Senate committees go into full swing in Week 2, holding public hearings on a range of issues including rent stabilization, the hiring of more law enforcement officers, education funding as well as education policy to ensure parents and educators better understand state law and that Washington’s school kids have a safe and welcoming classroom.
MLK DAY 2025
Monday, January 20
12:30 pm
The Senate will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King on what would have been the 96th year of his life with tributes on the Senate floor as well as the reading of a resolution sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles. Watch on TVW.
JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM
Monday, Jan. 20
1:30 pm
The Human Services Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5266, a bill written by youth incarcerated at Green Hill School in Chehalis and sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame. The bill incentivizes rehabilitation by providing an opportunity to petition the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board prior to transfer to DOC for youth with lengthy sentences. There will be three panels of youths testifying remotely, all of whom are currently incarcerated at Green Hill or Echo Glen in Snoqualmie. Watch on TVW.
LAW ENFORCEMENT HIRING
Tuesday, Jan. 21
8 am
The Law & Justice Committee will hear public testimony on a pair of bills to make it a little simpler to train and hire more law enforcement officers to serve in Washington communities. Sen. John Lovick is the sponsor of Senate Bill 5068, which expands eligibility for civil service, including peace officers, to cover any person who is legally authorized to work in our state. Additionally, it would cover persons seeking asylum or otherwise attempting to stay in the United States legally. A second bill, SB 5060, establishes a $100M hiring grant for hiring more law enforcement officers. Watch on TVW.
SAFE, WELCOMING CLASSROOMS
Tuesday, Jan. 21
8 am
The Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee will hear public testimony on several bills with the intention of clarifying existing state law as well as taking steps to ensure Washington’s classrooms are safe and welcoming learning environments for every kid. Senate Bill 5123, sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles, expands protections for students to create more inclusive classrooms. SB 5179 establishes procedures to investigate and address complaints against school districts intentionally violating state law, SB 5180 ensures school districts follow state law that allows students to use facilities, be addressed by their preferred pronouns and participate in activities according to their gender identity. SB 5181 amends the parental rights initiative passed by the legislature in 2024, to better align with state law. Sen. Claire Wilson is the sponsor of all three bills. Watch on TVW.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Tuesday, Jan. 21
10:45 am
Democratic Leaders from the Senate and House will answer questions from the media on Tuesday. Watch on TVW.
FUSION ENERGY
Tuesday, Jan. 21
1:30 pm
Researchers are excited by the potential of fusion energy as a far cleaner, practically endless source of energy and a would-be game changer for the trajectory of climate change. Sen. Marko Liias is sponsoring Senate Bill 5241, which will have a public hearing in the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, to help our state be ready when the next breakthrough in fusion energy arrives. Watch on TVW.
ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY
Tuesday, Jan. 21
1:30 pm
The State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5077, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez. The bill will expand Washington’s automatic voter registration process to include additional state and federal agencies that already collect the information necessary to register someone to vote. AVR will also be extended to include eligible people on the Health Benefit Exchange and people leaving the custody of DOC. Watch on TVW.
RENT STABILIZATION
Wednesday, Jan. 22
1:30 pm
The Housing Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5222, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau. Rent stabilization aims to make rent increases for tenants more predictable in a number of ways, including limiting rent increases to once per year and no more than a 7% to protect against unpredictable rent gouging that can displace renters from their communities, and force many into homelessness. Watch on TVW.
FUNDING WASHINGTON’S SCHOOLS
Wednesday, Jan. 22
1:30 pm
The Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee will hear public testimony on a slate of bills to improve funding to Washington’s schools in areas such as transportation (SB 5187, Wellman), Materials, supplies and operating costs (SB 5192, Nobles) and special education programs (SB 5263, Pedersen & SB 5307, Wellman.) Watch on TVW.
EMINENT DOMAIN
Thursday, Jan. 23
10:30 am
The Law & Justice Committee will hear Senate Bill 5142, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa. The bill requires school districts to offer land obtained through eminent domain back to the original owner at the same price before selling it to a third party if the school does not use the land. This idea was inspired by the story of John Houston. Watch on TVW.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Friday, Jan. 24
8 am
The Health & Long-Term Care Committee will hear Senate Bill 5121, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame. The bill requires insurance coverage of fertility services including IVF and fertility preservation. Watch on TVW.
INCREASING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY
Friday, Jan. 24
10:30 am
The Housing Committee will hear a pair of bills sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman with the goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing. Senate Bill 5184, the Parking Reform and Modernization Act, prevents cities from requiring excessive parking spaces while giving builders the flexibility to build the right amount of parking for each project, freeing up more space for additional housing. Bateman is also sponsor of the Housing Accountability Act (SB 5148) which will help ensure Washingtonians see the benefits from the recent housing reforms passed by the legislature. Watch on TVW.
HOLDING POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE
Friday, Jan. 24
10:30 am
The Environment, Energy & Technology Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5360, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau. The bill strengthens criminal penalties against corporate actors responsible for pollution spills and other environmental crimes, and updates state law to closer align with federal law. Watch on TVW.
