Legislative session gets underway in Olympia

OLYMPIA — The state Legislature opened its planned 60-day session Monday, Jan. 10, with legislators saying they want to help strengthen economic well-being, manage COVID-19 risks, provide child care help, support mental health and mitigate the effects of climate change.

One thing both parties agree on: the state appears to have plenty of money, thanks to $1 billion in remaining federal pandemic relief.

Rep. J.T Wilcox, R-Yelm, said he thinks some of the money should be spent improving the state’s transportation system. “If you care about the rural economy, if you care about the urban economy, understand that we all depend on goods and services that are able to move around the state and around the country,” Wilcox said.

Gov. Jay Inslee said he would support increased transportation spending, especially on measures that lessen transportation impacts on the environment.

Inslee proposed a clean fuel standard and a large supplemental budget of $1 billion.

Re-evaluating police reform bills that passed during last year’s session are also important to both parties.

In a Legislative preview Jan. 6, Democrats and Republicans said building stronger relationships between the public and police is a priority.

Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said she agrees police reform bills can be improved, but thinks many of the measures are on the right track.

The session will once again be virtual, with online hearings and testimony, thanks to a push by Democrats.

Republicans in both the House and Senate have called for in-person sessions and testimony.

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she legislators need transparency to combat the growing mistrust of government.

In the House, Jinkins said officials will re-evaluate the shuttering of in-person testimony and floor sessions every two weeks. The first in-person re-evaluation won’t take place until at least Jan. 24.