The House was called to order at 9:55 a.m. by the Speaker (Representative Orwall presiding).

Reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was ordered to stand approved.

There being no objection, the House advanced to the fourth order of business.

INTRODUCTION & FIRST READING

HB 2421 by Representatives Jinkins, Haler, Kilduff, Valdez, Orwall, Muri, Gregerson, Kirby, Stanford, Kagi, Lytton, Clibborn, Appleton, Pollet and Ormsby

AN ACT Relating to creating a program for the consolidation of traffic-based financial obligations; amending RCW 2.56.030 and 46.63.110; adding a new section to chapter 2.56 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2422 by Representatives Peterson, Gregerson, Macri, Pellicciotti, Reeves, Ryu, Valdez, Kagi, Frame, Clibborn, Appleton, Tharinger, Senn, Kloba, Pollet, Chapman, Bergquist, Dolan, Doglio and Stanford

AN ACT Relating to high capacity magazines; reenacting and amending RCW 9.41.010; adding a new section to chapter 9.41 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2423 by Representatives DeBolt, Tarleton, Orcutt, Blake, Doglio, Fey, Springer, Pollet, Maycumber, Nealey, Schmick, Wilcox, Dye, Smith and Vick

AN ACT Relating to the state universal communications services program; amending RCW 80.36.630, 80.36.650, 80.36.660, 80.36.670, 80.36.680, and 80.36.690; and repealing RCW 80.36.700.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2424 by Representatives Lytton and Nealey

AN ACT Relating to correcting the use tax exemption for self-produced fuel; amending 2017 3rd sp.s. c 28 s 605 (uncodified); creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

Referred to Committee on Finance.

HB 2425 by Representatives Doglio and McCabe

AN ACT Relating to extending the validity of temporary elevator licenses; and amending RCW 70.87.250.

Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.

HB 2426 by Representatives Cody, Macri, Tharinger and Jinkins

AN ACT Relating to the individual provider employment administrator program; amending RCW 74.39A.030, 74.39A.051, 74.39A.056, 74.39A.060, 74.39A.086, 74.39A.090, 74.39A.095, 74.39A.155, 74.39A.210, 74.39A.250, 74.39A.261, 74.39A.270, 74.39A.275, 74.39A.300, 74.39A.310, 74.39A.351, 74.39A.360, 41.56.026, and 41.56.113; reenacting and amending RCW 74.39A.009; adding new sections to chapter 74.39A RCW; creating new sections; and repealing RCW 74.39A.220 and 74.39A.240.

Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

HB 2427 by Representatives Klippert, Irwin, Haler, Goodman and Young

AN ACT Relating to making residential burglary a crime against persons; amending RCW 43.43.830; reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.411; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Public Safety.

HB 2428 by Representatives Hudgins and Bergquist

AN ACT Relating to providing for taxpayer protection by reducing costs in ballot production; amending RCW 29A.32.070, 29A.72.290, and 43.135.041; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology.

HB 2429 by Representatives Hudgins, Appleton, Kloba, Santos and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to sales and use tax exemptions for durable medical equipment used in the home and prescribed mobility enhancing equipment; amending RCW 82.08.0283, 82.12.0277, 82.08.803, and 82.12.803; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Finance.

HB 2430 by Representative Hudgins

AN ACT Relating to eliminating the joint legislative oversight committee on trade policy; amending RCW 43.15.020; repealing RCW 44.55.010, 44.55.020, 44.55.030, 44.55.040, 44.55.050, and 44.55.060; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Economic Development & International Trade.

HB 2431 by Representative Hudgins

AN ACT Relating to eliminating the joint administrative rules review committee; amending RCW 19.85.030, 19.85.061, 34.05.010, 34.05.230, 34.05.314, 34.05.320, 34.05.330, 34.05.350, 34.05.353, 34.05.534, 42.40.010, 42.40.020, 42.40.030, 43.15.020, and 43.180.110; reenacting and amending RCW 34.05.328; repealing RCW 34.05.610, 34.05.620, 34.05.630, 34.05.640, 34.05.650, 34.05.655, 34.05.660, 34.05.665, 34.05.671, 34.05.675, and 34.05.681; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology.

