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Leaders outline other bills: income-tax draft, charity-care limits, homelessness and recycling measures
Summary
At the same press conference, leaders discussed an upcoming income-tax draft with offsets, a house bill to limit some charity-care to state residents, a proposed cap on local anti-camping enforcement (HB 2049), and a recycling deposit bill headed to committee.
Speakers used the press conference to summarize several other legislative items as they set priorities for the session.
On an income-tax proposal, leaders said drafts were circulating among tax experts and that the bill could be introduced this week or next; offsets will be included either in the bill language or via a roadmap to other measures. Senator Petersen said leaders intend to be deliberate and coordinate across the House, Senate and governor’s office before filing language.
A house bill under consideration would limit receipt of some non-emergency charity care to Washington residents; leaders said the measure arose from concerns in border communities where hospitals report a high share of care going to out-of-state patients. The bill was scheduled for a hearing that day and leaders said they expected to learn more from committee testimony before taking a position.
Speaker and senators also discussed HB 2049, which would restrict local governments from enforcing anti-camping regulations unless adequate shelter space is available; they characterized that topic as complex and said committees are taking time to get the policy right for different communities.
Other items raised included possible restoration of higher-education scholarship funding as part of the operating budget, questions about projected savings from tort-liability reforms (the governor’s plan assumed 7% savings), and a recycling deposit bill that leaders said had been improved in response to industry input and could appear on executive lists soon.
Leaders framed these items as part of a larger set of difficult budget and policy decisions for the session and did not announce final votes or floor scheduling beyond pointing to committee processes and upcoming hearings.
