March 2-6
This week marked two key legislative cutoff dates. March 2 was the deadline for bills to pass out of fiscal committees, and March 6 is the deadline for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber from where they originated. The primary exceptions to these deadlines are the state budget and bills considered necessary to implement the budget.
During the final days of session, the Legislature will focus largely on negotiating and passing a final operating budget. Another major issue under consideration is SB 6346, the proposed “millionaire’s tax.” While this revenue proposal would not generate funding that could be used in the current biennium, it could play an important role in addressing the state’s long-term fiscal needs and improving equity in Washington’s tax system, which currently places a disproportionate share of responsibility on lower-income households.
With the regular legislative session scheduled to conclude on March 12, the Legislature is now in a race to the finish line.
SSB 5911 update
SSB 5911, a priority for Partners for Our Children, passed out of the House with a vote of 93-2. The bill allows youth in Extended Foster Care who have a disability to receive the federal SSI benefits to which they are entitled. While the long-term goal remains ensuring that all youth in care can access their SSI benefits, SSB 5911 represents an important and pragmatic first step by focusing on youth at a critical point in their transition to adulthood.
Once the Senate concurs on changes to the bill made by the House, the bill will head to the Governor for signature.
We will publish a final legislative session update next week, followed by an additional update once the budget and bills have been signed.
Weekly bill tracker
The weekly P4C bill 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
- TVW offers live and archived coverage of legislative committees and other events.
- The legislative website provides comprehensive information on bills, committee schedules, and contact information for legislators.