Local News

The Seattle Times political team explores national, state and local politics.

This week, legislators will address some old topics, such as workers compensation and abortion, and open up some new ones, such as marijuana legalization.

Senators could debate three of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus’ worker compensation bills on the floor today. One of the bills is Senate Bill 5128, changing compensation for injured workers. The bill sponsored by Sen. Janea Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake, was passed out of committee last week and amended on the Senate floor last Friday.

The Senate Law & Justice Committee will begin discussing Senate Bill 5156, requiring parental notification for minors seeking abortions. The bill was revised last week after Republicans faced criticism for a clause apparently repealing laws making abortion legal in Washington. A public hearing for the bill will be held on Feb. 6.

Members of the House will begin to address marijuana legalization this week with a work session on impaired driving in the Public Safety Committee on Feb. 6. Legislators will also polish the marijuana law with House Bill 1597, which makes technical corrections to the law. Public hearing on the bill will take place in the Committee on Government Accountability & Oversight on Feb. 7.