Week One
Today is Day 5 of the 105-day 2019 legislative session.
On Tuesday, Gov. Inslee spelled out his priorities for Washington in his annual State of the State address. Emboldened by his party’s recent increase in control in both the House and the Senate, and his exploration of a presidential bid, the governor is more determined than ever to make significant progress on his clean energy and low-carbon agenda. This includes legislation to require 100 percent clean electricity, cleaner fuels and reduced emissions.
Although the governor did not specifically mention his tax plans during this address, Inslee is pushing for an unprecedented $3.7 Billion in new taxes. This is occurring at the same time the state is taking in record level of tax revenue – more than $50 Billion.
The governor’s tax proposals include a 9 percent Capital Gains tax. While there is an attempt in the bill language to exempt farms, livestock and forestry, we are dubious that the exemptions will provide any real relief. The biggest issue is the Internal Revenue Service has made it clear that it considers a Capital Gains tax to be an income tax. And the Washington Policy Center has reported that “for eight decades Washington state Supreme Court jurisprudence has found that income is property and that a graduated income tax is unconstitutional.” In addition, Washington voters have voted against the creation of a state income tax 10 straight times.
The governor also highlighted funding was needed for improvements to the state’s mental health system, orca recovery, K-12 education and affordable housing solutions. We’ll be covering each of these issues in more detail in upcoming Legisletters.
One last thought. Since we sent out the Action Alert on the H2A fee bill earlier this afternoon, we now have the bill number – HB 1398. You can read the bill language now by clicking here.
WFB Bill Tracking Bill Status Report
Upcoming Hearings
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1, JACB – 1/22 @ 8:00am
- SB 5217 – Public Hearing – Concerning industrial insurance wage loss. (If measure is referred to committee.)
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1, JACB – 1/23 @ 8:00am
- SB 5293 – Public Hearing – Concerning energy efficiency.
Housing, Community Development & Veterans (House) – HHR E, JLOB – 1/23 @ 8:00am
- HB 1137 – Public Hearing – Concerning National Guard pay in state active service for wildland fire response duty.
Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources (House) – HHR B, JLOB – 1/23 @ 8:00am
- HB 1188 – Public Hearing – Concerning rangeland fire protection associations. (If measure is referred to committee.)
- HB 1013 – Exec Session – Concerning the Walla Walla watershed management pilot program.
- HB 1062 – Exec Session – Expanding access to commercial fishing opportunities.
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4, JACB – 1/23 @ 3:30pm
- SB 5277 – Public Hearing – Ensuring the funding of agricultural fairs.
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B, JLOB – 1/24 @ 8:00am
- HB 1194 – Public Hearing – Preventing toxic pollution that affects public health or the environment. (If measure is referred to committee.)
Local Government (Senate) – SHR 3, JACB – 1/24 @ 8:00am
- SB 5242 – Public Hearing – Concerning the economic development of rural counties.
- SB 5243 – Public Hearing – Concerning standing before the growth management hearings board.
- SB 5245 – Public Hearing – Clarifying what science may be used by cities and counties to designate critical areas.
- SB 5259 – Public Hearing – Encouraging the success of agriculture on agricultural land.
Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks (Senate) – SHR 3, JACB – 1/24 @ 1:30pm
- SB 5102 – Public Hearing – Concerning department of natural resources’ land acquisitions.
- SB 5103 – Public Hearing – Regarding establishing natural areas.
- SB 5100 – Public Hearing – Concerning a pilot program for cougar control.
Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources (House) – HHR B, JLOB – 1/25 @ 10:00am
- HB 1187 – Public Hearing – Revising hydraulic project eligibility standards under RCW 77.55.181 for conservation district-sponsored fish habitat enhancement projects. (If measure is referred to committee.)
State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections (Senate) – SHR 2, JACB – 1/25 @ 1:30pm
- SB 5019 – Public Hearing – Modifying the expiration date of certain state fire service mobilization laws.
