It’s a wrap. The 60-day 2018 regular session of the Legislature ended on schedule just after 10 p.m. last night. This is the first time in many years that lawmakers completed their work on time, without added special session days.
The session was fast-paced, with Democrats narrowly controlling both chambers this year. Some 320 bills, out of more than 1,400 introduced this session, made it through the legislative process and await action by the Governor before they are enacted into law.
The remaining measures are now dead for the 2017-18 legislative cycle, unless unexpectedly revived in a special session later this year.
In floor action on the last day, House and Senate Democrats pushed through a supplemental operating budget package that was agreed upon by leadership and made available for review less than a day before the votes were scheduled. The House and Senate had passed sharply different versions of their proposal to adjust the 2017-19 state spending plan approved with bi-partisan votes last year.
SB 6032, the reconciled version of the supplemental budget bill, passed the Senate on final passage by a vote of 25-24, and the House by a vote of 55-44.
Overall, the budget agreement increases 2017-19 General Fund spending levels to $44.6 billion, and total spending from all funds to $89 billion.
The state’s latest revenue forecast projects increased tax collections of some $1.3 billion through 2021. This is the highest level of public spending in the history of the state.
Two major tax increases sought by Governor Inslee, a capital gains income tax and a carbon energy tax, failed to gain support and died before week’s end.
A modest property tax relief measure, SB 6614 narrowly passed both houses during the last two days of session. This bill provides for $391 million in property tax reductions for 2019.
Property owners will be hit with steep tax bills this year resulting from last year’s approval by legislators of a significant increase in the state property tax rate.
The bill would pay for the property tax relief by redirecting funds that would normally go into the state’s rainy day reserve fund to the Education Legacy Trust Account. The state Constitution requires that most of the money collected during periods of extraordinary general state revenue growth be deposited into the reserve account, and that any withdrawals from the account requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.
The move by Democrats to bypass the rainy day fund drew sharp criticism from Republicans during debate on the bill. They said this maneuver not only jeopardizes the future economic health of the state, but was intended to eliminate the need for Republican votes or input on the budget agreement.
Another move to skirt the constitution came when Democrats advanced HB 3003 to a final vote. The bill amends a proposed initiative, I-940 that deals with the use of force by law enforcement.
Under the state constitution, the Legislature may pass an initiative or propose an alternative, both of which then go to before voters at the next general election.
Lawmakers did neither. Instead, they passed an amended version of the initiative, denying voters a chance to vote on the original initiative or any proposed alternative. The Legislature’s unprecedented action may draw a court challenge.
Check how your legislators voted on all the issues in this session by visiting washingtonvotes.org.
Recent bill action
Senate Bill 6032, Making supplemental appropriations for the 2017-19 state budget
Passed the House on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 55-44
This is the supplemental budget to adjust the state’s spending plan for the 2017-19 state budget approved by the Legislature last year. As passed, the bill raises General Fund spending by $900 million for the current biennium to $44.6 billion, and total spending from all funds by $1.7 billion to $89 billion. The overall supplemental budget package includes a property tax cut of $391 million for 2019 and $776 million for teacher salaries to comply with the last piece of the state Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary school funding mandate.
The supplemental budget takes into consideration the state’s latest revenue forecast that projects about $1.3 billion more in existing taxes through 2021. No new taxes, notably capital gains income and carbon emissions taxes, are called for in this budget.
Rep. Mike Chapman D-(Port Angeles) Yes
Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim) Yes
Senate Bill 6032, Making supplemental appropriations for the 2017-19 state budget
Passed the Senate on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 25-24
The bill passed the Legislature and is on its way to the Governor.
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) Yes
Senate Bill 6614, Concerning funding for the support of common schools
Passed the Senate on March 7 by a vote of 25-23 (one member excused)
This bill is part of the supplemental budget agreement reached between the House and Senate and would reduce state property taxes by 30 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation for calendar year 2019, or a total of $391 million in property tax relief. Under the school funding plan approved by the legislature last year, the state property tax rate increased from $1.89 per $1,000 in assessed valuation in 2017 to $2.70 in 2018, resulting in steep increases for many property owners around the state.
The property tax cut would be funded by redirecting moneys that would normally go into the state’s reserve fund. A 2011 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution requires that most of the extra money collected during periods of extraordinary general state revenue growth must be deposited into the Budget Stabilization Account—the rainy day fund. This bill, instead, would divert $935 million in state property tax collections for fiscal year 2019 to the Education Legacy Trust Account.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
Senate Bill 6614, Concerning funding for the support of common schools
Passed the House on final passage March 8 by a vote of 59-39 (one member excused)
The bill passed the legislature and is on its way to the governor.
Rep. Chapman Yes
Rep. Tharinger Yes
Senate Bill 6362, Modifying basic education provisions
Passed the House on March 8 by a vote of 50-48
Also part of the overall supplemental budget agreement, this bill would provide $776 million more for teacher salaries. It would move ahead the schedule for full funding of the increased state salary allocations for school employees to the 2018-19 school year, rather than phasing it in over two school years.
Rep. Chapman Yes
Rep. Tharinger Yes
Senate Bill 6362, Modifying basic education provisions
Passed the Senate on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 25-23 (one member excused)
The bill had passed the Senate earlier in February, but was amended in the House. The Senate agreed with the House amendments and the bill has now passed the Legislature. It is on its way to the Governor.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
House Bill 3003, Relating to law enforcement
Passed the House on March 7 by a vote of 73-25
In January 2018, Washington’s Secretary of State certified Initiative to the Legislature No. 940. dealing with law enforcement, including training, rendering of first aid, criminal liability standards for using deadly force, and investigations. Under the state constitution, the Legislature may enact the initiative, in which case it becomes law.
Alternatively, the Legislature may reject it or take no action, or propose an alternative, in which case the initiative along with any alternative is submitted to a vote of the people at the next general election.
This bill would amend the initiative to modify the provisions relating to training, the criminal liability standard for use of deadly force, and independent investigations of deadly force incidents.
It would make it easier to bring charges against a law enforcement officer for use of deadly force by removing a “malice” requirement and mandates new programs on de-escalation and mental health training for officers.
Rep. Chapman Yes
Rep. Tharinger Yes
House Bill 3003, Relating to law enforcement
Passed the Senate on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 25-24
The bill passed the Senate on final passage and was delivered to the Governor.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
Senate Initiated Legislation 940, Initiative by the people to the legislature concerning law enforcement
Passed the Senate on March 8 by a vote of 25-24
This is the Initiative to the Legislature amended by HB 3003.
It requires all law enforcement officers in the state receive violence de-escalation training and mental health training.
It also establishes the duty of all law enforcement officers to render first aid to preserve the life of persons whom the officer comes into contact with while carrying out official duties, and provides for a good faith standard, to determine whether a law enforcement officer is criminally liable for the use of deadly force.
It also requires independent investigations of certain incidents involving a law enforcement officer’s use of deadly force.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
House Initiated Legislation 940, Initiative by the people to the legislature concerning law enforcement
Passed the House on March 8, 2018 by a vote of 55-43.
The Initiative to the Legislature was submitted and passed separately by both houses of the Legislature.
It was filed with the Secretary of State to become law.
Rep. Chapman Yes
Rep. Tharinger Yes.
