Week 3 in the Senate is jam-packed, with committees tackling consumer protection, safeguarding reproductive freedom, improving recycling, reducing waste, and advancing solutions to further expand affordable housing.
CONSUMER PROTECTION

10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27
The Labor & Commerce Committee will hear public testimony on bills to protect people and expand consumer choice. Senate Bill 5330, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra, requires bars and nightclubs to have drug testing kits available at whole sale prices to help people detect spiked drinks. You can read more about the bill here. SB 5403, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, would allow consumers for the first time to buy cannabis flower directly from cannabis producers at the site where the cannabis is produced. Watch on TVW.
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27
The Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5321, sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles. The bill requires that student health centers on public college campuses provide access to medication abortion services. Watch on TVW.
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27
The Human Services Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5211, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame. This bipartisan bill would allow parents of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to serve as paid caregivers for their biological children. Current law bans this practice until the child turns 18. Watch on TVW.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY

9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28
House and Senate Democratic leaders will answer questions during their weekly media availability. Watch on TVW.
AIR TRAVEL SAFETY, SUPPORTING LOCAL JOURNALISM

10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28
The Labor & Commerce Committee will hear public testimony on a pair of bills sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias. Senate Bill 5396 will help address airline pilots’ mental health and was inspired by this scary 2023 incident. The second bill is SB 5400, which establishes the Washington Local News Journalism Corps, a grant program designed to fund local news organizations — particularly those serving underserved communities — to ensure more original, objective news and information is available to the public. Watch on TVW.
THE RECYCLING REFORM ACT

1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28
The Environment, Energy & Technology Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5284, the Recycling Reform Act. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett, would establish a producer responsibility program requiring manufacturers and brands to work together to reduce unnecessary packaging, fund statewide recycling services, and ensure materials in recycling bins are properly recycled. A proven policy worldwide, several states, including Maine, Oregon, California, Colorado, and Minnesota, have passed similar Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws in recent years. Watch on TVW.
CELEBRATING EID

1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28
The State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5106, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau to add Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, the two major Islamic holidays, to Washington’s recognized holidays. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, celebrating a month of fasting, while Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage season. Watch on TVW.
PROTECTING WASHINGTON’S KIDS

1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28
The Human Services Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5375, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame. The bill would require clergy members to be mandatory reporters of incidents of child abuse and neglect. Watch on TVW.
A CLEANER WASHINGTON

8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29
The Environment, Energy & Technology Committee will hear public testimony on two bills to improve recycling in Washington. Senate Bill 5058, sponsored by Sen. Mike Chapman, seeks to boost recycling rates by expanding recycled content requirements, creating markets for recycled materials, and driving innovation in packaging. SB 5502, sponsored by Sen. June Robinson, introduces a deposit return system for beverage containers, adding a monetary value to empty containers to incentivize consumers to recycle them instead of discarding them as trash. Watch on TVW.
HOUSING

10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29
The Housing Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5332, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake, which would require cities and counties to allow one mobile dwelling unit, like an RV or travel trailer, on residential lots with existing housing. The bill ensures proper utility connections and prevents HOAs from prohibiting these additional housing options.
SB 5313, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Pedersen, will also be heard Wednesday and seeks to expand the list of prohibited provisions in rental agreements. It bans nondisclosure clauses about lease terms and charges for nonessential services like “valet trash.” The bill aims to protect tenants from unfair rental terms while providing clearer rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords. Watch on TVW.
HONORING WASHINGTON’S NATIONAL GUARD

12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29
The Senate will be on the floor Wednesday to honor Washington’s National Guard, which includes a resolution sponsored by Sen. Deb Krishnadasan. Watch on TVW.
MORE ACCESS TO INSULIN

8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30
The Health & Long-Term Care Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5326, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland. The bill will allow Washingtonians to purchase a one-month supply of insulin in emergency situations. Watch on TVW.
KEEPING WASHINGTON’S ROADS SAFE

4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30
The Transportation Committee will hold a work session on impaired driving and hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5067, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick, to lower the legal BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Traffic deaths have surged, rising from 538 in 2019 to 809 in 2023 — the highest since 1990. Nearly half involved impaired drivers, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Watch on TVW
BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31
The Health & Long-Term Care Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5083, sponsored by Sen. June Robinson. The bill will ensure better access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services. Watch on TVW.
SAFER HOMES AND BUILDINGS

10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31
The Housing Committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 5329, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias. The bill strengthens smoke detector enforcement requirements by tasking the Washington State Patrol with enforcement and creating educational materials. Watch on TVW.