For the legislative weeks ending February 20, 27

Date: February 26, 2015

February 20 was the deadline for legislative committees to approve policy bills and send them on to either a fiscal committee or their chamber’s rules committee. Prior to this policy cut-off, we were tracking 111 bills. Now, we are down to 80 bills of interest.
February 27 is technically the deadline for fiscal and transportation committees to send the bills they approve to a rules committee for further action. But when it comes to the budget, new bills can emerge, and old, seemingly “dead” bills can be resurrected.
This week we are testifying and signing-in primarily on policy bills we’ve previously mentioned that are under consideration by fiscal committees. In addition, we are watching the rules committees for action on other bills of interest that could be sent to the House or Senate floor next week. For example:
Health Care
The All Payer Claims Database bills, House Bill 1437 and Senate Bill 5084, are both advancing. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to approve HB 1437 Feb. 25. This is the bill NFIB and the Coalition for Health Care Cost Transparency negotiated with Premera and Regence.  It has drawn strong, bipartisan support in the House. Unfortunately, things are not quite so smooth in the Senate where, once again, Health Care Committee Chairwoman Sen. Randi Becker has forced through a substitute bill that would render the APCD unworkable, ignoring the advice of the 35 groups that signed in supporting the NFIB/Coalition version of the bill. SB 5084 has been sent to the Senate Rules Committee.  We are working with members of the Senate on a strategy to remove the most egregious of the many poison pills Sen. Becker baked into her substitute bill.
Gas Tax Increase
The Senate Transportation Committee approved its 11.7 cents gas tax bill, Senate Bill 5987, and sent it to the Senate Rules Committee. The bill has strong support from the Association of Washington Business and many of its member chambers of commerce, along with unions and union construction contractors, and dozens of local government entities and officials. NFIB is one of the few, if not the only, business groups opposed to a gas tax hike.
Criminal Background Check
As we’ve mentioned before, NFIB and the Washington Food Industry Association’s Carolyn Logue sought amendments to House Bill 1701, the House version of companion “Ban the Box” bills, to clarify when an employer could inquire about an applicant’s criminal background, as well as limit the new legal actions available to an aggrieved applicant.  Unfortunately, the amendments fall far short of a clear designation of when questions about criminal history may be raised or background checks performed.  NFIB’s concerns about nuisance lawsuits, increased liability, and the union exemption clause, were not addressed in the amendment. Consequently, NFIB will oppose the bill if it is scheduled for a floor vote.  It is currently in House Rules awaiting action. The Senate companion, SB 5608, died in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee without even receiving a hearing.
Labor Agenda
House Bills 1354, 1355 and 1356 – This trio of labor bills, increasing penalties for “retaliation” against workers, establishing a $12 hourly minimum wage, and mandating paid sick and safe leave, are in the House Rules Committee awaiting the opportunity to be scheduled for a vote on the House floor. NFIB strongly opposes the bills.  We’d like to think that should they actually pass the House, we would be able to stop them in the Senate, but that is uncertain. The Washington Restaurant Association and Association of Washington Business continue to work behind the scenes to get Republicans to support some sort of “grand compromise” that includes the minimum wage increase and creating a payroll tax to fund the paid family leave program, in exchange for tip credit, teen and training wages set at the greater of  85% of the state minimum wage ($10.20) or the federal minimum wage, and preemption of local employment ordinances, based on materials we’ve seen thus far.  NFIB remains opposed to such a lop-sided “deal.”
B&O Tax Changes
Finally, I’d like to thank those of you who responded to our request for information about B&O tax changes. As expected, some of you would pay less, others would pay more, under Rep. Drew MacEwen’s House Bill 2150. The bill was referred to the House Finance Committee, but has not been scheduled for a hearing.  Thus, it is unlikely it will be given further consideration.
Past Reports

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