HB 2432 by Representatives Hudgins, Riccelli, Stanford, Stambaugh, Appleton, Tharinger, Bergquist, Ormsby, Valdez and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to a study on the state providing prepaid return postage for election ballots; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

Referred to Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology.

HB 2433 by Representatives Bergquist, Kilduff, Macri, Riccelli, Kagi, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Stambaugh, Goodman, Pollet, Ormsby, Valdez and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to automatic voter registration, including establishing the future voter program for certain persons sixteen and seventeen years of age; amending RCW 28A.230.150, 29A.08.110, 29A.08.125, 29A.08.210, 29A.08.615, 29A.08.710, 29A.08.720, 29A.08.760, 29A.84.140, 46.20.155, 29A.08.330, 29A.08.810, and 29A.08.350; reenacting and amending RCW 42.56.250; adding a new section to chapter 29A.04 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 29A.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology.

HB 2434 by Representatives Van Werven, Buys, Shea, Chapman, Pike and Haler

AN ACT Relating to reducing the state property tax in calendar year 2018; amending RCW 84.52.065; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

Referred to Committee on Finance.

HB 2435 by Representatives Kilduff, Schmick, Cody, Muri, Kagi, Tharinger, Pollet and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to reducing training requirements for certain respite care providers who provide respite to unpaid caregivers and work three hundred hours or less in any calendar year; and amending RCW 74.39A.076.

Referred to Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

HB 2436 by Representatives Robinson, Riccelli, Pollet, Ormsby and Santos

AN ACT Relating to defining community health workers and their roles; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2437 by Representatives Robinson, Tharinger, Macri, Ryu, Kagi, Pollet, Ormsby, Doglio, Santos and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to encouraging investments in affordable and supportive housing; and adding a new section to chapter 82.14 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Finance.

HB 2438 by Representative Cody

AN ACT Relating to the January 1, 2020, implementation of the school employees' benefits board program; amending RCW 41.05.740, 41.05.006, 41.05.009, 41.05.011, 41.05.021, 41.05.022, 41.05.023, 41.05.026, 41.05.050, 41.05.055, 41.05.065, 41.05.066, 41.05.075, 41.05.080, 41.05.085, 41.05.140, 41.05.225, 41.05.300, 41.05.320, 41.04.205, 28A.400.350, 41.05.120, 41.05.123, 41.05.143, and 43.79A.040; reenacting and amending RCW 28A.400.275; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.710 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

EHB 2439 by Representatives Kirby, Vick, Barkis, Stanford, Ryu and Haler

AN ACT Relating to clarifying the relationship between manufacturers and new motor vehicle dealers by providing tools to resolve disparities including expanding compensation for recalled vehicles; amending RCW 46.96.185 and 46.96.260; and adding new sections to chapter 46.96 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Labor & Commerce.

HB 2440 by Representative Manweller

AN ACT Relating to the plumbing industry; amending RCW 18.106.110, 18.106.270, and 18.106.070; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.

HB 2441 by Representatives Manweller, Shea, Young and Steele

AN ACT Relating to preventing and addressing catastrophic wildfires; amending RCW 36.22.179 and 43.185C.060; adding a new section to chapter 76.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

HB 2442 by Representative Manweller

AN ACT Relating to creating a students protecting students program; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2443 by Representatives Riccelli, Johnson, Cody, Schmick, Kloba, Vick, Ortiz-Self, Peterson, Stonier, Ryu, Tarleton, Haler, Graves, Harris, Stokesbary, Dent, Robinson, Muri, MacEwen, Clibborn, Maycumber, Appleton, Tharinger, Bergquist, Ormsby and Doglio

AN ACT Relating to adding the Washington State University college of medicine to the family medicine residency network; and amending RCW 70.112.010 and 70.112.080.

Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

EHB 2444 by Representatives Slatter, Robinson, McBride, Clibborn, Appleton, Tharinger, Kloba, Doglio and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to providing a real estate excise tax exemption for certain transfers of low-income housing; amending RCW 82.45.010; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

HB 2445 by Representatives Macri, Graves, Robinson and Riccelli

AN ACT Relating to online access to health care resources via HEALWA; and amending RCW 43.70.110.

Referred to Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

HB 2446 by Representatives Graves, Jinkins, Cody, Macri, Robinson, Riccelli and Kloba

AN ACT Relating to physical therapist supervision of assistive personnel; and amending RCW 18.74.010 and 18.74.180.

Referred to Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

HB 2447 by Representatives McCabe, Cody, Caldier, Orwall, Dye, Macri, Muri, Smith, Barkis, Harmsworth, Haler, Senn, Pollet and Doglio

AN ACT Relating to practitioner education of opiate risks and pain management alternatives; adding a new section to chapter 69.50 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

HB 2448 by Representatives Senn, Tharinger, Chapman, Kilduff, Macri, Robinson, Appleton, Kloba, Pollet, Santos and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to increasing the availability of housing for developmentally disabled persons; amending RCW 82.45.010 and 43.185.050; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Finance.

HB 2449 by Representatives Senn, Kagi, Kilduff, Dent and Goodman

AN ACT Relating to extending the timeline for completing a family assessment response; reenacting and amending RCW 26.44.030; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2450 by Representatives Senn, Hargrove, Chapman, Kilduff, Muri, Kagi, Appleton, Tharinger and Doglio

AN ACT Relating to supporting the business of child care; adding new sections to chapter 43.216 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2451 by Representatives Slatter, Senn, Kagi, Appleton, Tharinger and Doglio

AN ACT Relating to expanding the activities of the children's mental health services consultation program; and amending RCW 71.24.061.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2452 by Representatives Dolan, Johnson, Appleton, Haler, Kagi, Slatter, Macri, Stanford, Ryu, Sells, Frame, Fitzgibbon, Young, Stonier, Kloba, Valdez, Pollet, Holy, Steele and Doglio

AN ACT Relating to retiree benefits for participants in the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, and the public employees' benefits board; amending RCW 41.05.085; adding a new section to chapter 41.32 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 41.40 RCW; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2453 by Representatives Peterson, Kretz, Fitzgibbon, Blake, Kagi, Tharinger, Haler, Young and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to the reauthorization of the underground storage tank program; and amending RCW 43.131.393 and 43.131.394.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2454 by Representatives Blake, Muri and Barkis

AN ACT Relating to vehicular assault; amending RCW 46.61.522; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Public Safety.

HB 2455 by Representatives Pellicciotti, Kilduff, Macri, Riccelli, Valdez, Kagi, Frame, Orwall, Kirby, Fitzgibbon, Hudgins, Wylie, Pollet, Ryu and Tarleton

AN ACT Relating to increasing transparency of contributions by creating the Washington state DISCLOSE act of 2018; amending RCW 42.17A.235 and 42.17A.240; reenacting and amending RCW 42.17A.005; adding a new section to chapter 42.17A RCW; and creating new sections.

Referred to Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology.

HB 2456 by Representatives Kilduff, McCabe, Orwall, Reeves, Kraft, Senn, Gregerson, Muri, Riccelli, Stanford, Tharinger and Young

AN ACT Relating to increasing employment opportunities for spouses of military members; adding a new section to chapter 18.340 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 50.20 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

Referred to Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

HB 2457 by Representatives Goodman and Klippert

AN ACT Relating to timelines in criminal cases involving domestic violence; amending RCW 10.99.050 and 9.95.210; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

HB 2458 by Representatives Hayes and Goodman

AN ACT Relating to developing a short form for death certificates; and amending RCW 70.58.082.

Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

HB 2459 by Representatives Reeves, Robinson, Macri, Riccelli, Hudgins and Pollet

AN ACT Relating to modifying gender references pertaining to major political party committees; and amending RCW 29A.80.020 and 29A.80.030.

Referred to Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology.

