“Facing a massive increase in tax revenues Jay Inslee and Washington Democrats seek record-level tax increases. Something is wrong, but it’s not a mistake.” The idea that Inslee and the Democrats in Olympia are purposely “putting you through this financial pain” in order to support an eventual income tax doesn’t sound too far-fetched. (Todd Herman – 770 KTTH)

Washington faces another lawsuit from kid-plaintiffs over greenhouse gas rules. A group of environmental activists backed by Our Children’s Trust have filed a lawsuit in Superior Court, arguing the state isn’t doing enough. Some of the plaintiffs were also part of a 2014 suit that went nowhere. (The Spokesman-Review)

The state Commissioner of Public Lands declared her opposition to offshore drilling off the coast. Hilary Franz said in a letter, “The people of Washington State did not ask for offshore drilling and do not want offshore drilling…Our public lands and waters belong to all of us. They are not assets to be plundered, leaving Washingtonians with the mess.” (The Spokesman-Review)

After cutting down a tree in Olympic National Park, two men received jail time and a fine of around $17,500. One will serve 30 days, the other 60. (The Spokesman-Review)

In response to property tax increases, an average of 17%, King County Assessor says “I feel like Paul Revere.” John Arthur Wilson has been educating people about the upcoming tax changes – speaking with everyone from realtors and businesses to local and community groups. Kitsap and Snohomish County assessors are making similar outreach efforts to inform taxpayers. (The Seattle Times)

Spokane County will be seeing property tax increases from 10 to almost 23% across the region, depending on “assessed value and various local voter-approved measures in their taxing district.” (The Spokesman-Review)

Yakima County nurses are being awarded $2.8 million after a Yakima County Superior Court Judge ruled in their favor. The Washington State Nurses Association lawsuit claimed employees “were regularly required to work off the clock without pay.” (The Yakima-Herald)

Law & Justice (Senate)

Increasing success in therapeutic courts | SHB 1524

Concerning information on civil traffic infractions | SHB 2035

Making felony sex offenses a crime that may be prosecuted at any time after its commission (Hearing is on the Proposed Striking Amendment) | ESHB 1155

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

 

Health & Long Term Care (Senate)

Changing the designation of the state behavioral health authority from the department of social and health services to the health care authority and transferring the related powers, functions, and duties to the health care authority and the department of health | 2ESHB 1388

Addressing prescription drug cost transparency | 2SHB 1541

Protecting consumers from excess charges for prescription medications | SHB 2296

Preserving access to individual market health care coverage throughout Washington state | SHB 2408

 

Labor & Workplace Standards (House)

Establishing the prevailing rate of wage based on collective bargaining agreements or other methods if collective bargaining agreements are not available | SSB 5493

Encouraging fairness in disciplinary actions of peace officers | SB 6188

Addressing the presumption of occupational disease for purposes of workers’ compensation by adding medical conditions to the presumption and extending the presumption to certain publicly employed firefighters and investigators and law enforcement | ESB 6213

Requiring employers to provide exclusive bargaining representatives reasonable access to new employees for the purposes of presenting information about their exclusive bargaining representative | ESB 6229

 

Human Services & Corrections (Senate)

Concerning the online availability of foster parent preservice training | SHB 2256

Concerning the handling of child forensic interview and child interview digital recordings | ESHB 2700

Increasing the availability of housing for developmentally disabled persons | SHB 2448

 

Public Safety (House)

Concerning governmental continuity during emergency periods | SSB 6011

Creating a graduated reentry program of partial confinement for certain offenders | SSB 6277

Amending the state Constitution to provide governmental continuity during emergency periods resulting from a catastrophic incident | SJR 8211

 

Education (House)

Adopting policy and procedures on student interviews and interrogations | ESSB 6065

Granting of high school diplomas by community or technical colleges | SB 6248

Concerning school safety | 2SSB 6410

Creating a pilot project for tribal compact schools | SSB 6474

 

Labor & Commerce (Senate)

Prohibiting employers from asking about arrests or convictions before an applicant is determined otherwise qualified for a position | 2SHB 1298

Protecting survivors of domestic assault from employment discrimination | HB 2661

Concerning business practices by marijuana retailers that may mislead the public as to the ownership of a retailer | SHB 2335

Exempting alcohol manufacturers from the food storage warehouse license | HB 2699

Adding training on public works and prevailing wage requirements to responsible bidder criteria | E2SHB 1673

Granting binding interest arbitration rights to certain uniformed personnel | SHB 1559

Concerning the deduction of union dues and fees | HB 2751

Concerning gambling addiction | EHB 2332

 

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate)

Expanding the provision of trauma-informed child care | EHB 2861

Regarding a curriculum for the prevention of sexual abuse of students | SHB 1539

Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches | SHB 2712

Concerning the administration of marijuana to students for medical purposes | SHB 1060

 

Transportation (Senate)

Concerning medical certificate requirements for applicants and holders of commercial drivers’ licenses and commercial learners’ permits | SHB 2696

Concerning bone marrow donation information provided to driver’s license and identicard applicants | SHB 2557

Clarifying the required color of certain lamps on vehicles | HB 2775

Allowing federally recognized tribes with lands held in trust in a county that is west of the Cascade mountain range that borders Puget Sound with a population of at least one hundred eighteen thousand, but less than two hundred fifty thousand, persons to enter into agreements regarding fuel taxes | SHB 1063

 

Finance (House)

Assisting Washington families by improving the fairness of the state’s tax system by enacting a capital gains tax and providing property tax relief | HB 2967

Modifying the business and occupation tax structure for rural manufacturers and timber and wood product manufacturers, extractors, and wholesalers | HB 2992

Authorizing certain public transportation benefit areas to impose a sales and use tax increase approved by voters | ESB 5288

 

Ways & Means (Senate)

Concerning the capital budget (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute) | SB 6095

 

State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections (Senate)

Concerning financial reporting by elected and appointed officials, candidates, and appointees | HB 1833

Updating inflationary amounts in campaign finance laws | HB 1835

Concerning accountability and transparency in government contracting | E2SHB 1851

Concerning campaign finance law | ESHB 2938

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