While in Switzerland, Gov. Jay Inslee said he’d like to see taxes increased across the country. During an interview with CNBC, Inslee downplayed strong economic indicators following Republicans’ tax reform and instead said what the country really needs is higher taxes. Inslee left one CNBC host speechless, and it’s easy to see why: Read his answer for yourself and see if you can figure out what the heck he’s trying to say. (MyNorthwest)

State Sen. Lynda Wilson (R-Vancouver) wants to stop vehicle license fraud, which she says is pervasive in Clark County. “There are about 20,000 cars licensed in Oregon that should be licensed in Washington,” said Wilson. You can learn more about Sen Wilson’s bill here. (KGW8 News)

Lawmakers say they want to give drivers some relief from Sound Transit’s outrageously high car tab fees, but some liberals want “offsetting measures” (read: new taxes) to give to Sound Transit. Rep. Noel Frame (D- Seattle) is even suggesting a capital gains income tax to help pay back Sound Transit. (Washington Policy Center)

At the behest of unions, some Democratic lawmakers want to ban the disclosure of some employees’ birthdates. The conflict started in 2016, when unions sued to halt a records requests made the Freedom Foundation. The conservative group made the request so it could mail home care workers to inform them that they’re no longer required to pay into a union. Jami Lund, a senior policy analyst for the Freedom Foundation said, “This is the unions afraid of our ability to inform public employees of their constitutional right to reduce their payment to the union.” (The News Tribune)

It’s time lawmakers in Olympia were subject to the same public disclosure laws imposed on local governments, state agencies, and statewide elected officials. That’s according to the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board. The board wrote, “The voters need to be watching, and lawmakers need to drop this ill-advised effort at clouding transparency.” (Yakima Herald)

Some lawmakers want to do away with I-200, the voter-approved 1998 initiative that banned all discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, national origin or ethnicity. One, reliable lefty Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle) said, “It’s time for us to reconsider this social experiment.” I-200 passed easily with 58.2% of the vote. (The Spokesman Review)

After low voter-turnout in November, state officials are looking to increase registration and voting. Ideas under consideration include “preregistering” 16- and 17-year-olds, changing the schedule of state and presidential primaries, and allowing voter registration closer to Election Day – even “same day” registration. (The Spokesman Review) 

Governor Jay Inslee denied Vancouver Energy’s application to build an oil-by-rail terminal. The denial followed a recommendation by a state energy panel. Vancouver Energy said in November that the panel “set an impossible standard for new energy facilities based on the risk of incidents that the Final Environmental Impact Statement characterizes as extremely unlikely.” (King5)

King County Assessor John Wilson is warning homeowners they could see a steep increase in their property-tax bills, set to be mailed next month. Taxpayers could see an average increase of close to 17 percent, with Wilson adding, “It’s the largest increase in some time.”(The Seattle Times)

Governor Inslee tapped Dave Zeeck, president and publisher of The News Tribune of Tacoma, to fill a seat on the UW Board of Regents. Zeeck is also president and publisher of The Olympian and The Bellingham Herald. (The Seattle Times)

Though Washington State has no income tax, Washington residents who travel to another state for work can be subject to that state’s income tax. Jason Mercier with the Washington Policy Center outlines why The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act making its way through Congress is a good idea. (Tri-City Herald)

Health Care & Wellness (House)

Concerning foster youth health care benefits | HB 2530

Exempting certain mobile food units from state and local regulations pertaining to commissaries or servicing areas | HB 2639

 

State Government, Elections & Information Technology (House)

Concerning dates and timelines associated with the operation of the state primary and elections | HB 2534

Establishing the Washington state women’s commission | HB 2759

Protecting personal information regarding sexual harassment claims | HB 2778

Addressing county commissioner elections | HB 2887

Concerning census funding | HJM 4015

 

Business & Financial Services (House)

Concerning security freeze fees charged by consumer reporting agencies | ESB 6018

Concerning ticket sales over the internet | HB 2921

 

Higher Education (House)

Ensuring student rights under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 are preserved | HB 2866

Protecting public safety by authorizing certain educational institutions to impose reasonable restrictions on registered sex and kidnapping offenders enrolled at those institutions | HB 2783