HB 2460 by Representatives Griffey and Haler

AN ACT Relating to incidents requiring a municipal fire department or fire district response; and amending RCW 4.24.314.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2461 by Representatives Kagi, Goodman, Ormsby and Santos

AN ACT Relating to seriousness level I offenses where the offender score is three to five on the drug offense sentencing grid; amending RCW 9.94A.517; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2462 by Representatives Maycumber, Chapman, Jenkin, Nealey, McCabe, Schmick, Vick, Eslick, Appleton, Kretz, Manweller, Dent, Haler and Senn

AN ACT Relating to increasing access to the main street program; amending RCW 82.73.010 and 43.360.030; and adding a new section to chapter 82.73 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

HB 2463 by Representative Sells

AN ACT Relating to the adoption of the state comprehensive plan for workforce training and education; and amending RCW 28C.18.080.

Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

HB 2464 by Representatives Reeves, Kilduff, Muri, Shea, Riccelli and Stanford

AN ACT Relating to veteran and national guard tuition waivers; and amending RCW 28B.15.621.

Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

HB 2465 by Representatives Orwall, McCabe, Griffey, Harmsworth and Haler

AN ACT Relating to modifying the offense of rape in the third degree; amending RCW 9A.44.060; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

HB 2466 by Representatives Orwall, Klippert, McCabe, Griffey, Muri, Stanford, Van Werven, Haler and Doglio

AN ACT Relating to authorizing law enforcement to arrest persons in violation of certain no-contact orders involving victims of trafficking and promoting prostitution offenses; and reenacting and amending RCW 10.31.100.

Referred to Committee on Public Safety.

HB 2467 by Representatives Kirby, Jinkins and Santos

AN ACT Relating to joint self-insurance programs for property and liability risks; amending RCW 48.62.011, 48.62.021, 48.62.031, 48.62.034, 48.62.111, 48.62.121, and 48.62.141; and adding a new section to chapter 48.62 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Business & Financial Services.

There being no objection, the bills listed on the day’s introduction sheet under the fourth order of business were referred to the committees so designated.

JOINT SESSION

The Senate appeared at the Chamber doors and requested admission. The Sergeant at Arms of the House and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate escorted President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib, Senator Sharon Nelson, Senator Barbara Bailey and Senator Karen Keiser to seats on the Rostrum. The Senators were invited to sit within the Chamber.

The Speaker (Representative Orwall presiding) called upon President Habib to preside.

The President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Habib, called the Joint Session to order. The Clerk called the roll of House members. The Clerk called the roll of Senate members. A quorum of the Legislature was present.

President Habib: "The purpose of the Joint Session is to receive the state of the state message from His Excellency, Governor Jay Inslee.

The President appointed a special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices to the House Chamber: Representatives Gina McCabe and Javier Valdez, and Senators Mike Padden and Jamie Pedersen.

The President appointed a special committee to escort the Statewide elected officials to the House Chamber: Representatives Andrew Barkis and Laurie Dolan, and Senators Guy Palumbo and Shelly Short.

The President appointed a special committee to advise His Excellency, Governor Jay Inslee, that the joint session had assembled and to escort him to the House Chamber: Representatives Carolyn Eslick and Vandana Slatter, and Senators Manka Dhingra and Keith Wagoner.

The Supreme Court Justices arrived, were escorted to the Floor of the House Chamber and were introduced: Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson, and Justices Barbara Madsen, Susan Owens, Debra Stephens, Charlie Wiggins, Steven Gonzalez, Sheryl Gordon McCloud and Mary Yu.

The State elected officials arrived, were escorted to the floor of the House and were introduced: Secretary of State Kim Wyman, State Treasurer Duane Davidson, State Auditor Pat McCarthy, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.

The President introduced the officers and members of the Consular Association of Washington, the leaders representing various tribal nations, and civic leaders in attendance.

His Excellency Governor Jay Inslee arrived, was escorted to the Rostrum and was introduced.

