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Dear Friends,
Welcome to the twelfth week of the legislative session! The Senate Majority Caucus Coalition released their Transportation Budget on Monday, March 20th. This was followed by the release of their 2017-19, $43.3 billion Operating Budget on Tuesday, March 21st. The budget proposes spending $3.7 billion in gross new state spending for education ($1.8 billion net new revenue) by 2019 in an attempt to satisfy the Washington State Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary decision.
The proposed Republican budget relies on a new state property tax levy of $1.55 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund much of the increase in education spending. The proposed plan would eliminate local school maintenance and operation levies. As a result, Senate Republicans say more than 80 percent of property owners would see a decrease in their property taxes. The exception would be in areas like Seattle, Bellevue, Lake Washington and Mercer Island where the current local levy rates are lower than $1.55 per $1,000 of assessed value. In those places, property owners would see a tax increase.
Proposed budget savings were achieved by making eligibility changes to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a child care program for low-income families, state food assistance, and other safety net programs. Additional savings in the budget were realized from not funding collective bargaining agreements negotiated between Governor Inslee and unionized state employees. Instead of honoring the negotiated collective bargaining agreements, Senate Republicans would give state workers an across-the-board $1,000 pay raise. Collective bargaining contracts for state troopers and prison workers would be honored and are funded in the budget.
There were a number of programs eliminated in the proposed budget. One of the eliminated programs, Housing and Essential Needs, was partially restored under an adopted floor amendment from Sen Miloscia (R), which put $10 million back into the budget.
At a news conference following the release of the budget, Governor Inslee criticized the Republican proposal. "It does not amply fund education," he said. "This is only a marginal education budget at best."
Senator Sharon Nelson, Senate Democratic Minority Leader, called the Republican budget "cold-blooded."
For a breakdown of budget highlights and coverage of the Senate Majority Caucus Coalition and Governor Inslee’s press conferences, click here to watch TVW’s The Impact.
The Senate budget, SB 5048 was passed in a late night session Thursday, March 23rd on a party line vote of 25-24.
The House is expected to release their operating and transportation budgets early this week, with floor action by the end of the week. The Senate is expected to release their Capital Budget this week followed by the House week after next. Once the budgets are passed, negotiations will begin between the Senate and House to develop final compromise budgets.
Last week, a HPN reader asked what the Senate Rules "X" file status on SB 5651 “Concerning the siting of schools and school facilities” in the Bill Tracker meant. After certain cut-off dates, the Rules Committee sometimes places bills in the House or Senate X-File if they are no longer available for consideration (aka dead). Bills placed in the X-File are removed from all calendars and daily status sheets.
This week as you look at the Bill Tracker, I have removed the “Dead Bills” and added a budget grid. The grid highlights a few of the budgetary issues we are watching this session.
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We will continue to keep you informed with future status updates. If you have bill or policy questions, please feel free to direct them to Julie Peterson at juliep@healthygen.org or my Twitter handle, @HealthyGenJulie.
Ever forward,
Julie Peterson
Senior Director of Policy
JulieP@healthygen.org
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Bills & Budget Items We're Watching
Please note, this status is as of Friday, March 24th. Please check www.leg.wa.gov for further updates.
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PREVENTION:
“Concerning the age of individuals at which sale or distribution of tobacco and vapor products may be made.”
HB 1054 & SB 5025
Sponsor: Harris
Sponsor: Miloscia
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Finance (NTIB) & Senate Commerce, Labor, & Sports (Dead)
“Modifying the infraction of and penalties for distracted driving.”
HB 1371 & SB 5289
Sponsor: Farrell
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Second Reading & Senate Second Reading
Hearing in Senate Transportation - Mar 28 at 3:30 p.m.
“Concerning safe injection sites in Washington State.”
SB 5223
Sponsor: Miloscia
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: House Health Care and Wellness
“Creating the department of children, youth, and families.”
HB 1661 & 5498
Sponsor: Kagi
Sponsor: O’Ban
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing (NTIB) & Senate Ways & Means (Dead)
Hearing in Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing - Mar 27 at 1:30 p.m.
“Establishing special license endorsements for cigar lounges and retail tobacconist shops.”
HB 1919
Sponsor: Vick
Healthy Gen position: Oppose
Status: House Health Care (Dead & NTIB)
“Concerning the taxation of vapor products.”
HB 2144
Sponsor: Pollet
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: House Finance
Possible executive session scheduled in House Finance - Mar 30 at 8:00 a.m.
“Concerning vapor products, e-cigarettes, and nicotine products taxation."
HB 2165
Sponsor: Harris
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: House Finance
Possible executive session scheduled in House Finance - Mar 30 at 8:00 a.m.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS:
“Addressing the siting of schools and school facilities.”
