State lawmakers hit a milestone this week, as the first bill to pass both houses in this year’s legislative session heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. The measure, SB 5061, would prevent $1.7 billion in automatic unemployment insurance tax increases from taking effect from 2021 to 2025 The bill easily passed the House by an 89-8 vote late Friday, after passing the Senate by a 42-7 vote earlier.
The 105-day session is in its 24th day, with the first deadline for legislative action coming in less than two weeks, on February 15th. That is the last day committees must pass bills from their originating chamber for consideration by the whole House or Senate. This first “cut-off” day generally reduces by half the number of bills still under consideration. To date in 2021, more than 900 measures have been introduced, and introductions are likely to continue at a brisk pace until the cut-off date. Typically, more than 2,000 bills are introduced during a 105-day regular session, with around 400 making it through final passage to become law.
Following a late-evening debate on Monday, the House passed HB 1368, to distribute $2.2 billion in federal COVID relief funds made available to the state. It includes $668 million for school funding, and $618 for a Public Health Response account for programs such as COVID testing and contact tracing. A further $68 million is earmarked for vaccine distribution and administration.
The bill would also provide $365 million for housing and rental assistance, and $240 million in grants for Washington’s small businesses. Also, $65 million would be allocated for the Washington Immigrant Relief fund, and $50 million in financial help for child care providers.
Debate on the bill revolved around proposed amendments to increase funding for programs like additional child care grants, accelerated learning opportunities, and emergency rental and utility assistance. Most of these reflected a proposed relief package announced last week by Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn), the ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee. The proposal (HB 1334) would have spent nearly $4 billion, including $1.8 billion from the state’s “rainy-day” fund.
During debate on the amendments, House members voiced strong concerns over “dipping into the state’s rainy-day reserves, while the total economic impacts of the pandemic are still unknown.” The House did, however, unanimously pass HB 1367, a separate bill to spend $167 from the “rainy-day” fund on increased vendor rates within the state Department of Social and Health Services. ?
The COVID relief bill, HB 1368, passed the House by a 61-36 vote, with one member excused. It was sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, where it is scheduled for action before the end of this week. Check the bill on www.WashingtonVotes.org to see how your legislator voted.
WashingtonVotes.org is a free service provided by Washington Policy Center and is the go-to tracking tool to keep up with all the action in Olympia, especially during this mostly virtual session. Please check in often and follow us on Facebook and Twitter at #waleg.
from WashingtonVotes NEWS
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
