State lawmakers this week focused on budget legislation, as this year’s 105-day Regular Session heads for adjournment in less than a month. The Senate unanimously adopted the state capital construction budget, and the House approved a $44.9 billion spending plan for 2017-19. The House budget measure started out as HB 1067, the Governor’s budget request. It was substituted by the House Democrats’ spending proposal and passed by the House Committee on Appropriations after considering 59 amendments. House leaders then moved SB 5048, the state budget bill passed by the Republican-led Senate last week, to the floor, stripped it, and inserted the content of HB 1067, along with 20 floor amendments—out of 86 proposed, before passing it along strictly partisan lines Friday morning.

Senate Bill 5048, Making 2017-19 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. Passed the House on March 31, 2017 by a vote of 50-48.

This budget bill, passed by the Senate last week, was stripped and replaced by the contents of HB 1067, the House Democrats’ $44.9 billion 2017-19 state spending proposal. The state 2017-19 budget bill now includes appropriations of $22.0 billion for K-12 public schools; $5.9 billion for the Department of Social and Health Services; $8.2 billion for other human services programs, including the Health Care Authority and the Department of Corrections; and $3.8 billion for higher education institutions and financial aid. It would also fund the state employee and non-state employee pay raise agreements negotiated between the Governor and state employee unions last year, Initiative 732 cost-of-living adjustments, and additional K-12 salary increases. The bill would also provide supplemental appropriations in the current 2015-17 state budget, adding $1.6 million in total budgeted funds. The bill now goes back to the Senate for approval or rejection of the House amendments. If the amendments are rejected and the House insists on its position, the bill will go to a conference committee of members selected by leaders of both chambers to negotiate a final state budget measure.

19 Rep. Brian Blake (Aberdeen) (D) Y

19 Rep. Jim Walsh (Aberdeen) (R) N

24 Rep. Mike Chapman (Port Angeles) (D) Y

24 Rep. Steve Tharinger (Sequim) (D) Y

Senate Bill 5086, SB 5086: Concerning the Capital Budget. Passed the Senate on March 30, 2017 by a vote of 49-0.

The Capital Budget generally includes appropriations for the acquisition, construction, and repair of capital assets such as land, buildings, and other infrastructure improvements. Funding for the Capital Budget is primarily from state general obligation bonds, with other funding derived from various dedicated taxes, fees, and state trust land revenues. This bill would authorize $3.98 billion in new capital construction projects for state agencies and institutions of higher education for the 2017-19 fiscal biennium. The proceeds of state general obligation bonds would fund $2.53 billion of the total appropriations. The bill also provides for a net decrease of $870,000 in adjustments to the current 2015-17 capital budget. It now heads to the House for consideration.

19 Sen. Dean Takko (Longview) (D) Y

24 Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (Sequim) (D) Y

Senate Bill 5130, Increasing marijuana license fees and adding a temporary additional fee on marijuana licenses issued by the Washington state liquor and cannabis board. Passed the Senate on March 31, 2017 by a vote of 35-10, four members excused.

The state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) has the authority to license and regulate marijuana businesses in Washington State. It issues licenses to marijuana producers, processors, retailers, and researchers. The fee for each license is currently set in statute at $1,000 for both the original application and each annual renewal. This bill would raise the licensing application and renewal fees for marijuana producers, processors, retailers, and researchers to $1,300, beginning on July 1, 2018. It would also impose a one-time nonrefundable additional fee of $480 on all marijuana license applications and modifications. The fee would apply to new license applications and all license renewals for licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2017. The one-time fee would expire on June 30, 2018. The LCB is would be required to use the revenue from this fee to replace the LCB’s current electronic traceability system. The bill is now headed to the House for consideration.

19 Sen. Dean Takko (Longview) (D) N

24 Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (Sequim) (D) E

SOURCE: WashingtonVotes.org is a project of the Washington Policy Center. Please visit www.WashingtonVotes.org and check out our new Olympia news service, Washingtonvotes.org News, which is featured on the home page. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter, at washingtonvotes.org.

Y = Yes, N = No, E = Excused, X = Not Voting