Three weeks down, six to go. Here’s what happened last week in the Legislature

Lawmakers in Olympia closed out their third week of session Friday after moving forward a number of bills.

Only six weeks remain of the short 2024 session, and leading lawmakers told reporters Tuesday that the state’s supplemental budget, the only item they are constitutionally required to pass before adjourning, will likely be released near the end of February.

The last of six initiatives sponsored by Let’s Go Washington was certified by the Secretary of State, but it is still unclear when or if lawmakers will propose any alternatives to the measures before the initiatives are placed on the November ballot.

The first cutoff day for legislation is Wednesday, Jan. 31, and lawmakers will need to pass bills from their committees of origin before 5 p.m. that day for the bills to move forward.

Here are some of the bills that were discussed last week.

House bills

HB 2001 – Providing judicial discretion to modify sentences in the interests of justice.

Sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, this bill would allow courts to review and potentially modify felony sentences for incarcerated individuals who meet certain criteria. As the law stands, only prosecutors are able to ask courts for a modification, regardless of whether the law the incarcerated person was sentenced under is still on the books. This proposal by Simmons would allow defense counsel to ask courts for a review.

The bill had a public hearing Tuesday, and is scheduled for executive session on Jan. 30. A companion bill is also being sponsored in the Senate.

HB 1044 – Providing capital financial assistance to small school districts with demonstrated funding challenges.

First introduced and passed off the debate floor by House lawmakers last year, this legislation sponsored by Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, has returned again for 2024. The bill aims to help small schools receive state grant funding for projects that “comprehensively modernize or replace older buildings that are in poor or unsatisfactory condition.” The funding process is determined by need.

The House passed the bill unanimously on Thursday, Jan. 25.

HB 2196 – Concerning blood alcohol concentration.

Introduced this session by Rep. Brandy Donaghy, D-Mill Creek, this legislation would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration from .08% to .05% for drivers operating a motor vehicle. Similar legislation was introduced by Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, last year but the bill did not pass off the Senate debate floor.

The latest version of the bill had a public hearing Thursday, and will go to executive session in the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Senate bills

SB 6298 – Concerning the duty of the clergy to report abuse or neglect.

Introduced by Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, this legislation would add clergy to the list of mandated reporters, those who are legally required to report abuse or neglect in Washington state. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in 2023 but stalled after the House made changes that Senate lawmakers didn’t agree with. Frame said Thursday during a public hearing that the new bill strikes a balance by carving out a narrow exemption for information received during confession.

The bill is now headed to executive session in the Senate Human Services Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

SB 5966 – Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

Sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, this bill would prohibit certain types of restraint such as chemical, mechanical, or physical restraint that restricts breathing, and would also prohibit types of isolation for students. The bill still allows for restraints or isolation in some defined instances, but adds to the list of procedures required after incidents.

The bill had a public hearing Monday, but is not yet scheduled for executive session.

SB 5010 – Updating the endangerment-with-a-controlled-substance statute to include fentanyl or synthetic opioids.

First introduced by Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, in 2023, this bill is back on the docket this year. Under the bill, the crime of “endangerment with a controlled substance” would include fentanyl and synthetic opioids, and would prohibit the “knowing or intentional exposure” of such substances to children. If the bill is passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, violations of the law would be a Class B felony.

The Senate passed the bill Wednesday with a 48-1 vote, and will now head to the House.

SB 5334 – Providing a local government option for funding essential affordable housing programs.

Sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett, D-Anacortes, this bill would allow cities and counties to charge an excise tax of up to 10% on “the sale of lodging of short-term rentals through a short-term rental platform.” Revenue collected from the tax would go to fund affordable housing. An exemption is included for seniors and those on fixed incomes who own short-term rentals.

The bill was introduced last year but stalled in the House. The Senate passed the latest version 29-20 on Wednesday.