Dear Friends,
Welcome to the tenth week of the legislative session! Tuesday, March 9th at 5:00 p.m. was the deadline for bills to be passed out of their house of origin before making the move over to the opposite house. After Tuesday’s cutoff, hearings resumed again as policy committees considered bills that have been sent over from the opposite house. Legislators, lobbyists, and advocates are busy making sure their bills are scheduled for hearings in order to move out of policy committees by the next cutoff on March 26, 2021. Follow the 2021 Session Calendar to see where we are in the process.
We are seeing the number of bills still in play dwindle down following the house of origin cutoff. 1,366 bills have been introduced so far this session, but just 417 made it through last Tuesday’s cutoff.
I have had a few requests from HPN readers to review the designation, Necessary to Implement the Budget (NTIB). Confusion came for readers asking about bills that were alive past fiscal cut-off. Typically, an NTIB designation means a bill has a positive or negative impact on the budget. Therefore, the bill is exempt from cut-off deadlines (NOT DEAD) and can still be worked until the end of session. However, whether a bill is considered NTIB is a matter of opinion by leadership and there can be quite a bit of discretion with this designation. This means that bills can be considered NTIB not just for fiscal reasons, but also for political reasons.
The spring revenue forecast is scheduled to be released by the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council on March 17th. The forecast will indicate if the state revenues increase, remain the same, or decrease. This information assists the budget writers as they complete the budgets. After the spring forecast, we expect to see the budgets start to be released. This year, it is the Senate’s turn to release their budgets first: Operating, Capital and Transportation. The House budgets will follow the release of the Senate budgets.
President Biden signed the America Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 stimulus relief bill on Thursday, March 11th. Funding provided to Washington through the Act includes:
- $4.25 billion to the state government
- $2.66 billion to cities and counties
- $1.9 billion for K-12 schools
- $655 million for higher education institutions
- $635 million for child care
- $189 million for infrastructure projects
- $13 million for Head Start
Among other things the Act also provides funding for direct stimulus payments, an extension of the $300 weekly emergency federal unemployment benefits, a new infusion of rental assistance, an increase in federal subsidies for health insurance, and an expansion of the Child Tax Credit.
After signing the stimulus relief bill in the morning, President Biden addressed the nation on the one-year anniversary of the WHO’s declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his remarks, President Biden announced he would direct all states, tribes, and territories to make all adults, people 18 and over, eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1. "And let me be clear. That doesn't mean everyone's going to have that shot immediately, but it means you'll be able to get in line beginning May 1. Every adult will be eligible to get their shot."
Governor Inslee held a press conference on Thursday to announce that Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced effective March 22nd, the entire state will enter Phase 3, a return for in-person spectators for professional and high school sports, indoor events, and outdoor activities with limits on numbers dependent on venue size. Social distancing and facial covering are still required. A full list of industry-level changes for the new phase will be released next week.
In addition, Governor Inslee announced that starting Wednesday, March 17, everyone in Phase 1B, Tier 2 will be eligible for their COVID vaccine. This includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, firefighters, and law enforcement. Phase 1B, Tier 2 also includes people over the age of 16 who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high-risk.
On Friday, nearly one year to the day since the governor and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal closed school buildings statewide in response to the pandemic, the governor announced he will sign an emergency proclamation to ensure all school districts offer some in-person learning options to students by April.
Reflecting on the one year anniversary of the WHO’s declaration of the pandemic, The New York Times published an interesting article about how Washington State responded to the COVID-19 virus.
At this point in the legislative process, many of you have received advocacy alerts. When you receive advocacy alerts, make sure you respond to them as soon as possible. As you know from looking at the session calendar, the legislature works on a very tight timeline. An advocacy organization sends out alerts to mobilize grassroots constituents to let legislators know they care about an issue at critical junctures in the legislative process. It can make a difference for legislators when they hear from their constituents on an issue.
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We will continue to keep you updated 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,
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Julie Peterson, Executive Director
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Throwback - Tivoli Fountain, March 2019
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Please note, this status is as of Saturday, March 13th. Please check www.leg.wa.gov for further status updates. Check for new bill additions each week.
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Clinical & Community Linkages
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“Creating the state office of behavioral health consumer advocacy.”
HB 1086
Sponsor: Simmons
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Behavioral Health
Mar 19: Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care at 10:30 AM
“Expanding accessible, affordable childcare and early childhood development programs.”
