With the 2023 session now halfway over, the Legislature will hit the critical house of origin deadline at 5 p.m. Wednesday. At that point, bills introduced in the House and Senate that are not necessary to implement the budget can no longer be considered by the chamber in which they were introduced. Committee work will pick back up at the end of the week with public hearings on bills sent over from the House.

JOINT SESSION WITH FINNISH PRESIDENT NIINISTÖ

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will address a joint session of the Legislature Monday.

Monday, March 6
9 am

A joint session of the Legislature will be convened Monday morning in the Senate for an address from Finnish President Sauli Niinistö. Watch on TVW.

FLOOR ACTION

Floor action continues this week ahead of Wednesday's opposite house cutoff.

Monday-Wednesday

Senators will be hard at work on the floor throughout the first part of the week, passing bills ahead of the house of origin cutoff, which arrives at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Once the house of origin deadline arrives, bills introduced in the House and Senate that are not necessary to implement the budget can no longer be considered by the chamber in which they were introduced.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Deputy Leader Emily Randall will answer press questions Thursday.

Thursday, March 9
9:30 am

Democratic leadership from the House and Senate will answer press questions the morning after the house of origin cutoff. Watch on TVW.

SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE

Sen. Annette Cleveland, chair of the Health & Long-Term Care Committee.

Thursday, March 9
10:30 am

The Health & Long-Term Care Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1001, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, which will help address our state’s health care workforce shortage, specifically in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology, through an interstate compact. Watch on TVW.

TAX THE RICH

Sen. Noel Frame, sponsor of the Wealth Tax.

Thursday, March 9
4 pm

The Ways & Means Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5486, the Washington State Wealth Tax, which would help fix our upside-down tax code by creating a narrowly tailored 1% property tax on extreme wealth derived from the ownership of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets, with the proceeds dedicated to trust funds for education, affordable housing, disability services, and tax credits for working families. The first $250 million of assessed value is exempted, meaning only the wealthiest people in Washington would pay the tax, including some of the wealthiest individuals in the world. Watch on TVW.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

House Bill 1069 will help address our state's mental health counselor shortage,

Friday, March 10
8 am

The Health & Long-Term Care Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1069, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, which will address our state’s shortage of mental health counselors by creating a compact to allow professionals licensed in member states to practice across state lines. Watch on TVW.