The flags were escorted to the rostrum by the Washington State Patrol Honor Guard, commanded by Sergeant Greg Tri. The National Anthem was performed by the Wenatchee High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. The President led the Chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance. Prayer was offered by Dr. Jasmit Singh, co-founder of the National Sikh Coalition and council member of the Interfaith Leadership Council of the Faith Action Network.

Dr. Singh: ”Good Moring everyone!

Let us join in prayer and reflection. As we come together today, let us keep in our hearts and prayers - Deputy McCartney, his family, his colleagues in Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and all those who serve our communities with honor and sacrifice.

O Gracious God, O All pervading light that is common to all humanity, we turn to you at this point in history and ask for your blessing, guidance and strength for this great State of Washington, it residents, Governor Inslee, and all those who are present in mind, in person or in spirit. Please allow us to serve with truth, justice, humility and compassion. Bless us with wisdom and strength to address the challenges that we face today with integrity and honesty and work for the Chardi Kala (Good of all) people.

Let us create a world based not on fear where the color of our skin, the faith that we believe in, the language that we speak or any wall that has been created to divide us - define us as a people. Instead, please help us celebrate and recognize the beautiful diversity that exists all around us. Ek Pitaa Ekas kae ham Baarak. We are all created from your light. Let us be united in purpose and give us the understanding that welfare of all human kind is a priority for those who lead them.

I share a small prayer from the Sikh Holy Scriptures, Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji

Pavan guru paani pitaa, maataa dharat mahat. Divas raat doe daai daaiaa, khelai sagal jagat.

By respecting nature, we respect our creator and we respect ourselves. The air is our Teacher, Water is our father and the Vast Earth is our mother. The day and the night are like parents who nurture their child and provide us with an environment for righteous living.

Changiaaiaa buriaaiaa, vaachai dharam hadur. Karmi aapo aapni, ke nerai ke dur.

Grant us the wisdom to do good in this world and take care of the earth. We shall all be judged by what we do in our lives.

Jini Naam dhiaaiaa, gae masakat ghaal. Naanak te mukh ujle, keti chhuti naal.

Let us remember the Divine In our hearts as we work hard and honestly to fulfill our life’s potential. Guru Nanak says, only such people who act for the good for all creatures liberate not just themselves but countless others.

Let us pray so that God may grant us the strength to create a caring, more just, compassionate loving world for all its creatures.

Thank you.”

The President introduced First Lady Trudi Inslee.

STATE OF THE STATE

Governor Inslee: “Good afternoon! Thank you, Jasmit, for those timely and empowering words. Thank you to the Wenatchee High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble for that inspiring rendition of our national anthem. Thank you, Lieutenant Governor, for honoring Deputy McCartney. All of our hearts are with his family. And a big thank you to my wife, Trudi, my entire family, and in particular, my mother-in-law, the original Trudy Tindall, who tells me that her first 100 years in Washington have been pretty great.

I welcome the new legislators in your ranks; Senator Manka Dhingra, Senator Keith Wagoner, and Representative Carolyn Eslick, may you all do good work here.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Madam Chief Justice, distinguished justices of the court, members of the Legislature, tribal leaders, state and local government officials, members of the Consular Corps, and most importantly, my fellow Washingtonians: I am honored to stand before you once again to report on the state of Washington state.

Because of the work we have done together in the past five years, our state has made crucial investments in our schools and colleges, our highways and transit systems, and our health care system. The minimum wage was raised for Washington’s workers, and last year, we passed the best paid family leave program in the nation. We have invested in our people. That’s why our state has one of the country’s fastest-growing economies, why it was named the top state for business, and why statewide unemployment is at a historic low. Our economy is strong, our future is bright, but there are always new heights to reach, new challenges to overcome, and persistent wrongs to right.

When our state’s first governor, Elisha Ferry, delivered his message to our inaugural Legislature, he challenged legislators to think big. “It is your province,” he said, “to make precedents, not to follow them; to mark the way, that others may walk in the path which you have made.” We have been walking in that path that Governor Ferry and the first Legislature set for this state 128 years ago. Today, it is up to us to continue that work for future generations.

