February 9-13
As we reached the midpoint of the legislative session this week, the pace picked up significantly. The fiscal cutoff on Monday, February 9 meant long hours in committee as lawmakers worked to advance bills before the deadline.
Measures that cleared fiscal committees are now eligible for consideration by the full chamber in their house of origin. The next key deadline is Tuesday, February 17, when bills must receive a floor vote to continue moving forward this session. The exception to this deadline are bills deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB). NTIB bills may continue to be considered through the final day of the legislative session.
The primary bills that Partners for Our Children are tracking or actively supporting are now on the floor calendar, meaning they may be brought up for a vote at any time before the deadline:
- SSB 6308 authorizes courts to order certain conditions to maintain safety when a child under the age of five remains in the home following a shelter care hearing.
- SSB 6319 creates a community-based pathway for referrals to services that may extend up to six months in communities that have high rates of critical incidents that impact children under the age of four where parental use of high-potency synthetic opioids was a factor in the case.
- SB 5979 requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to develop policies, practice guidelines, and training for the filing of dependency petitions and use of in-home dependencies.
- SSB 5911—ends the practice of withholding federal SSI benefits from youth in extended foster care who have a disability or have experienced the death of a parent.
A key piece of legislation under consideration this session is SSB 6436, often referred to as the “millionaire’s tax.” The proposal would create a new tax on individuals with annual income exceeding $1 million. While the tax would not generate revenue in the current biennium, it is projected to raise significant funding once it takes effect on January 1, 2028.
The new revenue would help support essential public services, including K–12 education, health care, and higher education. It would also expand the Working Families Tax Credit and provide a tax credit for small businesses.
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.