By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate
The Washington State Legislature has nearly reached the midpoint of its 2025 session, with members working long hours on the floor and in caucus as they approach the March 12 deadline for bills to pass out of their chambers of origin. As of this week, 1,051 House Bills have been introduced, and 519 have made it to the Rules Committee for further consideration. Over in the Senate, 805 bills have been introduced, with 271 entering the Senate Rules process. Bills that do not clear this stage of Rules committee pulls and floor action — unless deemed “necessary to implement the budget” (NTIB) — are generally considered dead for the session. However, it’s worth noting that no bill is entirely off the table until the biennium ends.
The first half of floor action typically features bills that the majority anticipates will inspire less debate and those laden with time-consuming amendments are saved until closer to March 12 when debate can be limited. A few of the bills that have passed this early portion of floor action this week already include:
SHB 1080 (Donaghy, D-Lake Stevens) – Requires all fees charged by lodging accommodations to be disclosed in the advertised, displayed, or offered room rate, except for taxes and government fees, which must be included in the total price before a guest reserves a stay.
ESHB 1430 (Simmons, D-Silverdale) – Requires health carriers offering private health plans to reimburse advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) at the same rate as physicians when an APRN or PA is providing primary care and behavioral health services.
SB 5498 (Alvarado, D-West Seattle) – Applies the requirement that health plans reimburse for a 12- month supply of contraceptives to all prescriptions, instead of only refills.
2SSB 5098 (Valdez, D-Seattle) – Prohibits weapons at certain park facilities where children are likely to be present, certain state or local public buildings, and county fairs when the fair is open to the public and requires signage.
SB 5023 (Saldaña, D-Seattle) – The bill would require employers of domestic workers (including housekeepers, nannies, caregivers, gardeners) to provide minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and protection from discrimination and retaliation. It also mandates that employers provide written employment agreements and adhere to specific notice requirements before terminating domestic workers, with protections tailored to live-in workers.
SB 5192 (Nobles, D-Lakewood) – The bill simplifies MSOCs (Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs) funding by removing category-specific allocations and giving districts greater flexibility to direct resources where they are most needed. To ensure transparency, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, districts must report MSOC expenditures in key categories such as technology, curriculum, utilities, and maintenance. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction may add additional categories as needed for state and federal reporting requirements. It also stabilizes funding calculations by averaging student enrollment over three years, reducing the impact of sudden population changes on district budgets.
HB 1562 (Hunt, D-Issaquah) – Requires newly constructed public buildings with restrooms to install baby changing stations. Additionally, public buildings undergoing restroom renovations exceeding $15,000 must include changing stations in at least one women’s and one men’s restroom, or in a gender-neutral restroom. The bill includes reasonable exemptions for industrial buildings, certain healthcare facilities, and cases where installation would conflict with accessibility standards.
Potential 2025 Ballot Measures
The initiative process in Washington State dates back to 1912, when voters approved an amendment to Article II, Section 1 of the Washington Constitution, granting citizens the right to initiative and referendum. The first successful Initiative to the People (ITP), Initiative 3, prohibited the production and distribution of alcohol in 1914. The following year, the legislature passed a bill that would have made it nearly impossible to place an initiative on the ballot. In response, Washington voters used the referendum power to block the bill until they successfully voted it down in the 1916 election, by a three-to-one margin. From 1912 to 2023, Washington citizens filed 2,009 ITPs, of which 155 were certified for the ballot. Of these, 82 (52.9%) passed, while 73 (47.1%) were rejected. Ballot measures in all of their forms have remained an influential force in Washington State politics, especially in recent years with the rise of Initiative promoter Tim Eycman and hedge fund manager Brian Heywood’s group, Let’s Go Washington.
Parents’ Bill of Rights
On Tuesday, despite SB 5181, (Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way), the “clean-up” bill for the Parents’ Bill of Rights as characterized by majority Democrats, not yet passing the legislature, Let’s Go Washington has launched a repeal effort. If the bill is passed, this repeal could potentially appear on the November ballot, pending the gathering of over 300,000 signatures between when the bill is signed (likely in May) and July 3. Let’s Go Washington played a pivotal role in pushing forward the law commonly known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. During the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature passed Initiative 2081, though some Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about its lack of clarity. The initiative specified 15 rights for parents of public school students, including the right to be informed on safety, academic progress, medical issues, and law enforcement matters. It also included provisions for parents to review and request specific records and educational materials. SB 5181 passed the Senate on February 5 with a vote of 30-19. It is now awaiting further consideration in the House Education Committee.
The bill has sparked ongoing discussions about balancing parental rights with student privacy. Supporters contend that it addresses redundancies and contradictions in existing laws, aiming to protect student health privacy while clarifying the responsibilities of school districts. Opponents, however, are concerned that the amendments may diminish parental rights by limiting mandatory notifications about medical services provided to students at school. They argue this could reduce transparency and hinder parental involvement in their children’s education and health.
And on Monday, Senator Vandana Slatter (D-Bellevue) and 24 other Democrats introduced SJR 8204. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment in Washington State to protect reproductive freedom and gender-affirming care. If approved by voters in the next general election, the amendment would ensure that the state cannot interfere with an individual’s rights to abortion, contraception, assisted reproductive technology, or gender-affirming care. It also guarantees protection from discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes.
People for an Affordable Washington
On the heels of Governor Ferguson’s budget cut exercise last week, another effort in the budget and revenue space launched Monday. People for an Affordable Washington, a new PAC, placed a banner ad on the Seattle Times website, highlighting talking points that criticize increased government spending without seeing progress on education, homelessness, housing affordability, or the rising cost of living. Funded by the WA Alliance for a Competitive Economy, Microsoft, Madrona, T-Mobile, and Alaska Air, the website also features a place for readers to contact their legislators.
A concern for some of the above companies may be the fact that lawmakers are considering HB 1839 by Rep. Julia Reed (D-Seattle) which would remove the current cap on the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax for large technology companies to increase funding for higher education. Currently, the B&O tax is capped at $9.6 million per year for any single company. By eliminating this cap, the state aims to generate additional revenue to support public universities and colleges.
Proponents argue that large tech firms, which have seen substantial growth and profits, should contribute more to the state’s educational infrastructure. Opponents, however, express concerns that this change could discourage business investment and lead to higher consumer prices.
Week Upcoming
The legislature will be in session this Saturday and long nights on Monday and Tuesday working bills until the House of Origin Cutoff on Wednesday, March 12 at 5:00pm. Thursday and Friday of next week starts the second committee phase of the session whereby the House and Senate will take public testimony on bills passed by the opposite house.
About the Author
Jim Hedrick is GSI’s State Lobbyist and Owner of H2 Government Relations. Jim has advocated on behalf of our community for more than 20 years and has 25 years of experience in the Washington State legislative and public policy venue as a fiscal analyst, legislative advocate, and political advisor to the Governor, state agency directors, and legislative officials.
About this Blog
As part of GSI’s year-round work with our community to advance policies that support the success of local businesses, we’re active in Washington State’s current legislative session – tracking bills, advocating on behalf of our community, planning our annual trip to Olympia, communicating our State Agenda, and working with our lobbyist, our Regional Advocacy Committee, and our elected officials, to advance priorities that support local businesses and enhance our community. Learn more about what we do to create a greater voice for the future of our region and view this year’s State Agenda.