This year we cannot focus just on the length of this session, which is short. We have a duty to focus on our legacy, which can be long. Several opportunities are in front of us to forge a prosperous path for the next generation.

Access to democracy is a cornerstone to the enduring health of our nation and our state, so let’s leave a legacy of a stronger democracy by increasing voter participation and equitable representation. It is time to pass the Washington Voting Rights Act, automatic voter registration, and Election Day registration. And speaking of a stronger democracy, let’s leave a legacy that supports our modern democracy and our modern economy by ensuring equal access to the internet. When Washington, D.C., takes away that protection, we must protect net neutrality for our people, for our businesses, and for the virtues of free speech.

At a time when women’s health care rights are under attack throughout our nation, let’s leave a legacy that ensures full access to contraception and allows women to chart their own course. That includes access to long-acting reversible contraception and reproductive parity.

And not all of our work is in passing bills. Right now, let’s all, elected leaders and employers alike, commit to inclusive workplaces where everyone is safe from sexual harassment and assault. This is one of the most persistent wrongs that our society must make right.

This session, let’s also continue our outstanding legacy on education. Legislators can take pride that they passed a plan that will fully comply with the McCleary decision. I want to commend Senators John Braun and Christine Rolfes, Representatives Pat Sullivan, Timm Ormsby, and David Taylor, and so many others who have helped achieve this bipartisan success. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the plan needs to start one year earlier, and fortunately, we have the reserves to be able to do that. It is crucial that we implement the McCleary plan now, because a child is only a third grader once and they don’t get that year back. But our work on education does not stop at McCleary. We have got to stop telling our children that a four-year degree is the only path to success. That simply is not true. Let’s leave a legacy of opportunity for all our students by expanding career-connected learning. My budget includes funding to help us continue our Career Connect Washington initiative, which has the potential to be one of the most exciting and meaningful things we can do for our students. During a study mission to Switzerland last year, our Washington delegation saw a truly remarkable apprenticeship system stemming from a robust partnership with business, labor, and academia. There is no reason our own students cannot have better access to those same opportunities here in Washington. Please let me recognize the chairs of that delegation who are in the gallery today: former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Suzi LeVine and her husband, Eric LeVine. Thank you for your visionary work on this issue. You can go to Tacoma and see for yourself how this works. It was a joy last year to celebrate our state’s first 15 registered youth apprentices as they prepared to launch rewarding careers in aerospace. Let’s expand that opportunity, as well as apprenticeship programs for our veterans and other Washingtonians, in the coming years.

This session, let’s leave a legacy of compassion by continuing our work on behavioral health care. This is a persistent challenge that intersects our efforts to end homelessness, to improve our criminal justice system, and to combat an opioid epidemic that kills an average of two Washingtonians each day. We must build upon our current work on opioids. We need to pursue innovative approaches to affordable housing, and strengthen our partnerships with counties to help us foster healthy communities.

Let’s continue our bipartisan legacy of helping Dreamers fulfill their potential. This is a time of great uncertainty and fear for our Dreamers and their families. Let’s pass legislation now to ensure the availability of College Bound scholarships for Dreamers, even if the federal government fails to renew their deferred-action status.

Let’s leave a legacy of common-sense measures that help end the scourge of gun violence. Our state’s voters have demonstrated strong support for such measures. We can continue our commitment to public safety and health by banning bump stocks, closing the background-check loophole on semi-automatic rifles, and requiring the safe storage of firearms.

Let’s leave a legacy that, at long last, upholds the equal application of justice by passing a bill to end the death penalty in the state of Washington.

And let’s make sure we don’t leave a legacy of irresponsible brinksmanship. It is absolutely crucial that we pass a capital budget as one of the first orders of business this session. This budget supports more than 19,000 construction jobs in every corner of the state. It would help us build more affordable housing and expand capacity in our mental health care system. This funding is languishing at exactly the same time the need for these projects is exploding. In Yakima, students are waiting for renovations to alleviate overcrowding at East Valley High School. In Sequim, biologists are waiting for upgrades at the Dungeness Hatchery to improve fish passage. In Ephrata, the community is waiting to replace an aging water line. If you want to help rural Washington. If you want more affordable housing, better mental health care and school construction, then do something about it and send this capital budget to my desk now.

