Senate confirms multiple gubernatorial appointments and passes a package of bills including changes to partial confinement rules

The Washington State Senate used floor time on Feb. 18 to confirm a slate of gubernatorial appointments and to advance dozens of bills across policy areas including education, agriculture, pensions, housing, corrections and tenant protections.

Confirmations: The Senate confirmed four governor nominations by recorded roll calls. Senator Rebecca Kaufman moved confirmation of Charles Clark as director of the Department of Financial Institutions; the clerk announced the vote as 48 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused for Charles Clark (Senate Gubernatorial Appointment 9207). Senator Chapman moved and the Senate confirmed Derek Sanderson as Director of the Department of Agriculture (Appointment 9213) by roll-call, announced as 48 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused. Senator Valdez moved confirmation of the adjutant general appointment (No. 9221), which the clerk recorded as 48 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused. Senator Kaufman moved confirmation of Joe Wynne as Director of the Department of Commerce (Appointment 9211); the clerk announced 48 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused and the appointment was confirmed.

Education, licensing and workforce bills: The Senate passed Substitute Senate Bill 5025 (educational interpreters certification and amendments to RCW language governing standards for interpreters), moved by Senator Lavec; the clerk announced a constitutional majority and declared the bill passed (vote announced as 48 yea, 0 nay, 1 excused). On pensions and actuarial oversight, Substitute Senate Bill 5168 (moving duties of the state actuary appointment committee to the pension funding council) was advanced and passed on final passage after floor remarks by Senator Robinson (announced 48 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused).

Pensions and service-credit changes: Senate Bill 5306 (allowing certain public safety employees to purchase pension service credit for authorized unpaid leave) was advanced and passed (constitutional majority announced).

Fisheries and environment: Substitute Senate Bill 5076 (authorizing conversion of the Puget Sound shrimp trawl fishery to a pot fishery and other limits) passed after sponsor remarks describing constraints on trawling, bycatch concerns and permitting/licensing details; the clerk announced passage with a constitutional majority.

Housing and planning: The Senate moved several housing bills. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5184 (parking reform / minimum parking requirements reform) passed after extensive floor debate; sponsors and opponents debated exemptions for smaller cities and for commercial development before the final vote. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5471 (authorizing middle housing in unincorporated urban growth areas and limited areas) was also passed with technical amendments clarifying service-by-water-and-sewer requirements for units located in urban growth areas.

Tenant protections and rental agreements: Engrossed Senate Bill 5313 updated tenant-landlord provisions, prohibiting certain lease provisions such as mandatory class-action waivers and setting cost-sharing rules for arbitration; the Senate advanced the bill after adopting amendments clarifying optional services and tenant opt-out rights.

Corrections and partial confinement (contentious): Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5219, which aligns eligibility timelines for partial confinement programs (work release, graduated reentry and the community parenting alternative) and extends screening and substance-assessment requirements, drew extended debate and at least one roll-call demand. Senator Emily Wilson (floor sponsor) defended the measure as an efficiency and public‑safety improvement; opponents warned of early release risks. The roll call recorded 29 yeas, 19 nays, 1 excused and the bill passed on final passage.

Other public-safety and law-enforcement measures: Senate Bill 5223 (expanding authority to order fingerprints in some gross misdemeanor cases to district and municipal courts, a Washington State Patrol request) passed (46 yeas, 2 nays, 1 excused reported on the roll call).

Votes at a glance (selected floor outcomes from Feb. 18): - Senate Resolution 8616 (remembrance of Japanese American incarceration) — adopted by voice vote. - Appointment 9207, Charles Clark, Director, Department of Financial Institutions — confirmed (48–0–1 excused). - Appointment 9213, Derek Sanderson, Director, Department of Agriculture — confirmed (48–0–1 excused). - Appointment 9221, Adjutant General (Major General) — confirmed (48–0–1 excused). - Appointment 9211, Joe Wynne, Director, Department of Commerce — confirmed (48–0–1 excused). - SSB 5025 (educational-interpreters certification) — passed (48–0–1 excused). - SSB 5168 (state actuary appointment duties to pension funding council) — passed (48–0–1 excused). - SB 5306 (pension service credit for unpaid authorized leave) — passed (constitutional majority recorded). - SB 5076 (convert shrimp trawl to pot fishery; licensing) — passed (constitutional majority recorded). - ESSB 5184 (parking reform / minimum parking requirements) — passed (engrossed substitute declared passed by roll call). - ESB 5471 (middle housing in UGAs / LAMIRDs with water/sewer requirement) — passed (48–0–1 excused reported). - ESB 5313 (tenant protections / rental agreement provisions) — passed after amendments (roll-call tally recorded on floor). - ESSB 5219 (partial confinement alignment and screening) — passed (29–19–1 excused on roll call). - SB 5223 (criminal-fingerprint authority expansion) — passed (46–2–1 excused on roll call).

Why it matters: The package contains cross‑cutting governance items — agency leadership confirmed, technical fixes to pension and actuarial procedures, changes to housing and parking law intended to reduce development cost and enable more housing units, and a contested corrections measure that alters when incarcerated people can access partial confinement programs. Several measures passed largely on broad bipartisan margins; the partial‑confinement bill drew the closest recorded roll calls and extended debate.

What’s next: Confirmations take effect immediately as officials assume their duties. Several passed bills take effect on dates specified in their texts (some noted 07/01/2026 or similar). Implementation tasks were discussed during floor remarks and are the responsibility of the named agencies (Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, Department of Financial Institutions, Department of Corrections, Washington State Patrol, etc.).