February 22, 2016
LEAD: Legislative Education, Advocacy & Direction
2016 Edition 6

2016 Session Moves into Last 20 Days

Another bill cutoff occurred on Wednesday, February 17, and the Legislature has transitioned back into committee hearings - the House hearing Senate bills and the Senate hearing House bills. They have nine days to do this.

Also, the State fiscal forecast was released on February 17. The General Fund collections for the current biennium have declined by $78 million, and the next biennium is forecasted to be $436 million less than originally thought.  

The revenue forecast is offset a bit by new caseload projections which indicate the State will have fewer people on welfare and in nursing homes. The State's medical assistance costs are also lower than previously projected. These savings are expected to save the State $62 million in the current biennium.

Armed with this information, the House will release its supplemental operating budget proposal on Monday, February 22. Also that day, the House Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear HB 2524, the supplemental transportation budget. The Senate is expected to release its proposals on Wednesday, February 24.

Below are the remaining bill deadlines:

February 26, 2016: Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.

February 29, 2016: Last day to read in opposite house committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.

March 4, 2016: Last day to consider (pass) opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).

March 10, 2016: Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.

Save the Date:  March 4, 2016 - Climate Initiative Webinar

APA Washington is hosting a Climate Initiative Forum via webinar for Members statewide to hear from the sponsors of the various climate initiatives, Carbon Washington and the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, and Chapter Lobbyist Michael Shaw on related legislative items. To register for the webinar, visit APA Washington's website.

National Planning Conference Delegate Assembly and Policy Guides

Two more delegates representing the Washington Chapter of APA are needed to review and participate in the debate regarding the policy guides on water planning and freight planning proposed by APA National. These policy guides will be voted on during the Delegate Assembly on April 3, 2016, at the National Planning Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Contact Esther Larsen and Yorik Stevens-Wajda if you are interested in serving as a delegate.

Questions?                                     
If you have any questions about the Chapter's Legislative Committee (LC), please contact Yorik Stevens-Wajda or Esther Larsen, the LC Co-Chairs. A big thanks to Michael Shaw and all the members of the Legislative Committee for contributing their time, bill summaries, and discussion this regular session.

American Planning Association, Washington Chapter
[email protected]  206-682-7436  www.washington-apa.org