Senate advances dozens of bills to floor calendars, flags major housing measure for debate

The State Senate convened and advanced a broad slate of measures from the white sheet to floor calendars on procedural motions Tuesday, moving bills on housing, health care, education, public safety and ceremonial designations ahead for fuller floor debate.

The presiding officer described Senate Bill 6026, which would allow residential development in commercial and mixed‑use zones, as “objectively speaking the single most important housing bill you will all vote upon this legislative session,” and urged support, saying the measure could add more housing units than other proposals combined. That bill was advanced to the floor calendar.

Why it matters: SB 6026 was singled out on the floor as potentially consequential for housing supply and attracted both advocacy support and bipartisan attention; advancing it to the floor sets up further committee time and full Senate debate on the measure’s zoning and housing‑production impacts.

What else moved: The Senate advanced a large package of bills in the procedural package (the “salmon colored” proposed regular calendar), and dozens of individual bills, including: - SB 5496 — a bill described by its sponsor as aimed at limiting large corporate purchases of single‑family homes to support homeownership (motion advanced). - SB 6054 — would prevent common‑interest community rules from banning the installation or maintenance of fire‑hardening materials that meet health and safety standards (motion advanced). - SB 5907 — expands state‑funded preschool (ECAP) access and enrollment prioritization for military families (motion advanced). - SB 6234 — addresses sewage grinder pumps for homes with low gravity side sewers (motion advanced). - SB 6044 — designates Diwali as a legislatively recognized day (motion advanced). - SB 5906 — proposes limits on collecting immigration‑status information in certain public accommodation settings and restricts warrantless access by immigration enforcement to non‑public areas (motion advanced).

A contested moment: Debate over SB 6045, which would set rules for collective bargaining in the agricultural industry, drew extended remarks. Opponents warned it could hurt family farms and agriculture generally; proponents said it provides a framework for bargaining for farmworkers. A division was called and recorded a 10‑6 vote in favor; the bill advanced.

Formal votes and procedure: Most motions were decided by voice vote, recorded as “the ayes have it.” The session recorded one explicit show‑of‑hands tally (10‑6 on SB 6045). Several bills were advanced to second reading, third reading, or to other calendars as noted on the floor.

Quotes from the floor: “The ayes have it,” the presiding officer declared repeatedly as motions passed by voice vote. “This is objectively speaking the single most important housing bill you will all vote upon this legislative session,” the presiding officer said about SB 6026. Senator McEwen described a bill extending placard renewal periods for people with permanent disabilities as easing burdens by extending renewal from five to ten years; Senator Mazal said SB 6194 would pay Toppenish Hospital 140% of fee‑for‑service Medicaid rates beginning 01/01/2027 to keep services available in an underserved area.

Next steps: Most bills advanced will return to the Senate for floor debate and votes according to the calendar placements made during the session. The presiding officer adjourned the floor after thanking staff and members for a productive first day of floor action.

Votes at a glance (selected items advanced during the session): - Package: Salmon colored proposed regular calendar (advanced by voice vote). - SB 5496: Advanced from white sheet to floor calendar (motion carried). - SB 6054: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 5835: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 5907: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6031: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6155: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6158: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6227: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 5947: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6247: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6085: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6234: Advanced (motion carried). - SB 6026: Advanced (presiding officer highlighted it as a major housing bill). - SB 5974: Advanced (sponsor said it would hold sheriffs to same standards as line officers; motion carried). - SB 6044 (Diwali designation): Advanced. - SB 5906: Advanced. - SB 6081: Advanced. - SB 6239: Advanced. - SB 5923: Advanced. - SB 6323: Advanced. - SB 6210: Advanced. - SB 6045: Advanced — division called; recorded show‑of‑hands vote: yes 10, no 6. - SB 5690 (second substitute): Advanced to third reading calendar. - SB 6106: Advanced. - SB 5346: Advanced. - SB 6089: Advanced. - SB 6170: Advanced. - SB 5954: Advanced. - SB 5729: Advanced. - SB 5968: Advanced.

(Selected items only — the floor advanced many additional bills to various calendars as part of routine floor scheduling.)

Sources: Floor proceedings (motions, sponsor remarks and voice‑vote confirmations) as recorded in the legislative transcript.