The grace period is over: Those stopped under the Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act will now be ticketed. The fine is $136 for a first offense, increasing to $234 for a second offense within a five-year period. (The Seattle Times)

Good ol’ Jay Inslee is chiming in what we can do about the opiate crisis, and it seems to involve saying the word “local” a lot. Hey Jay, how’s the weather in Switzerland right now anyway? (MyNorthwest)

King County may be subpoenaed by the federal government for directing officers not to cooperate with immigration officials. A Dept. of Justice letter asks the county to provide documents “reflecting any orders, directives, instructions, or guidance to your law enforcement employees…regarding whether and how these employees may, or may not, communicate with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and/or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or their agents…” (MyNorthwest)

Seattle City Light is pledging to eliminate its backlog of billing issues by March. Of course, the agency was quick to blame the backlog on its new customer information system and the “unprecedented construction/new account growth”. Because people love excuses. (KIRO 7)

“If Donald Trump’s presidency had not energized Democrats and changed political dynamics generally, Washington’s state Senate would likely still be in Republican hands,” John Carlson wrote in an op-ed for Crosscut. Carlson notes that Trump’s win also likely changed Jenny Durkan’s career trajectory and made a gubernatorial campaign more difficult for Dow Constantine. (Crosscut)

Washington State Ferries “are leaving half-empty” at peak hours in West Seattle, even with “a long line of cars waiting,” UW economist Theo Eicher wrote in a recent study. Eicher and study partner Jeremy Cooper concluded the lack of efficiency is multi-faceted, including an undersized dock and WSDOT emphasizing on-time departures over loading more cars. (The Seattle Times)

Snohomish County Jail is offering a Suboxone detox program for inmates with opioid withdrawals. Currently “about 35 to 40 percent” of those booked into the jail daily are put onto withdrawal watch. “Our goal is to really minimize their symptoms and try to get them out to the general population and feeling well. The other part to that is to give them some hope of what options there are for treatment out there.” (MyNorthwest) 

A former Dept. of Fish and Wildlife leader was found guilty of second-degree rape and first-degree burglary in an Olympia courtroom yesterday. Greg Schirato was taken into custody following the conviction and now awaits sentencing. (The Spokesman-Review)

Tukwila School District will no longer build the 28-classroom Birth-to-Five Center that voters approved for construction in 2016. Rather, it will use the part of the $99.16 million ballot measure intended for the campus to improve three existing elementary schools. (The Seattle Times)

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge may soon have suicide-hotline signs courtesy of the Gig Harbor Suicide Prevention Coalition. Pierce County Councilmember Derek Young said he was “surprised we haven’t already done something like this.” (The Seattle Times)

Officials now say “it’s too hard to predict when [the Rattlesnake Ridge slide] will occur.” Spokesman for the Dept. of Natural Resources, Joe Smilie, said “We’ve pretty much taken the end date off the table.” Around 55 agencies are monitoring the situation. (The Spokesman-Review)

Concerning disclosure of state employment funded by certain private sources | HB 2926 | “I sort of questioned why (Inslee) shrouded it in secrecy if it’s such a nonissue in his eyes,” Rep. Stokesbary (R-Auburn) said regarding the release of information about staffers whose salaries are paid for by outside entities. (The News Tribune)

Concerning the collection of a motor vehicle excise tax approved by voters of a regional transit authority in 2016 | HB 2201 | 60-37-0-1 vote in the House | “It’s well past time for the Legislature to act and restore public confidence on this issue,” said Rep. Mike Pellicciotti (D-Federal Way). (MyNorthwest) | moving into Senate committees

Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation fuels | HB 2338 | “Would require fuel producers and importers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with gasoline and other transportation tools” – AKA a low-carbon fuels standard (The Spokesman-Review) | in committee

Concerning the regulation of programs of yoga practice or instruction as private vocational schools | SB 5141 | 49-0-0-0 vote | moving into House committees

Aligning eligibility for the college bound scholarship program with the state need grant program | SB 5074 | 38-11-0-0 vote | moving into House committees

Preventing suicide by permitting the voluntary waiver of firearm rights | SB 5553 | 49-0-0-0 vote | moving into House committees

Addressing the sentencing of juveniles | SB 5610 | 31-18-0-0 vote | moving into House committees

Changing provisions relating to court-ordered restitution in certain criminal cases | HB 1058 | 96-0-0-2 vote | moving into Senate committees

Concerning gambling addiction | HB 2332 | 94-3-0-1 vote | moving into Senate committees

Concerning antifreeze products | HB 1095 | 80-16-0-2 vote | moving into Senate committees

Addressing the budgeting process for core state services for children | HB 2008 | 63-34-0-1 vote | moving into Senate committees

Appropriations – House

Concerning the January 1, 2020, implementation of the school employees’ benefits board program | HB 2438

Adding members to the school employees’ benefits board | HB 2655

Regarding the school employees’ benefits board | HB 2657

Addressing employee benefits provided by the school employees’ benefits board | HB 2755

Ways & Means – Senate

Protecting the state’s marine waters from the release of nonnative finfish from marine finfish aquaculture sites | SB 6086

Creating a task force on state and local property tax reform | SB 6382

Addressing the establishment of an individual health insurance market claims-based reinsurance program | SB 6062

Technology & Economic Development – House

Studying state policies and programs that impact the affordability of retail electric bills in Washington state | HB 2814

Encouraging the economic vitality of rural food and forest product businesses | HB 2133

Protecting an open internet in Washington state | HB 2282

Encouraging investment in and reducing the costs of transitioning to the clean energy future | HB 2283

Concerning energy conservation programs under the energy independence act | HB 2319

Judiciary – House

Relating to local government authority to regulate firearms | HB 2666

Concerning enhanced background checks and licensure for assault weapons and large capacity magazines | HB 1387

Concerning high capacity magazines | HB 2422

Concerning concealed pistol license eligibility requirements | HB 2519

Law & Justice – Senate

Limiting disclosure of information about the religious affiliation of individuals | HB 2097

Reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty and instead requiring life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole as the sentence for aggravated first degree murder | SB 6052

Studying the constitutional and statutory obligations and tax revenue capacity of local government entities | HB 2737

Finance – House

Relieving burdens on small businesses by updating the tax return filing thresholds to reflect inflation | HB 2350

Extending the business and occupation tax return filing due date for self-employed filers | HB 2305

Education – House

Modifying school and court processes to promote attendance and reduce truancy | HB 2848

Concerning comprehensive school safety planning for public and private K-12 schools | HB 1703

Requiring teacher preparation programs to integrate Native American curriculum developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction into existing Pacific Northwest history and government requirements | HB 2034

Higher Education & Workforce Development – Senate

Providing a tuition waiver for state residents who are members of a federally recognized Indian tribe | SB 6131

Freezing tuition at institutions of higher education | SB 5568

Increasing transparency and accountability for intercollegiate athletic programs | SB 6493

Public Safety – House

Reviewing elderly incarcerated offenders for possible early release | HB 1866

Increasing penalties for the crime of patronizing a prostitute | HB 2360

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