HB 1213 & SB 5237
Sponsor: Senn
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Early Learning K-12
Status: House Children, Youth & Families
Mar 18: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Children, Youth & Families at 10:00 AM
Click here for the Fair Start Act Summary
“Concerning working connections childcare eligibility and unemployment benefits.”
SB 5023
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Ways & Means
“Improving maternal health outcomes by extending coverage during the postpartum period.”
SB 5068
Sponsor: Stonier
Sponsor: Randall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations
Mar 18: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 3:30 PM
“Concerning health equity continuing education for health care professionals.”
SB 5229
Sponsor: Randall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
Mar 15: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM
Mar 17: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM
“Concerning the possession of vapor, vapor products, tobacco, and tobacco products by minors.”
SB 5129
Sponsor: Saldana
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Rules 2
See one-pager from Healthy King County Coalition here.
“Funding foundational public health services.”
HB 1201 & SB 5149
Sponsor: Riccelli
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Finance & Senate Ways & Means
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“Supporting measures to create comprehensive public health districts.”
HB 1152 & SB 5173
Sponsor: Riccelli
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: Senate Health & Senate Health
“Concerning the regulation of products sold to adults age 21 and over.”
HB 1345 & SB 5266
Sponsor: Pollett
Sponsor: Kuderer
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House Commerce & Labor Senate Labor
“Developing comprehensive school counseling programs.”
SB 5030
Sponsor: Mullet
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
Mar 18: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM
"Implementing the national 988 system to enhance and expand behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention services."
HB 1477
Sponsor: Orwall
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House 2nd Reading
Mar 19: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care at 10:30 AM
“Concerning school-based health centers.”
HB 1225
Sponsor: Stonier
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care & Long-Term Care
Mar 15: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 1:30 PM
“Enhancing and expanding behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis response services.”
HB 1182 & SB 5209
Sponsor: Orwall
Sponsor: Dhingra
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Behavioral Health
“Increasing affordability of standardized plans on the individual market.”
SB 5377
Sponsor: Frockt
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
Mar 17: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM
Click here for a one-pager about Cascade Care 2.0
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Social & Economic Conditions
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“Concerning methods to prevent nicotine addiction.”
HB 1550
Sponsor: Pollet
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor
Status: House Finance
“Concerning professional learning, equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism in the public school system.”
SB 5044
Sponsor: Das
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
Mar 18: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM
“Prohibiting the use of credit scores to determine rates for personal lines of insurance.”
SB 5010
Sponsor: Das
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Second Reading
“Prohibiting weapons in state capitol buildings and grounds and certain other governmental buildings and facilities.”
HB 1234
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights
“Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol.”
SB 5038
Sponsor: Kuderer
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights & Judiciary
Mar 16: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:00 AM
Mar 19: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM
“Including the open carry or display of weapons within the offense of criminal mischief.”
HB 1283
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Rules Review
“Concerning the restoration of the right to possess a firearm.”
HB 1026
Sponsor: Walen
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Civil Rights
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“Modernizing, harmonizing, and improving the efficacy and accessibility of laws concerning civil protection orders.”
HB 1320 & SB 5297
Sponsor: Goodman
Sponsor: Dhingra
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Law & Justice & Senate Law & Justice
Mar 16: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM
Mar 18: Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM
“Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches.”
HB 1342
Sponsor: Berg
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Ways & Means
“Providing for an additional revenue source for eviction prevention and housing stability services.”
HB 1277 & SB 5279
Sponsor: Ormsby
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Housing
Mar 15: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 3:30 PM
Mar 18: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Appropriations at 3:30 PM
"Funding public health services and health equity initiatives through a statewide sweetened beverage tax.
SB 5371
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care
“Concerning foster care and childcare licensing by the department of children, youth, and families.”
SB 5151
Sponsor: Wilson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Children, Youth & Families
Mar 17: Scheduled for Executive Session at 8:00 AM
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“Improving the state's climate response through updates to the state's comprehensive planning framework.”
HB 1099
Sponsor: Duerr
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Local Government
Mar 16: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government at 8:00 AM
Click here for a one-pager from Futurewise.
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“Concerning long-term forest health and the reduction of wildfire dangers.”
HB 1168
Sponsor: Springer
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks
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