Although lawmakers have two more days remaining in this year’s 105-day Regular Session, it looks like many of them plan to leave town before the weekend. House and Senate members are making floor speeches today thanking each other, legislative staff, and even Capitol Cafeteria workers for their good work and support—gestures customarily made just before the legislature adjourns.

Both chambers have scheduled possible floor action for Friday evening on hundreds of bills still before them, but it is clear that lawmakers will not take up the key spending, tax, and education funding legislation that needs to be passed before they go home for good.

Democratic and Republican leaders have yet to begin negotiations on a final version of the two-year state operating budget. Other measures, like the state capital construction budget, are also stalled. Passage of the capital budget, according to Senate leaders, hinges on passage by the House of a Senate bill to reverse the effects of the State Supreme Court’s “Hirst” decision. That court ruling imposes severe water-use restrictions on Washington citizens. To solve the problem, the Senate passed SB 5010 by a narrow 27-22 vote in February, but the House has not taken any action on the measure.

Governor Inslee announced today that he will call lawmakers back for a 30-day Special Session starting at 10:00 a.m. Monday. House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) said Thursday that most members would return to their home districts and only budget negotiators from the four caucuses, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, would stay in Olympia.

This week leaders from both parties have pointed at each other for the delay in reaching a budget and education funding agreement. Senate Republicans said it is impossible to know what they will be negotiating until House Democrats pass the taxes they have proposed to fund their budget plan. House Democrats, on the other hand, argued that the Republican plan, which includes raising property tax rates for some districts while lowering them for others, is contingent on a referendum, meaning state voters could approve or reject the entire plan this coming November.

Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to send dozens of bills that have passed both houses to the Governor for approval. Among these is SB 5289, the so-called “Distracted Driving” bill, which would make it illegal to use smartphones and other electronic devices while driving a car. The bill was passed by both chambers earlier, but amendments by the House were not accepted by the Senate. House and Senate leaders agreed on a compromise on Wednesday and the final measure passed 61-36 in the House and 39-10 in the Senate.

Keep up with the action as the legislature goes into Special Session by visiting www.washingtonvotes.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. #waleg