High Priority Bills
|
Bill #
|
Abbrev. Title
|
Short Description
|
Status
|
Sponsor
|
Position
|
|
Gray wolves/lethal removal
|
Prohibiting the lethal removal of gray wolves.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Appleton
|
Oppose
|
|
|
Hunting with the aid of dogs
|
Prohibiting hunting with the aid of dogs for certain purposes.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Appleton
|
Oppose
|
|
|
HB 1068(SB 5062)
|
High capacity magazines
|
Concerning high capacity magazines.
|
H Civil R & Judi
|
Valdez
|
Oppose
|
|
HB 1172(SB 5314)
|
Capital gains tax/prop. tax
|
Assisting Washington families by improving the fairness of the state’s tax system by enacting a capital gains tax and providing property tax relief.
|
H Finance
|
Santos
|
Oppose
|
|
H-2A agricultural program
|
Concerning the H-2A temporary agricultural program.
|
Dolan
|
Oppose
|
||
|
Cougar control pilot program
|
Concerning a pilot program for cougar control.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Sheldon
|
Support
|
|
|
SB 5129(HB 1343)
|
Revenue
|
Increasing revenues for the support of state government. Gov’s Cap Gains
|
S Ways & Means
|
Rolfes
|
Oppose
|
|
SB 5130(HB 1228)
|
Fish barrier removal funding
|
Increased REET and vehicle weight fees
|
S Ways & Means
|
Rolfes
|
Oppose
|
|
SB 5135(HB 1194)
|
Toxic pollution
|
Preventing toxic pollution that affects public health or the environment.
|
S Environment, E
|
Rolfes
|
Oppose
|
|
Critical area designation
|
Clarifying what science may be used by cities and counties to designate critical areas.
|
S Local Governme
|
Short
|
Support
|
|
|
SB 5314(HB 1172)
|
Capital gains tax/prop. tax
|
Assisting Washington families by improving the fairness of the state’s tax system by enacting a capital gains tax and providing property tax relief.
|
S Ways & Means
|
Wellman
|
Oppose
|
|
SB 5340(HB 1286)
|
Assault weapons ban
|
Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
|
S Law & Justice
|
Kuderer
|
Oppose
|
|
H-2A agricultural program
|
Concerning the H-2A temporary agricultural program.
|
McCoy
|
Oppose
|
||
|
Hydraulic projects
|
Concerning the definition of hydraulic project in relation to the hydraulic project approval permits.
|
King
|
Support
|
Medium Priority Bills
|
Bill #
|
Abbrev. Title
|
Short Description
|
Status
|
Sponsor
|
Position
|
|
Horse slaughter
|
Concerning the slaughter of horses and other equines for human consumption.
|
H Public Safety
|
Appleton
|
Oppose
|
|
|
Rangeland fire associations
|
Concerning rangeland fire protection associations.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Dent
|
Support
|
|
|
HB 1283(SB 5277)
|
Agricultural fair funding
|
Ensuring the funding of agricultural fairs.
|
H Approps
|
Dent
|
Support
|
|
HB 1287(SB 5103)
|
Natural areas
|
Regarding establishing natural areas.
|
H Cap Budget
|
Griffey
|
Support
|
|
HB 1288(SB 5102)
|
DNR land acquisitions
|
Concerning department of natural resources’ land acquisitions.
|
H Civil R & Judi
|
MacEwen
|
Support
|
|
SB 5062(HB 1068)
|
High capacity magazines
|
Concerning high capacity magazines.
|
S Law & Justice
|
Kuderer
|
Oppose
|
|
SB 5102(HB 1288)
|
DNR land acquisitions
|
Concerning department of natural resources’ land acquisitions.
|
S Ag/Water/Natura
|
Sheldon
|
Support
|
|
SB 5103(HB 1287)
|
Natural areas
|
Regarding establishing natural areas.
|
S Ag/Water/Natura
|
Sheldon
|
Support
|
|
Rural county economic dev.
|
Concerning the economic development of rural counties.
|
S Local Governme
|
Short
|
Support
|
|
|
Growth mngmt board standing
|
Concerning standing before the growth management hearings board.
|
S Local Governme
|
Short
|
Support
|
|
|
GMA/agricultural land
|
Encouraging the success of agriculture on agricultural land.
