March 10-14
The cutoff for bills to be passed out of their respective house of origin occurred on March 12th. Bills that were voted off the House or Senate floor by this deadline now move to the opposite chamber, where they will undergo further consideration in policy and fiscal committees.
Some of the more high-profile pieces of legislation that passed include a bill to limit annual rent increases, a Governor-request bill to fund additional police officers, cost-saving legislation to delay and modify early learning programs, and a bill regarding parent’s rights in education.
As we move forward, attention now shifts to hearings and executive action in committees. Below are updates on key priority bills for Partners for Our Children:
- SHB 1177: Referred to the Senate Human Services Committee. This bill makes improvements to the Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program, which addresses housing instability when it is a barrier for families to reunite or stay together.
- SHB 1509: Referred to the Senate Human Services Committee. This bill continues an existing community-based model to deliver prevention services to families experiencing conflict.
- SSB 5488: Unfortunately, this bill did not make it out of the Senate by the floor cutoff and will not advance this session. The bill aimed to end the state’s practice of withholding federal SSI and survivor benefits from children in foster care.
Looking ahead, the state’s revenue forecast will be released next week on March 18th. This forecast will provide the legislature with the most up-to-date estimates for revenue collections in the coming biennium. These fiscal projections will play a key role in shaping the budget development process, with House and Senate budget proposals expected to be released the following week.
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.
