Washington's 2021 Legislative Session: Here's What To Expect

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee and state lawmakers joined reporters Thursday for an annual preview of legislative priorities for the upcoming 105-day session, as the state looks to meet growing economic needs, bolster coronavirus efforts and lay the groundwork for a post-pandemic recovery.

This year, legislators also must navigate the unique challenge presented by convening virtually, as the Capitol remains closed to the public and most legislators will debate and cast votes remotely. Lawmakers will have to gather in-person Monday to formally approve remote procedures.

"I will never argue to people that this session is going to be a series of unicorns and rainbows," said Democratic state Rep. Laurie Jinkins, the House Speaker. "It's going to be challenging, we're going to have glitches, and we're going to move more slowly. We're going to have to be patient with each other, and the public is going to have to be patient with us as we try to move through this."

Lawmakers in both chambers have participated in practice runs several times in the weeks leading to Monday's session, and caucus members have also been directed to limit the bills they bring forward to only those deemed most urgent or important.

Jinkins identified four areas of focus for the Democratic majority in the state House: supporting Washington's ongoing COVID-19 response, aiding economic recovery, boosting equity and addressing the threat of climate change.

The legislature's first order of business will include actions to distribute new federal funds within the first two weeks of the session, which Jinkins said would include:

• $25 million for food assistance programs
• $300 - $325 million for rental and utility assistance
• $120 million for small business grants

Jinkins said House Democrats were "very willing" to tap the state's rainy day fund to provide more assistance as needed, and would provide relief for BNO taxes that some business owners may owe from money received through the Paycheck Protection Program. Lawmakers are also considering ways to lower property tax interest fees and grant counties added authority to reduce certain property tax rates. Another priority is finding funding for school districts as more students begin to return to the classroom.

While leaders from both parties support moving quickly to provide coronavirus relief, some disagreements remain, including the proposed implementation of a capital gains tax and potential revisions to the governor's emergency powers.

"We've now stress-tested the emergency powers of the state," said Republican state Rep. J.T. Wilcox, the House Minority Leader. "Clearly, the governor has to have emergency powers because things happen. At the same time, we would like to see adjustment so that the legislature is involved and it cannot go on in an indefinite way without having the involvement of all the representatives of the people."

For the Democrats, Jinkins said, a bureaucratic roadblock should be removed instead, allowing the legislature to call itself back to work should the need arise in the future.

"I'm very comfortable with the governor's executive powers," Jinkins said. "I think that the big weakness of the legislature is that a number of years ago we started not adopting joint rules that would have allowed us to call ourselves into special session. The biggest check that we could ever have on governors' executive powers, if we want to take other action, is to call ourselves into special session."

Inslee's $57.6 billion biennial budget proposal also includes a proposed 9 percent capital gains tax, beginning in 2022, which the governor's office estimates would impact 1.9 percent of Washington households with annual incomes above $750,000.

"We've led the country in so many ways, but there is one area where we are actually in the worst condition in the state of Washington, and that is the fairness of our tax system," Inslee said. "Our tax system frankly is a scandalous situation because it rewards the wealthiest and puts the demands to finance the needs of Washingtonians on those who can meet that need the least. The pandemic has made the inequity much clearer, as the concentration at the very top has been accelerating."

The governor's budget priorities also include hundreds of millions for equity measures, police accountability reforms and green energy investments, including nearly $200 million to convert more ferries to electric power.

The 2021 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 11.

Watch the full 2021 Associated Press legislative preview below: