Today is the 18^th day of the 2020 Legislative Session. There have already been more than 1,300 bills introduced this session (not counting holdovers from last year) and several have already received a public hearing. Among those legislative priorities being deemed worthy of committee consideration have been establishing the state microanimal (HB 2747), designating the state clam (SB 6121) and designating the state dinosaur (HB 2155). Each of these bills has already received a public hearing and executive action (or is scheduled).

Bills not yet scheduled for a public hearing, however, include increasing legislative transparency (HB 2190), prohibiting the use of title-only bills (SB 6042) or reaffirming the prohibition of the imposition of a local income tax (SB 6462 and HB 2479).

There is still time for the proposals to reinstate the local income tax ban and reform abuse of title only bills to see their day in the sun. That’s assuming, of course, they rise to the same level of priority as honoring the tardigrade, Pacific razor clam and Suciasaurus rex.

With the first bill cutoffs coming on February 7 (policy) and February 11 (fiscal), we’ll soon know where these bills rank with the other important legislative priorities this session.

Additional Information
Democratic and Republican Senators propose local income tax ban
New Poll: 72 percent of Washington voters favor ban on local income taxes
Lawmakers pre-file proposal to ban Title Only bills
Lawsuit filed against Title Only bills