After months of preparation and buzz, the 2019 Legislative Session is finally here. The session kicks off this week and lasts 105 consecutive days through the end of April. The first week of session is a whirlwind combination of formal ceremonies and speeches, lawmakers getting up to speed on topics, and some committee hearings on bills.
On the first day there will be swearing-in ceremonies. Tuesday, Governor Inslee will address the Legislature with his State of the State address. Wednesday, the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court will provide the State of the Judiciary address.
The Legislature will also take care of housekeeping items like adopting their rules and the session cutoff calendar, which governs deadlines for bill and floor action throughout session.
This week, Legislative Committees will also be meeting. Many of the meetings focus on getting organized and include work sessions on topics the committee is likely to discuss. This year, given the number of new legislators, there are several new committees, chairs, and members which means that these orientation meetings are important to get everyone fully prepared for the months ahead.
The committees are also hearing some bills this week; however, the schedule is relatively light. Expect a much heavier schedule next week. Each week in our Legislative Bulletin, AWC staff will highlight bills of interest to cities that are being heard that week. This week, some of the highlights include hearings on bills to revise Initiative 940, and hearings on the Governor’s proposed budgets.
During the legislative interim, we asked you to contact your local legislators and make them aware of cities’ priorities for the 2019 session. We really appreciate all of the cities for their outreach over the last several months. We encourage you to keep it up throughout session.
AWC’s Advocacy webpage and our Bulletin are great sources of information for keeping up to speed on legislation impacting cities. You can also find contact information and committee assignments for legislators there. The Legislature’s website is also a great resource for information about legislators, bills, meeting schedules, and basics like maps and where you can park. If you can’t make it to Olympia, but want to watch the action, you can do so via TVW, which carries both live broadcasts of legislative meetings and archives so you can catch up on a hearing that you missed.
If you need any assistance navigating the legislative process, answering questions about bills, or contacting legislators, please don’t hesitate to ask AWC for help. We are happy to help and there is no such thing as a dumb question. We want you to have the information and resources you need to be strong advocates for your city.
We are happy to help and there is no such thing as a dumb question.
I also want to invite you to the Capitol and AWC’s offices during the 2019 Session. AWC will be hosting three events during session - Mayors Exchange and City Action Days and AWC’s Lobby Day (scheduled for March 25, registration info will be available soon). Of course, you can come to Olympia any time to meet with your legislators and participate in committee hearings. When you are in Olympia, please feel free to stop by AWC. If you need meeting space or just a cup of coffee, we want you to feel like AWC is your home away from home.