Requiring institutions of higher education to report incidents involving freedom of expression on campus | HB 2324

Supporting students’ success by increasing retention and graduation rates with evidence-based programs | HB 1651

 

Early Learning & Human Services (House)

Revising conditions under which a person is subject to exclusive adult jurisdiction and extending juvenile court jurisdiction over serious cases to age twenty-five | HB 2895

 

Financial Institutions & Insurance (House)

Concerning local authority to address affordable housing needs through regulation of rent and associated charges | SB 6400

Requesting that Congress enact legislation that would reinstate the separation of commercial and investment banking functions that were in effect under the Glass-Steagall act | SJM 8002

 

Judiciary (House)

Concerning suspension of the evaluation, detention, and commitment of persons with a substance use disorder when secure detoxification facility beds are not available | HB 2401

Expanding the classes of persons who may provide informed consent for certain patients who are not competent to consent | HB 2541

Concerning the privilege for peer support group counselors | HB 2611

Concerning the deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) program | HJM 4016

 

Law & Justice (Senate)

Concerning electronic monitoring of domestic violence perpetrators | SB 6292

Concerning provisions governing firearms possession by persons who have been found incompetent to stand trial and who have a history of one or more violent acts | SB 6297

Adding domestic violence harassment to the list of offenses for which a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm | SB 6298

Concerning correctional cost savings | SB 6509

Requiring permission to bring a concealed firearm into another person’s residence or dwelling place | SB 6415

 

Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs (House)

Concerning tourism marketing | HB 2924

Creating a Washington affordable housing tax credit program | HB 2913

 

Technology & Economic Development (House)

Modernizing fuel content standards and references | HB 2757

Increasing energy efficiency | HB 2931

Modernizing fuel content standards and references | HB 2757

Protecting the privacy and security of internet users | ESHB 2200

Concerning community solar gardens | HB 2280

Allowing the energy savings associated with on-bill repayment programs to count toward a qualifying utility’s energy conservation targets under the energy independence act | HB 2410

Concerning the voluntary option to purchase qualified alternative energy resources | HB 2413

Concerning the state universal communications services program | HB 2423

Eliminating the joint legislative oversight committee on trade policy | HB 2430

Concerning the annual reporting requirements for regulated utility and transportation companies | HB 2523

Promoting renewable natural gas | HB 2580

Concerning the efficient deployment of small cell network infrastructure | HB 2592

 

Public Safety (House)

Creating a new crime applicable to platforms, including internet web sites, that facilitate unauthorized gambling activity | HB 2881

Removing the prohibition on planning for a nuclear attack in emergency management plans | HB 2214

Concerning ignition interlock device lockout conditions | HB 2268

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

Increasing access to emergency assistance for victims by providing immunity from prosecution for prostitution offenses in some circumstances | HB 2361

Making residential burglary a crime against persons | HB 2427

Increasing the public disclosure of registered sex offenders | HB 2487

Concerning the placement and treatment of conditionally released sexually violent predators | HB 2579

Increasing penalties for certain repeat offenders who engage in lurid criminal contact | HB 2619

 

Environment (House)

Addressing the impartial participation of members of the growth management hearings board on matters before the board | HB 2728

Requiring planning for the availability of mineral resources | HB 2942

 

Finance (House)

Providing that certain local sales and use taxes may be used for prevention and outreach programs | HB 2799

Authorizing cities planning under the growth management act to impose certain real estate excise taxes by councilmanic action | HB 2876

Making the business and occupation tax more progressive | HB 2940

 

Ways & Means (Senate)

Prohibiting employers from asking about arrests or convictions before an applicant is determined otherwise qualified for a position | SB 6110

Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace | SSB 5689

Concerning governmental continuity during emergency periods | SB 6011

Establishing a student loan bill of rights | SSB 6029

 

Human Services & Corrections (Senate)

Creating alternatives to total confinement for certain qualifying offenders with minor children | SB 5307

Concerning the processes for reviewing sexually violent predators committed under chapter 71.09 RCW | SB 6217

Standardizing practices relating to the commitment and release of persons committed to a state institution after committing acts of felony violence | SB 6466

Increasing the availability of assisted outpatient behavioral health treatment | SB 6491

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