Senate moves dozens of bills forward; key votes include background-check fee measure and annual accounts bill

The State Senate spent several hours this week taking concurrence motions, debating amendments and recording final passage on a broad set of measures that ranged from school safety to fee-setting authority for the Washington State Patrol.

Senate leaders read a long list of House messages and then moved through a slate of concurrence motions. The chamber declared engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5,156 passed after the roll call was restarted when the electronic reader board showed the wrong bill; the clerk reported 41 ayes, 6 nays and 2 excused and the President declared the bill passed.

Senators adopted the striking amendment package to House Bill 2,675 (the annual accounts bill) and advanced the bill to third reading. After final roll call the Secretary announced the bill passed with 37 ayes and 12 nays. Sponsors said the bill closes unused accounts while restoring or reallocating funds including to fish-and-wildlife programs and the Andy Hill Cancer Research account.

The chamber also concluded a contentious debate on House Bill 2,521, which gives the Washington State Patrol authority to set fees for firearm background checks to cover processing costs. Sen. Wagner proposed several amendments to limit unilateral fee-setting and to cap increases, arguing the changes keep legislative oversight. Opponents said the underlying bill already ties fees to cost recovery. The Senate passed HB 2521 on final passage, 28 ayes to 21 nays.

Beyond those measures, the Senate moved concurrence and final passage on a long list of bills transmitted by the House — many passed with broad majorities, and a number of conference requests were announced and accepted.

What happens next: bills that received constitutional majorities will be enrolled and transmitted for signatures or final processing as required. The Senate adjourned the floor session and scheduled the next floor day.

Votes at a glance (selected items reported on the floor):
- Engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5,156 — declared passed (reported 41 ayes, 6 nays, 2 excused).
- Senate Bill 5,272 (as amended) — declared passed after concurrence (constitutional majority reported).
- House Bill 2,675 (annual accounts, as amended) — final passage declared (37 ayes, 12 nays).
- House Bill 2,521 (background-check fee authority) — final passage declared (28 ayes, 21 nays).

The session also confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to advisory commissions and advanced conference assignments between the chambers.