HB2588 — The committee opens the public hearing on HB 2588, which concerns county ferry district authority. Staff explains that the bill would broaden ferry district authority so districts can take actions related to ferry operations generally, rather than only passenger-only ferries. Later, the committee suspends the public hearing on HB 2588.
HB2588 — The legislation being supported to allow broader ferry district authority.
Kellyn Wright — Committee staff briefs HB 2588 and explains the bill's background.
Kellyn Wright — Committee staff briefs the next bill, which concerns coroners being appointed rather than elected.
Davina Duerr — The sponsor addresses Chair Duerr.
Davina Duerr — The transcript says 'Representative Dufoe,' likely a misrecognition of a member name; the intended member is unclear from context.
Davina Duerr — The sponsor addresses Madam Chair Duerr.
Davina Duerr — Representative Davina Duerr is recorded as voting aye.
Phil Fortunato — The sponsor addresses the same member, likely Phil Klicker, first as Ranking Member and later as Vice Chair, indicating a continued exchange or acknowledgment of the member during the same discussion.
Phil Fortunato — Phil Fortunato, as the amendment sponsor, explains the purpose of the measure and responds to the chair, framing it as a straightforward consumer-protection or administrative safeguard intended to ensure treasurers are not adversely affected.
Representative Timmons — The bill sponsor introduces the bill and explains it is about parity and local problem-solving.
Steve Bergquist — Representative Steve Bergquist is called on and asks whether county control of ferries would improve or worsen maintenance and scheduling issues. The sponsor responds by clarifying the proposal and addressing the question about how county control would affect ferry operations.
Kristine Reeves — A member asks about whether the Guemes Island ferry would be included; the transcript says 'Representative Zahn,' which is likely another member but is unclear.
HB2094 — The committee opens the public hearing on HB 2094, which would require coroners to be appointed rather than elected.
HB2094 — HB 2094 is discussed as a response to a one-off Yakima County incident, with criticism that it should not drive statewide election changes. The discussion also notes that the bill describes coroners as positions of significant importance and frames the measure around accountability for coroners, while opposing it as eliminating the elected county coroner role and increasing costs.
Jeremy Dufoe — The sponsor introduces himself and says the bill will solve a problem in his district and other counties.
Eliana Dufo — Introduced as Representative Defoe's daughter, a fourth grader in Selah and 10 years old.
Mark Schoesler — Addressed by the sponsor in response to a question.
constituents — The sponsor said several constituents brought the idea to him.
HB2451 — Bill briefing begins for local tax increment financing.
HB2451 — The committee considers House Bill 2451 and a motion is made to report it out of committee with a due pass recommendation; the discussion remains on that same motion without any substantive shift.
Janice Zahn — Her amendment ALY 058 is described as limiting the 20-year property tax exemption in certain tax increment financing areas.
HB2298 — House Bill 2298 is introduced and explained as authorizing county auditors to create a voluntary title protection program aimed at preventing land record fraud, with additional detail that the bill would allow auditors to develop these programs and related fraud-protection measures.
HB2298 — House Bill 2298 is taken up by the committee, initially moved and seconded with an amendment pending, and then later the substitute bill is reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
HB2566 — Bill briefing begins for local government procurement.
HB2566 — The committee considers House Bill 2566, with a motion made to report it out of committee with a due pass recommendation. A brief clarification is offered that the bill does not have an amendment to 226. The chair then calls for a voice vote, and the bill is reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
HB2267 — Bill briefing begins for urban forest management ordinances.
HB2267 — The speaker realized she was one bill ahead and corrected herself.
HB2530 — House Bill 2530 is introduced as a bill to change the deadline for forming public facilities districts for regional aquatics and sports facilities. The discussion clarifies that the deadline would move from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028.
HB2530 — The committee moves to report Substitute House Bill 2530 out of committee with a due pass recommendation, and the chair later confirms that House Bill 2530 has been reported out of committee with that recommendation.
HB2388 — Bill briefing begins for distributed energy generation resources on agricultural lands.
HB2451 — The committee moved into executive session on HB 2451, concerning local tax increment financing, and considered the bill for a due pass recommendation.
Suzanne Schmidt — Representative Zahn is identified as the speaker and explains that the amendment is a simple cleanup clarification addressing cities’ concerns about the timing of multifamily tax exemptions and existing TIFs.
Carolyn Eslick — Representative Carolyn Eslick repeatedly expresses support for the amendment, with multiple brief interjections indicating agreement during the same discussion.
Dan Griffey — Representative Griffey is thanked in the discussion of Amendment 061.
Dan Griffey — Representative Griffey supports the amendment and cites advice from Mike Volz.
Dan Griffey — Agreed with the gentle lady and said the bill resulted from work with county auditors.
Dan Griffey — Said the bill is a free way to protect consumers, noted unresolved details, and described title fraud as a real problem.
Dan Griffey — Said title fraud is a real problem in Washington State and that AI will make it worse; indicated support.
Dan Griffey — Identified himself as a co-sponsor.
Dan Griffey — Said he co-sponsored the bill and supports the modest change in procurement dollar thresholds.
Dan Griffey — Recorded as voting nay without recommendation.
Dan Griffey — Recorded as voting nay without recommendation.
Dan Griffey — Referenced in the amendment discussion and agreement.
Dan Griffey — Supports the bill and says constituents in Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey have urged support.
Dan Griffey — Asks whether a temporary appointment process could address the concern and notes long committee history on the issue.
HB2451 — The adopted amendments are proposed to be incorporated into the substitute bill before reporting it out of committee.
HB2451 — The committee considers and approves a motion to report Substitute House Bill 2451 out of committee with a due pass recommendation. The motion is put to a voice vote and passes 7-0, moving the bill forward.
HB2298 — The committee moves on to the next bill after HB 2451 is reported out.
HB2298 — A motion was made to report Proposed Substitute House Bill 2298 out of committee with a due pass recommendation; the speaker briefly misstated the bill number as 2291 before correcting it to 2298, and the motion was then repeated for the same bill.