|
S Local Governmen
|
Zeiger
|
Support
|
|
|
DFW dog training, nonlethal
|
Establishing a nonlethal program within the department of fish and wildlife for the purpose of training dogs.
|
S Ag/Water/Natura
|
Takko
|
Support
|
|
|
SB 5330(HB 1273)
|
Small forest landowners
|
Analyzing state regulatory impact on small forest landowners.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Braun
|
Support
|
|
SB 5352(HB 1013)
|
Walla Walla watershed pilot
|
Concerning the Walla Walla watershed management pilot program.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Walsh
|
Support
|
|
Owner compensation/wells
|
Promoting just compensation for certain property owners who are prevented from using permit-exempt wells.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Wagoner
|
Support
|
|
|
Dairy milk assessment fee
|
Extending the dairy milk assessment fee to June 30, 2025.
|
Van De Wege
|
Support
|
||
|
Irrigation district admin.
|
Concerning the administration of irrigation districts.
|
Takko
|
Support
|
Low Priority Bills
|
Bill #
|
Abbrev. Title
|
Short Description
|
Status
|
Sponsor
|
Position
|
|
HB 1160(SB 5214)
|
Transportation budget 19-21
|
Making transportation appropriations for the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.
|
H Trans
|
Fey
|
Neutral
|
Monitoring Bills
|
Bill #
|
Abbrev. Title
|
Short Description
|
Status
|
Sponsor
|
Position
|
|
HB 1013(SB 5352)
|
Walla Walla watershed pilot
|
Concerning the Walla Walla watershed management pilot program.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Jenkin
|
Neutral
|
|
Environmental impact process
|
Concerning processes and criteria for the consideration of environmental impacts under certain environmental laws.
|
H Env & Energy
|
Walsh
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Agency rule-making authority
|
Concerning agency rule-making authority.
|
H State Govt & T
|
Walsh
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Commercial fishing access
|
Expanding access to commercial fishing opportunities.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Blake
|
Neutral
|
|
|
HB 1108(SB 5154)
|
Supp. operating budget 17-19
|
Making 2017-2019 biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.
|
H Approps
|
Ormsby
|
Neutral
|
|
HB 1109(SB 5153)
|
Operating budget 2019-2021
|
Making 2019-2021 biennium operating appropriations.
|
H Approps
|
Ormsby
|
Neutral
|
|
HB 1137(SB 5196)
|
Nat guard pay/wildland fires
|
Concerning national guard pay in state active service for wildland fire response duty.
|
H Hous, Com Dev
|
Leavitt
|
Neutral
|
|
Chehalis basin financing
|
Concerning the financing of Chehalis basin flood damage reduction and habitat restoration projects.
|
H Cap Budget
|
DeBolt
|
Neutral
|
|
|
HB 1161(SB 5213)
|
Supp. transportation budget
|
Making 2017-2019 supplemental transportation appropriations.
|
H Trans
|
Fey
|
Neutral
|
|
Low-water landscaping
|
Encouraging low-water landscaping practices as a drought alleviation tool.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Orwall
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Fish habitat projects
|
Revising hydraulic project eligibility standards under RCW 77.55.181 for conservation district-sponsored fish habitat enhancement projects.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Dent
|
Neutral
|
|
|
HB 1194(SB 5135)
|
Toxic pollution
|
Preventing toxic pollution that affects public health or the environment.
|
H Env & Energy
|
Doglio
|
Concerns
|
|
HB 1205(SB 5323)
|
Plastic bags
|
Reducing pollution from plastic bags by establishing minimum state standards for the use of bags at retail establishments.
|
H Env & Energy
|
Peterson
|
Oppose
|
|
Growth mgmt/sup court review
|
Granting local governments the authority to make challenges related to growth management planning subject to direct review in superior court.
|
H Env & Energy
|
Shea
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Growth mgmt act, repeal of
|
Repealing growth management planning requirements in chapter 36.70A RCW.
|
H Env & Energy
|
Shea
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Firearm open carry/local gov
|
Expanding local government authority to regulate firearms.
