April 21-25
As the legislative session nears its close, lawmakers are working diligently to finalize revenue-related bills and other key legislation necessary to implement the state budget. A final budget proposal is expected to be released and passed by Sunday, April 27, the final day of the regular session.
In addition to budget-related activity, legislators have been voting on concurrence—the process by which the original chamber decides whether to accept amendments made by the opposite chamber. If the originating chamber concurs, the bill moves forward to the Governor. If not, the originating chamber may ask the other to withdraw its changes.
When agreement can’t be reached, a conference committee—composed of members from both chambers—may be formed to negotiate a final version. If successful, the committee issues a conference report, which must be approved by both chambers.
We’re pleased to share that priority bills for Partners for Our Children were not amended as they moved through the opposite chamber. As a result, these bills advanced directly to the Governor and are scheduled to be signed into law on Friday, April 25:
SHB 1177 – Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program
Enhances support for families by addressing housing instability as a key barrier to reunification or preservation.
SHB 1509 – Community-Based Family Reconciliation Services
Sustains a vital model that delivers early intervention and prevention services to families in conflict.
Stay tuned for updates following the conclusion of the session.
Weekly bill tracker
The P4C tracker highlights bills related to our priorities, particularly in child welfare. Please note that the inclusion of bills in the tracker does not reflect P4C’s position for or against the bill.
Other ways to stay informed
- The legislative website provides comprehensive information on bills, committee schedules, and contact information for legislators.
- TVW offers live and archived coverage of legislative committees and other events.