The regular 2018 Legislative Session in Olympia is down to its last two days.  Here's where we stand in the final hours.

Governor To Take Action on Breakfast After Bell Bill
Today, at 1:30 p.m. in the Governor's Conference Room, Governor Jay Inslee is scheduled to take action on HB 1508 which will require high-needs schools to offer Breakfast After Bell programs to students. The bill directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop and distribute procedures and guidelines by January 2, 2019. If funding is provided in the budget, OSPI will be able to award grants to schools to improve quality, awareness and participation in the program.

Homeless and Housing Assistance Surcharge Bill Passes
On Saturday, the House concurred with the Senate version of HB 1570 which makes permanent the document recording surcharge that currently funds state and local homeless housing programs and increases it from the current $40 to $62. The bill goes to the Governor for action. Without the bill, the surcharge would have expired in 2019. Ten dollars of the new surcharge is distributed to counties for use in implementing local homeless housing programs and plans.

Bills Broaden Eligibility for Services
The Legislature has approved HB 2667 which expands eligibility for referrals to the Housing and Essential Needs Referral
program (HEN) to include recipients of the Aged, Blind, or Disabled cash assistance program within funds appropriated for the Department of Commerce.  HB 1831s passage raises the value of a vehicle exemption for purposes of qualifying for public assistance from $5,000 to $10,000.

Here's our online bill tracking list. Next week, if the Legislature passes a supplement budget, we will provide more financial details.