As we gather to do the people’s work this session, Washington’s values and this Legislature’s actions will be more important than ever. Despite the onslaught of divisiveness, disorder and disrespect coming from the White House this past year, the people of our state have stood proudly together. The world should know that we are going to keep standing up for civility, tolerance, and liberty. We will fight to protect Washingtonians’ health care, women’s right to choose, the right for people to be safe from discrimination, and the right to clean air and water. We will not be intimidated.

Washington state has so much to be proud of. Our biotech companies are creating new treatments for cancer. Scientists at Hanford have helped confirm the existence of gravitational waves predicted by Einstein. We even make world-famous beer and wine, and we should be proud of the great progress we have made together in state government.

When I came into office, there was doubt we could pass a transportation package. But we did, and it is the largest and greenest transportation package in state history. When I came into office, there was doubt we could invest seven billion dollars in education. But we did. We tackled transportation. We tackled education. And now we must recognize an existential threat to the health of our state, a threat to the health of our children, and a threat to the health of our businesses that demands action this year. That threat is climate change.

The Legislature recognized this threat a decade ago – a decade ago – when it pledged to the people of Washington that we would make our air cleaner and reduce carbon pollution. But unless we act this year, that promise will be broken. It is time to step up and give our citizens what they demand and deserve – and what is the law – which is a fight against climate change and the damaging health effects of carbon pollution. While this session is short, our legacy on climate change must be long and lasting. We have just 59 days to do our part to save our children from an endless cycle of crop-killing droughts one year, and rivers spilling their banks the next. To save salmon from dying in ever warming rivers, and our forests from being reduced to plumes of ash. We have allowed the unfettered release of carbon pollution into our air. That burden will be carried by our children, our economy, our security, and our quality of life. We must be victorious over climate change, because, as Winston Churchill said, “… without victory, there is no survival.”

I believe Washingtonians will be together on this issue. Because on this issue, there is no geographic divide. The Eastern Washington farmer whose irrigation supply is threatened by low snowpack faces the same crisis as the Western Washington shellfish grower whose baby oysters are threatened by ocean acidification. There is no age divide. The young child suffering from asthma is just as vulnerable as a grandparent suffering from COPD, a lung disease aggravated by heat and air pollution. And there is no partisan divide. Nationally respected Democrats and Republicans are among those calling for a tax on carbon pollution. Support for enacting a price on carbon is growing. Members of the business, tribal, environmental, and labor communities from across our state are coming to the table to talk about carbon pricing. Some of them are here today, including Microsoft and Puget Sound Energy, which have enacted bold changes in the way they do business. Labor leaders see the job potential in growing our clean energy economy. Our environmental leaders and tribes see the urgency of acting now to curb carbon pollution. They all agree that putting a price on carbon this year is the right thing to do, and have committed to working with me to get that accomplished. House and Senate members also have been working closely with my office all summer and fall to design a Washington-focused approach, and their contributions have been key. So we are joined across geography, across age, and across political interests. Now is the time to join in action and put a price on carbon pollution. Doing so will allow us to reinvest in all the things that drive down emissions. We can build more solar panels. We can put more electric cars on the road. We can help more Washingtonians purchase energy-saving insulation for their homes and businesses. We can reduce the wildfire risk in rural communities and on tribal lands. We can improve utility services and modernize the electrical grid. We can make much-needed upgrades to our irrigation and water-management systems. We can prepare our workforce for new careers in clean-energy. And by doing these things, we can save our forests. We can help our rural economies. We can protect our waterways.