|
H Civil R & Judi
|
Wylie
|
Neutral
|
|
|
HB 1334(SB 5305)
|
Electric util wildland fires
|
Concerning electric utility wildland fire prevention.
|
H RDev, Ag&NR
|
Blake
|
Neutral
|
|
Hemp production
|
Concerning hemp production.
|
Shea
|
Neutral
|
||
|
Streambed impacts study
|
Concerning a comprehensive study of human-caused impacts to streambeds.
|
Blake
|
Neutral
|
||
|
Protected lands/fire levies
|
Concerning protected lands not being assessed local fire district levies.
|
S Local Governme
|
Rolfes
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Animal control/firearms
|
Allowing animal control officers to carry firearms for personal protection.
|
S Law & Justice
|
Van De Wege
|
Neutral
|
|
|
SB 5019(HB 1170)
|
Fire service mobilization
|
Modifying the expiration date of certain state fire service mobilization laws.
|
S State Govt/Trib
|
Takko
|
Neutral
|
|
SB 5035(HB 1072)
|
Prevailing wage laws
|
Enhancing the prevailing wage laws to ensure contractor and owner accountability and worker protection.
|
S Labor & Commer
|
Salda?a
|
Concerns
|
|
Broadband internet access
|
Providing access to broadband internet services.
|
S Environment, E
|
McCoy
|
Neutral
|
|
|
SB 5134(HB 1102)
|
Capital budget 2019-2021
|
Concerning the capital budget.
|
S Ways & Means
|
Frockt
|
Neutral
|
|
Water infrastructure program
|
Establishing the water infrastructure program.
|
S Ag/Water/Natura
|
Honeyford
|
Neutral
|
|
|
SB 5153(HB 1109)
|
Operating budget 2019-2021
|
Making 2019-2021 biennium operating appropriations.
|
S Ways & Means
|
Rolfes
|
Oppose
|
|
SB 5154(HB 1108)
|
Supp. operating budget 17-19
|
Making 2017-2019 biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.
|
S Ways & Means
|
Rolfes
|
Neutral
|
|
SB 5213(HB 1161)
|
Supp. transportation budget
|
Making 2017-2019 supplemental transportation appropriations.
|
S Transportation
|
Hobbs
|
Neutral
|
|
SB 5214(HB 1160)
|
Transportation budget 19-21
|
Making transportation appropriations for the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.
|
S Transportation
|
Hobbs
|
Neutral
|
|
Industrial ins. wage loss
|
Concerning industrial insurance wage loss.
|
S Labor & Commerc
|
Keiser
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Road usage charges/rural
|
Prohibiting road usage charges in rural counties.
|
S Transportation
|
Sheldon
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Hemp production
|
Authorizing hemp production in conformance with the agriculture improvement act of 2018.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Ericksen
|
Neutral
|
|
|
SB 5277(HB 1283)
|
Agricultural fair funding
|
Ensuring the funding of agricultural fairs.
|
S Ways & Means
|
Warnick
|
Neutral
|
|
SB 5293(HB 1257)
|
Energy efficiency
|
Concerning energy efficiency.
|
S Environment, E
|
Carlyle
|
Neutral
|
|
SB 5305(HB 1334)
|
Electric util wildland fires
|
Concerning electric utility wildland fire prevention.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Van De Wege
|
Neutral
|
|
Electric utilities/climate
|
Concerning claims about climate change made by electric utilities.
|
S Environment, En
|
Ericksen
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Products identified as milk
|
Concerning products identified as milk.
|
S Ag/Water/Natura
|
Ericksen
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Rest and meal periods
|
Concerning rest and meal periods.
|
S Labor & Commer
|
Conway
|
Neutral
|
|
|
Fish habitat projects
|
Expanding the definition of fish habitat enhancement projects.
|
Rolfes
|
Support
|
||
|
SB 5426(HB 1112)
|
Hydrofluorocarbon emissions
|
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofluorocarbons.
|
Mullet
|
Neutral
|
|
|
SJM 8005(HJM 4000)
|
Biochar
|
Supporting the continued research, development, production, and application of biochar from our forests and agricultural lands.
|
S Ag/Water/Natur
|
Short
|
Neutral
|