Starting this week, the Senate will release proposals for new two-year state budgets, funding everything from housing and public health to environmental protection and public schools. Details of the capital construction budget will be made public on Monday morning, while the 2023-25 operating budget rollout will take place on Thursday. Details of both proposals will be made available at fiscal.wa.gov. The transportation budget will be released the following week.
In addition to budgets, the Senate will also consider measures to strengthen health care, public safety and will return to the floor on Wednesday to pass policies sent over from the House of Representatives.
MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Monday, March 20
10:30 am
The Law & Justice Committee will hear public testimony on several bills including two to help investigate, locate and stop the missing and murdered indigenous people crisis. House Bill 1177, sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff, and HB 1512, sponsored by Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, extends the work of the Attorney General’s Office on this issue and establishes a cold case unit within the office to assist law enforcement agencies with investigations involving missing and murdered indigenous people. Watch on TVW.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Monday, March 20
1:30 p.m.
The Early Learning & K-12 Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1479, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Callan. The bill modifies rules related to student isolation and restraint, and phases out isolation rooms entirely by 2026. Watch on TVW.
REVENUE FORECAST
Monday, March 20
2 p.m.
The state’s top economist will brief budget writers on the latest revenue forecast ahead of the operating budget release later in the week. Watch on TVW.
MODERNIZING WASHINGTON’S FERRY FLEET
Monday, March 20
4 p.m.
The Transportation Committee will hear testimony on Sen. Marko Liias’ Senate Bill 5760, which aims to expedite replacement of aging ferry boats with new hybrid-electric vessels by opening procurement to national shipbuilders. Watch on TVW.
ENDING THE PUPPY MILL PIPELINE
Tuesday, March 21
8 a.m.
The Senate Committee on Business, Financial Service, Gaming & Trade will hear from the public about House Bill 1424. This bill will end the puppy-mill-to-pet-store pipeline and limit pet stores from offering predatory financing. Watch on TVW.
DENTAL THERAPY
Tuesday, March 21
8 a.m.
The Health & Long Term Care Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1678,which authorizes dental therapy throughout Washington State. Dental therapists are supervised by dentists and can provide fillings, preventative services and emergency services, like adult tooth extractions if a dentist authorizes that course of action. Watch on TVW.
A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
Tuesday, March 21
1:30 p.m.
The State Government & Elections Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1541, sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar, which ensures better representation on task forces, work groups and advisory committees by including people from historically underrepresented populations. Watch on TVW.
BANNING TOXIC CHEMICALS
Tuesday, March 21
1:30 p.m.
The Environment, Energy & Technology Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 1047, sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena, which bans the use of several different chemicals commonly found in cosmetics. You can read more about this bill and the devastating effects of these chemicals from the Seattle Times. Watch on TVW.
FLOOR ACTION
Wednesday, March 22
10:30 a.m.
The Senate will be hard at work Wednesday, debating policies sent over from the House. Watch on TVW.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Wednesday, March 22
2:30 p.m.
House and Senate leaders will answer questions from the press Wednesday. Watch on TVW.
GUN SAFETY
Thursday, March 23
8 a.m.
The Law & Justice Committee will hear public testimony on two firearm-related bills, which seek to further Washington’s commonsense gun laws. House Bill 1143, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry, would require a 10-day waiting period and safety training for firearm purchases; while HB 1240, sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson, would ban the sale, manufacture and import of assault weapons in Washington state. Watch on TVW.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE
Thursday, March 23
10:30 a.m.
The Health & Long Term Committee will hear testimony on House Bill 1724, sponsored by Rep. Jessica Bateman. This bill looks to address Washington’s behavioral health workforce shortage by creating a behavioral health associates placement program, establish a stipend for out-of-pocket costs by associates competing supervised experience requirements and remove practice setting limitations for probationary licenses. Watch on TVW.
OPERATING BUDGET ROLLOUT
Thursday, March 23
TBA
Ways & Means chair Sen. Christine Rolfes and vice chair Sen. June Robinson will answer questions from the press regarding the 2023-25 operating budget proposal.