HB 1017
Sponsor: McCaslin
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Second reading
“Assessing physical education practices in public schools.”
HB 1235
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education
“Concerning tourism marketing.”
SHB 1123 & SB 5251
Sponsor: Condotta
Sponsor: Takko
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means (Both Dead & NTIB)
“Creating the Cooper Jones bicyclist safety advisory council.”
HB 1795 & SB 5402
Sponsor: Kloba
Sponsor: Liias
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: Senate Transportation & House Transportation
“Concerning persons and entities to whom the department of health may provide prescription monitoring program data.”
HB 1426 & SB 5248
Sponsor: Robinson
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care & Senate Ways & Means (Dead)
“Requiring health plans to cover, with no cost sharing, all preventive services required to be covered under federal law as of December 31, 2016.”
HB 1523
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care
“Implementing recommendations from the children's mental health work group.”
HB 1713 & SB 5763
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing & Senate Ways & Means (Dead)
“Concerning paperwork reduction in order to improve the availability of mental health services to protect children and families.”
HB 5749
Sponsor: Darneille
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Early Learning
Scheduled for possible executive session - Mar 28 at 8:00 a.m.
“Changing the designation of the state behavioral health authority from the department of social and health services to the health care authority and transferring the related powers, functions, and duties to the health care authority and the department of health.”
HB 1388 & SSB 5259
Sponsor: Cody
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care & Senate Ways & Means (Dead)
“Concerning foundational public health services.”
HB 1432 & SB 5353
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care & Senate Ways & Means (Dead)
“Creating an oral health pilot program for adults with diabetes and pregnant women.”
SB 5540
Sponsor: Walsh
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Wellness
“Concerning the reimbursement rate primary care providers receive to participate in Medicaid.”
HB 1637 & SSB 5471
Sponsor: Pettigrew
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means (Both Dead)
“Concerning obligations of mental health professionals.”
HB 1810 & SB 5800
Sponsor: Cody
Sponsor: Baumgartner
Healthy Gen’s positon: Support
Status: House Judiciary (Dead) & House Judiciary
“Concerning persons and entities to whom the department of health may provide prescription monitoring program data.”
HB 1426 & 5248
Sponsor: Robinson
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care & Senate Ways & Means
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
“Concerning access to homeless housing and assistance.”
HB 1570
Sponsor: Macri
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Rules Review (NTIB)
“Creating a competitive equipment assistance grant program to enhance student nutrition in public schools.”
HB 1551
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education
“Promoting student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs.”
HB 1508
Sponsor: Stonier
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education
“Concerning a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.”
HB 1975
Sponsor: Jinkins
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Finance (Dead & NTIB)
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What is the X-File?
The first three people who e-mail the correct answer to juliep@healthygen.org will win a Starbucks gift card!
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The answer to last week’s question, "Washington State has nine elected executives who serve four-year terms. Consumer protection is the most important job of which elected official?
The answer is: The Insurance Commissioner.
Consumer protection is the most important job of the Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler. When the office was created by first state Legislature in 1889-90, its main function was simply to register insurance companies that wanted to do business in Washington. Today, the role has expanded to include overall industry regulation, making sure companies meet their obligations and abide by the rigorous financial and legal standards set for doing business in this state. For more information visit: https://www.insurance.wa.gov/
Congratulations to our winner!
Lindsey Greto, Public Health-Seattle & King County
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Members of the Healthy Living Collaborative of Southwest Washington gathered in the Senate Rules Room to meet with members of their legislative delegation to discuss issues that impact their communities.
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The Sine Die Tree was beginning to bud last week.
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Shortcuts For Tracking Bills & Finding Out What You Want To Know
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- To check on a bill, go to the main bill information site to set up a log-in account. You can then find legislation by bill number, prime sponsor, or by topic.
- Legislative Committees schedules, agendas and calendars.
- To see video, or hear audio, of any legislative meeting or floor debate, go to www.tvw.org.
- General Information Website for Legislation, here.
- Session Committee Meeting Schedules, here.
- Summary of Introduced House Legislative Bills, here; Senate Legislative Bills, here.
- House Floor Activity Reports, here (shows live status of House floor).
- Senate Floor Activity Reports, here (shows live status of Senate floor).
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April 26th & 27th, 2017
Join us at our annual two-day conference for those working to create enduring healthy equity.
The Science of Hope brings together health equity front-line practitioners, system leaders and leading researchers and academics to learn from one another, build new relationships across silos and sectors, and explore leading-edge issues to foster innovation and positive change.
You will leave this conference feeling inspired, connected, and informed.
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