate will be on the floor Monday and Tuesday ahead of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. house of origin cutoff. You can watch all of the action live on TVW.

VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION, JUNETEENTH

Senators wear masks and sit at their desks in the Washington State Senate in Olympia, WA
Sen. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia), Chair of the State Government & Elections Committee.

Wednesday, March 10
8 a.m.

The State Government & Elections Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 1078, the automatic restoration of  voting rights for people convicted of a felony who have served their sentences. The bill passed the House with a 57-41 margin on Feb. 24. The committee will also hear public testimony on HB 1016, which would establish June 19 a state holiday in celebration of Juneteenth. This bill cleared the House on an 89-9 vote. Watch live on TVW.

Here’s more on the Juneteenth bill from MyNorthwest.

LOW CARBON FUEL

Senator Reuven Carlyle reads from paper while wearing a mask on the senate floor in olympia washington
Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle), Chair of the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.

Wednesday, March 10
8 am

The Environment, Energy & Technology Committee will hear public testimony on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard bill (HB 1091). The bill passed the House 52-46 on Feb. 27. Watch live on TVW.

SDC/HDC LEADERSHIP MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Senator Emily Randall holds a microphone while wearing an N95 mask and delivers a speech in the senate in olympia
Majority Whip Sen. Emily Randall (D-Bremerton), will join Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and leadership from the House of Representatives for a media availability Wednesday.

Wednesday, March 10
11 am

Democratic leadership from the House and Senate will answer questions from the media. Watch live on TVW.

FAIR HOUSING

Senator Patty Kuder holds a microphone and wears an N95 face mask while speaking on the floor of the state senate in Olympia
Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), Chair of the Housing & Local Government Committee.

Thursday, March 11
8 am

The Housing & Local Government Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 1236, which provides a list of reasons for evictions under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. The Good Cause bill cleared the House with a 54-44 vote on Sunday. Watch live on TVW.

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

Senators participate in a public hearing on a bill in olympia in 2020
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), Chair of the Law & Justice Committee, asks questions during a public hearing in Olympia last year.

Thursday, March 11
10:30 a.m.

The Law & Justice Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 1054, which establishes requirements around the tactics and equipment of law enforcement officers. The bill received a 54-43 vote in the House on Feb. 27. Watch live on TVW.

PRIVATE PRISON BAN

Senators Jeannie Darneille and Mark Mullet have a conversation in the senate chamber in 2020
Sen. Jeannie Darneille (D-Tacoma), Chair of the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee.

Thursday, March 11
1:30 pm

The Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1090, which would ban private prisons, including the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, from operating in Washington. The bill received a 76-21 vote in the House on Feb. 23. Watch live on TVW.

NATIVE AMERICAN TEAM NAMES

Senator Lisa Wellman watches from the senate wings in olympia
Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island), Chair of the Early Learning & K-12 Committee.

Friday, March 12
8 am

The Early Learning & K-12 Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 1356, which would prohibit the use of Native American names, symbols or images as public school mascots without consultation and permission from the appropriate tribe. The bill passed the House 95-5 on Feb. 23. Watch live on TVW.

You can read more about the bill here from the Spokesman Review.