I am optimistic about this year, and that optimism is well justified by Washington’s can-do spirit of confidence and innovation. And why shouldn’t we get this done? Carbon pricing is hardly a new or bold idea. British Columbia, our neighbor to the north, is doing it. To the south, California is doing it, and Oregon is considering it. From Quebec to Japan, from Europe to Mexico, many states and nations have enacted a price on carbon. Even China is getting on board, having recently launched the largest carbon market on the planet. By passing a carbon tax, we would simply join our West Coast neighbors, and the rest of the world, as the global economy moves away from fossil fuels and toward a decarbonized, clean-energy future. And I believe that Washington is exactly the right state to lead the clean-energy economy and seize the jobs that China and other nations are clamoring for. This is who we are. We create, we invent, we build. And the people of Washington are ready to create, invent, and build the carbon-free future our children and grandchildren deserve. These clean-energy jobs belong here. Not just in China, not just in Germany, not just in B.C., here. Washington employs some of the most influential climate scientists in the world. Our universities and businesses are on the cutting edge of clean-energy technologies. In the Pacific Coast region, clean-energy jobs have grown more than twice as fast as jobs in the overall economy. Mukilteo is home to the inventors and manufacturers of the world’s largest vanadium flow battery. Moses Lake is home to one of the world’s largest carbon fiber manufacturing plants for electric cars. Our state is home to the inventors of biofuels that have powered the Boeing 787 across the oceans. It is our state’s destiny, because of who we are, to defeat climate change. Even if the White House walks away from the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we will walk forward and join this battle for the world’s healthy future.

Already, Washington has joined with 14 other states and territories to form the U.S. Climate Alliance, and we are committed to meeting our share of the emission reduction targets outlined in the Paris Climate Accord. This is a significant collaboration. We represent 40 percent of the United States economy, and if we were our own nation, we would have the third-largest economy in the world. It is right that we do this.

Washington is home to the most beautiful collection of fertile wheat fields, towering forests and salty waters on Earth. It is true, our Creator practiced on the rest of the planet, and then created Washington state. Every single one of us is deeply tied to Washington in our own way. We each have a part of this state that we love: a favorite fishing spot, a quiet place on the farm, that campground in the forest. But the things we treasure individually can only be saved collectively. We have been given an incredible bounty of natural beauty and sustenance, and we now must ask ourselves how we can protect that bounty for future generations. We know we are smart enough to recognize the perils of climate change, and we know we are innovative enough to do something about it.

Repeatedly, over the decades, we have lived up to Governor Ferry’s charge “to mark the way.” We have succeeded in aerospace, in software, in online commerce, in coffee, in biotechnology, and there is every reason to believe we will succeed in fighting climate change and growing our economy in the process. This is the year to believe in ourselves. This is the year to act with confidence. This is the year for us to do our part, for all who will walk in the path we will make, together.

We are here in Olympia to serve the current and future interests of all Washingtonians, and I thank each of you for your willingness to find solutions to the challenges we face. I like to think of this Legislature and our state as one big family: we may have differences around the dinner table, but on what really counts, we agree. We all agree that our families deserve to be safe from tragedies like mass shootings. We all agree we must do more for homeless individuals and families. We all agree that our children deserve the best education possible. We all agree that our communities deserve protection from the physical and financial threats of climate change.

Today I call on all of us to look deep into our hearts and to think of our families. For them, and for all Washingtonians, let’s get to work together. Thank you.”

The President thanked the Governor for his remarks and asked the special committee to escort Governor Inslee from the House Chamber.

The President thanked the consuls and tribal members.

The President asked the special committee to escort the State elected officials from the House Chamber.

The President asked the special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the House Chamber.

On motion of Representative Sullivan, the Joint Session was dissolved. The Speaker (Representative Orwall presiding) assumed the chair.

The Sergeant at Arms of the House and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate escorted President of the Senate Habib, Senator Sharon Nelson, Senator Barbara Bailey, Senator Karen Keiser and members of the Washington State Senate from the House Chamber.

There being no objection, the House adjourned until 10:00 a.m., January 10, 2018, the 3rd Day of the Regular Session.

FRANK CHOPP, Speaker

BERNARD DEAN, Chief Clerk