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Important dates:
- Wednesday, March 5, marked the halfway mark of the 105-day legislative session.
- Next Wednesday, March 12, at 5 p.m., is House of Origin Cutoff.
- Thursday, March 20, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., is the 9th District virtual town hall meeting, with Sen. Mark Schoesler and Rep. Joe Schmick joining me.
Read further for details on these dates.
Today’s newsletter is 710 words, a four-minute read.
Top story: House Republicans fight against bad bills
Marathon floor debates: My fellow lawmakers in the House, Republicans and Democrats, are back on the floor today (Saturday), deliberating, debating, and voting on bills. The cutoff for legislation to be passed out of the chamber where it originated (House of Origin) is Wednesday. With little sleep, we have been involved in all-day, all-night floor debates all week to meet that deadline.
Gun rights under attack: We returned to the floor at 11 a.m. today after a lengthy debate last night that continued until 2:30 a.m. on a terrible anti-gun bill, House Bill 1163. My seatmate, Rep. Joe Schmick, issued an email update with details about that bill last night. The measure passed on party lines 58-38 this afternoon, with all Republicans voting no.
More bad bills: Democrats, who are in the majority in the House, set the agenda. They’ve told us of at least one very concerning bill they hope to pass off the House floor, possibly late this evening: rent control, House Bill 1217. The bill would limit annual rent increases to 7%. Long-timers here at the state Capitol know Democrats traditionally release their worst bills onto the House floor late in the evening and on weekends, when reporters are not working and the public is not watching. I encourage you to watch all the debates on TVW. Be informed and help us hold them accountable as we fight against bad legislation!
Why Republicans oppose rent control: History and economics show rent control policies backfire, hurting the people they claim to help. This would lead to fewer available units, higher rents due to demand, and property owners being given permission to boost rent annually to the 7% ceiling. It would make rental housing unaffordable for existing tenants and worsen homelessness. We must encourage more housing construction in Washington, not add more regulations for property owners and create barriers for tenants.
What’s next? A bill that would undo the Parents’ Bill of Rights is in the queue of bad bill legislation expected to reach the floor by Wednesday’s cutoff. Nearly 450,000 Washingtonians supported Initiative 2081, which the Legislature passed last year with bipartisan backing to protect parental involvement in education. Now, House Bill 1296 seeks to undo those protections, stripping parents of their rights, limiting transparency, and locking families out of key decisions about their children’s education, curriculum access, school records, and medical and counseling details.
What can you do? Become involved, fight back, and take action against these and other bad bills by visiting our new House Republican interactive website: https://stopbadbills.houserepublicans.wa.gov/
Attend our 9th District virtual town hall meeting
Join us from the comfort of your home for a 9th District town hall, held online from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 20. We will provide an update on the 2025 legislative session and then take your questions. Preregistration is required at https://tinyurl.com/9thTownHall2025. For more details, visit this webpage.
In the News. . .
- RADIO: Rep. Mary Dye discusses marathon floor sessions with KONA’s Rob Francis at the Capitol
- RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Dye – Fighting hydroflourocarbon limits and passage of Dye’s House Bill 1715
- VIDEO: Rep. Dye speaks against amendment stripping task force from litter bill
- NEWS RELEASE: Pomeroy teen helps around the House as a page for Rep. Mary Dye
- NEWS ARTICLE: Dye proposes an amendment limiting DOE authority to limited-purpose landfills (Center Square)
- OPINION: The era of subsidies for Net Zero is over – By Rep. Mary Dye
Please get in touch with my office with any questions, comments, or suggestions about legislation and state government. It is an honor to serve and represent you!
Sincerely,
Mary Dye
