Washington State Legislative Update – Week of January 27-31, 2025
Week of January 27-31, 2025
We are now three weeks into the 2025 session, 1,442 bills have been introduced, and legislative business is moving quickly. At the same time, Majority Democrats are forging a path with the new governor, Bob Ferguson (D) as well as their Republican colleagues, and drawing firm lines with the new Trump Administration.
House Democrats Assert Their Influence
House Democrats in Washington state have made significant changes to a longstanding rule that restricted access to the wings of the House chamber. The new policy now allows access only for the governor, excluding the governor’s staff unless specifically invited by a House member. This revision has sparked controversy, particularly after Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) delivered an inauguration speech calling for bipartisan reforms, which was well-received by Republicans but notably lacked praise for Democratic accomplishments. House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) defended the rule change, explaining it as a necessary clarification to address overly broad language. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary (R-31) criticized the move as a direct retaliation against Gov. Ferguson (D).
The rule adjustment was part of a broader overhaul of legislative procedures, which included:
- Reducing the threshold to end debate, allowing a simple majority vote instead of a two-thirds majority.
- Banning “title-only” bills, previously lawmakers would introduce these bills late in the session to create vehicles for last-minute legislation, usually related to the budget.
- Modifying time limits for debates.
Republicans opposed these procedural changes, arguing they infringe on minority party rights, while Democrats argued that the changes were designed to increase legislative efficiency.
Washington State’s Early Response to the Trump Administration
In the 2024 general election, Washington State, a stronghold of Democratic leadership, saw President Trump garner only 39% of the vote. Democrats control the House, Senate, all statewide offices, and the Governor’s office, and leaders wasted no time pushing back against the new administration’s policies.
Last week, newly minted Attorney General Nick Brown (D) filed a lawsuit against President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. A federal judge in Seattle ruled in Brown’s favor, issuing a temporary restraining order against the order.
Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal (D), also took action, issuing guidance to public schools reaffirming that all children, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to an education. The guidance, based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe, emphasized that denying undocumented children enrollment violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Reykdal’s office further advised schools not to share student information with immigration authorities unless legally required.
This week, Governor Bob Ferguson (D) launched a Family Separation Rapid Response Team in Washington State to address President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, which include mass deportations. The team, created through Executive Order 25-04, aims to mitigate the effects on children, many of whom are U.S. citizens, when their undocumented parents or caregivers are deported or detained. The team includes members from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Washington State Patrol, the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Governor’s Office. They will collaborate with regional experts on immigration and child welfare to recommend policies that support affected children, including ensuring access to care, education, and stability.
Senate Labor & Commerce Committee Chair Rebecca Saldaña introduced SB 5377 on the day of President Donald Trump’s inauguration and Elon Musk’s televised Nazi salute complete with a splashy news release with no mention of what’s on the line for Musk’s Tesla. Currently, nearly every automaker must sell their vehicles through independent auto dealerships per state law. Tesla scored an exemption a while back and this bill would remove that special exemption from the electric vehicle giant, a valued sales advantage that Tesla has certainly enjoyed, essentially leveling the playing field for other electric vehicle competitors.
On Friday, the Democrat-led legislature continued to push back against Trump’s policies, preparing to challenge federal actions they view as harmful.
That day, the House Health Care & Wellness Committee held a hearing on HB 1531, sponsored by Chair Dan Bronoske (D-28). The bill requires state and local health officials to implement evidence-based measures to control communicable diseases, including vaccine promotion. It also prohibits local or state laws that would restrict these efforts and includes an emergency clause preventing repeal by referendum. The measure faced opposition from anti-vaccine advocates, some of whom align with figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. An astounding 10,040 people signed in opposition.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs exec’d HB 1321, introduced by Chair Sharlett Mena (D-29). The bill bans out-of-state militias from entering Washington without prior written approval from the governor or a federal call to service. It also carries an emergency clause. Mena said at exec that this aligns WA with other states that have sought to preserve their autonomy. The Governor’s office had testified in support, with 402 people signing in with support. However, opposition was significant, with 3,358 people signing-in in opposition.
Significant Bill Introductions
SB 5578 (Saldaña, D-37) / HB 1764 (Mena, D-29): Raising Minimum Wage & Expanding Paid Leave
This bill raises the state minimum wage (exact amount TBD) and requires employers to provide paid vacation and bereavement leave. Supporters say it will provide economic security for workers, while business groups are concerned about financial strain on small businesses.
SB 5400 (Liias, D-21): Supporting Local Journalism
Aims to strengthen local news coverage by establishing the Washington Local News Journalism Corps Program in the Department of Commerce. The program will provide grants to support journalists covering civic affairs in underserved communities. The bill allocates $20 million annually from the Workforce Education Investment Account and increases the cap on the workforce education investment surcharge for large technology companies from $9 million to $15 million. Supporters argue this will bolster democracy and local reporting, while opponents question the use of public funds for journalism when the original intent was specifically created to develop a higher education workforce.
Important Dates:
- Monday, January 13 – First Day of Session
- Friday, February 21 – Policy Committee Cutoff, House of Origin
- Friday, February 28 – Fiscal Committee Cutoff, House of Origin
- Wednesday, March 12 – House of Origin Floor Cutoff
- Wednesday, April 2 – Policy Committee Cutoff, Opposite House
- Tuesday, April 8 – Fiscal Committee Cutoff, Opposite House
- Wednesday, April 16 – Opposite House Floor Cutoff
- Sunday, April 27 – Sine Die
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Brynn Brady
Ceiba Consulting, Inc. | ceibaconsulting.com