From housing to school safety, here are some high-profile WA bills that made first session cutoff
Last Friday, Feb. 21 was policy cutoff in the Washington state Legislature — the first big milestone on the lawmaking calendar.
Since it’s the first year of the biennium, bills that didn’t make the cut can get revived for another shot during the next session. In the meantime, plenty of high-priority bills — including those focused on housing, education and public safety — are still moving forward during the current 2025 session.
Once bills with impact on the budget are voted out of policy committee, they next head over to the pertinent fiscal committee. The fiscal-committee cutoff is this upcoming Friday, although deadlines don’t apply to bills considered necessary to implement the budget.
Here’s a taste of some of the legislation that is moving on to the next round.
Rent cap
House Bill 1217 by state Sen. Emily Alvarado, a West Seattle Democrat, would cap yearly rent and fee increases at 7%.
Supporters of the bill argue that it would protect more vulnerable tenants from evictions amid a rise in homelessness. But opponents say it would chill the development of new rental properties and hurt landlords’ bottom lines.
Buying firearms
Sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Liz Berry of Seattle, HB 1163 would require a permit to buy firearms. People would apply for a permit through the Washington State Patrol’s Firearms Background Check Program.
Those who have testified in support of the bill assert that it would help protect kids from gun violence, the leading cause of death for youth. Detractors counter that the measure would heap more restrictions, burdens and challenges onto law-abiding residents.
HB 1163 received a hearing Monday in the House Appropriations Committee and is scheduled for a vote on Thursday morning.
Digital repairs
Nicknamed the “Right to Repair Act,” HB 1483 would require digital-electronics manufacturers such as Apple to share the tools, parts and information needed for independent repair providers to mend consumer devices and appliances.
Those in favor of the bill, sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Mia Gregerson of SeaTac, say it would protect consumers and prevent electronic waste, while critics argue it could undermine security efforts and impede innovation.
Down payment help
HB 1022, sponsored by state Rep. April Connors, a Kennewick Republican, would launch a “Homes for Heroes Program” to help first responders and workers in certain other professions with down payments and closing costs on their first homes.
Advocates of the measure contend that the state is facing a shortage of police officers, firefighters, nurses and other essential workers, and argue that this bill could prevent current housing costs from hampering such recruitment efforts.
Early this session, Gov. Bob Ferguson indicated that he’d sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.
Financial ed
This bipartisan bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Skyler Rude of Walla Walla, would make financial education a graduation requirement for the state’s public schools.
Many students don’t ever learn about fiscal matters in the classroom, supporters of HB 1285 point out, and this bill would help instill financial literacy. But others have raised concerns about whether the lessons would be oversimplified, and whether instructors are qualified to teach such material.
School emergencies
Sponsored by state Sen. Nikki Torres, a Pasco Republican, SB 5004 would update public schools’ emergency response systems, encouraging the use of panic and alert buttons.
Torres previously told McClatchy that she wants to ensure that students can go to class without fear.
“They should be there to learn and not to worry about having to learn how to drop, roll, hide for cover, lock the doors — even though it’s good to know that stuff,” she said in December. “But priority should be learning, and they should be in a safe environment while they’re learning.”
Beefing up law enforcement
SB 5060 is another governor-endorsed bipartisan bill. Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Jeff Holy of Cheney, the bill would launch a law-enforcement hiring grant program to help attract new officers.
Ferguson has previously pointed out that Washington ranks last in the U.S. in the number of law-enforcement officers per capita.
SB 5060 is scheduled for an executive session on Feb. 27 in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
School funding
Three education-funding bills are still in play.
SB 5192 aimed at boosting allocations for school districts’ materials, supplies and operating costs is up for a vote in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 27. So is SB 5263, meant to increase special education funding.
Earlier this month, the student transportation-related SB 5187 got a public hearing in the same committee.
Domestic work
Referred to as the domestic workers’ bill of rights, SB 5023 aims to prevent discriminatory labor practices. Domestic workers — such as nannies, house cleaners and gardeners — would get paid minimum wage and overtime, plus receive meal and rest breaks.
State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña has noted that women, immigrants and people of color make up the bulk of the domestic worker employee pool.
For too long they have been “undervalued and excluded from the labor standards that ensure fair wages, workplace dignity, and protections from discrimination,” the Seattle Democrat said in a news release. “This bill is a step toward correcting that injustice.”
Housing
SB 5184, sponsored by state Sen. Jessica Bateman, an Olympia Democrat, aims to increase housing development by preventing “overly broad” minimum parking requirements.
Those who’ve spoken in support of the bill have argued that Washington is facing a housing crisis — not a parking crisis — and that reducing the parking requirements would help retain urban tree canopies.
Some critics worry that less parking could lead to more traffic congestion and think that local jurisdictions should be the ones to tailor requirements to the needs of their communities.
The bill passed off the Senate floor last week. On Monday it was referred to the House Local Government Committee.
The 2025 legislative session is scheduled to end April 27.
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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