Today is Day 57 of a scheduled 105-day legislative session, just over halfway.

I'm writing a story for Sunday's print edition of The News Tribune, but it won't be nearly as long as this. (Unless, of course, lawyers buy some more full-page ads.) But there's virtually unlimited space on line.

I'll be updating many of these items and adding more as the House and Senate continue to pass or kill bills through Thursday. That's the deadline for the House to pass any bill that was introduced in the House and the Senate to do the same for its bills.

Budget bills and others "necessary to implement the budget" are exempt from that deadline.

BY Joseph Turner
joe.turner@thenewstribune.com

Budget and taxes: The state now faces an estimated $7.7 billion deficit over the next 28 months. Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed a no-new-taxes budget. Senate Democrats say they will unveil they budget proposal sometime after the March 19 revenue forecast. The state is getting about $3 billion of help from Uncle Sam, but the Legislature will have to make deeper cuts than the governor did in her proposal. Lawmakers are likely to ask voters in November to raise taxes and polling indicates voters might go for temporary taxes, especially if they are on liquor, cigarettes, candy, gum and pop.

Capital budget: Pots of money ordinarily earmarked for construction projects might be raided to help the state out of its $7.5 billion shortfall on the operating side of the budget, perhaps $300-800 million. Some, but not all, of the projects that are losing money would be replenished by borrowed funds. Part of budget discussion.

Transportation budget: There is a $500 million shortfall in the 2009-11 budget and several projects in Pierce County are at risk of being delayed to death, including carpool lanes on Interstate 5 from Tacoma Mall to Fife and property purchases for the eventual extension of Highway 167 from the Port of Tacoma to Puyallup. Part of budget discussion.

Children’s health care: HB 2128 would delay until Jan. 1, 2010 state-subsidized health care program that would let children of families who make as much as $63,600 a year enroll in the program, and tells the state agency to develop another program for children in families wiht higher incomes. House passed 68-28.

Youth concussions: HB 1824 would require coaches to remove players from games if they suffer concussions and not let the return until a license health professional certifies the athlete has recovered from the head injury. House passed 94-0.

Prostitution penalties: HB 1362 would allow cops to impound vehicles used in prostitution offenses by hookers, pimps or customers and make them pay an additional $500 fee to reclaim vehicles, if the act of prostitution took place in areas designated by the city or county councils. House passed 91-4.

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Impact fees: SB 5580 gives school districts 10 years, instead of six years, to spend the money they collect from developers in the form of impact fees. Senate passed 31-14.

Toll surcharge: SB 5556 would prohibit district court from reducing any of the $12 surcharge that is part of the $52 ticket for failing to pay a toll to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge because the surcharge goes to help pay off the bridge. Senate passed 42-3.

Tattoos, piercings: SB 5391 would require tattoo and body piercing artists to be licensed by the state in July 1, 2010. Senate passed 47-1. House has passed HB 1085, a slightly different version, on a 96-1 vote.

Consumer protection: SB 5531 would give judges the discretion to award as much as $50,000 in damages (up from $10,000 in most cases) to private parties and local governments who sue (and win) based on the state Consumer Protection Act. Senate passed 28-17.

Park closures: As many as 40 state parks may be mothballed for the next couple summers, including Kopachuk, Dash Point, Saltwater, Joemma Beach, Tolmie and Millersylvania. Part of budget discussion.

Vancouver-Portland transit: SB 5540 would allow Clark County and Vancouver to create a high capaicty transit taxing district similar to Sound Transit in Puget Sound and impose a sales tax of 0.9 percent to help pay for light-rail or buses over the Columbia River to Portland. Senate passed 30-17.

Tacoma carpool lanes: The governor delayed many of the carpool lane projects on Interstate 5 between the Tacoma Mall and Fife in her transportation budget proposal, and they might not be built. Pierce delegation is trying to get some projects restored to original timetable. Part of budget discussions.

Campaign lies: HB 1286 would prohibit candidates from lying about their opponents if the remarks are defamatory and if the candidate knows the remarks are false or doesn’t care whether they are true or false. That’s the same standard for proving slander or libel under the state Constitution. House passed 92-2.

UW Tacoma: The governor’s budget includes $34 million to turn the Joy Building into classrooms for the downtown Tacoma campus. Part of budget discussion.

Bigger unemployment checks: Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law HB 1906, which will raise the minimum weekly benefit check to $200 and boost other payments by $45 a week across the board. Takes effect May 3.

Nalley Valley Viaduct: Governor signed into law HB 1978, the 2007-09 supplemental transportation budget which includes $70 million to put construction of the eastbound portion of the viaduct back on schedule in 2011-13, instead of being delayed by two years.

Key Arena: Seattle wants state money that now goes to pay for the state Convention Center to be shifted to pay for improvements to an arena so the city can try to lure another NBA team to Seattle to replace the Sonics. Part of budget discussions. HB 2281 is a placeholder for whatever agreement finally is reached.

Narrows Bridge tolls: No decision has yet been made by the state transportation commission on whether to increase tolls or leave them at $2.75 for transponders and $4 for tollbooth for one more year. The Legislature has final say, anyway. Part of budget discussions.

General assisitance: The governor has proposed getting rid of a program that provides medical coverage and $339 monthly payments to about 16,000 on General Assistance Unemployable and ADATSA, a medical coverage and subsistence program for drug addicts. Legislative leaders have indicated their budget won’t be so severe in cuts. Part of budget discussions.

Murray Morgan Bridge: Tacoma is trying to get the state to pony up an additional $25 million to the $40 million the state already has committed to replacing the bridge on East 11th Street. Part of budget discusssions.

Tuition: The governor has proposed 7 percent increases at the four-year state universities and 5 percent hikes at the two-year colleges for each of the next two years for undergraduates who are Washington residents. It could go higher. Part of budget discussions.

Tolls on Highway 167: Port of Tacoma wants money to study the feasibility of collecting tolls to help pay for a future extension of Highway 167 from Port to the Puyallup River Bridge at Meridian, although tolling could be done all the way north to Interstate 405. Part of budget discussions.

State hiring freeze: Governor signed HB 1694, which puts a partial freeze (prison workers and some others are exempt) on state hiring, cuts $300 spending in spending for 2007-09, uses federal funds instead of state money to pay for $340 million of other programs and requires special permission to buy things that cost more than $1,000. If those cuts are continued through 2009-11, they shave another $1 billion off the state’s $7.7 billion budget shortfall.

Special elections: HB 1018 would get rid of one of four dates that most school and fire districts use for special elections in the spring. The date in March would go away. The February election would move to the second Tuesday. The April election would stay. The May election would be only for “do overs” -- for levies that fail the first time around. House passed 67-29.

Breast feeding: HB 1596 would make breast feeding in a public place a protected right under the state’s civil rights laws. House passed 93-0.

Alaskan Way Viaduct: SB 5768 would authorize the state to pay $2.4 billion to bore a 1.7-mile tunnel under downtown Seattle to replace the elevated structure, part of a total $4.24 billion project which obliges Seattle to pay for seawall replacement and relocation of utilities. The bill also authorizes a study to see if tolling can raise an additional $400 million. Senate passed 43-6.

Liquor stores: The governor wants to open 10 more stores. Part of budget discussions.

Studded tire ban: SB 6066 would have banned the sale of all studded tires on Jan. 1, 2010 and banned their use by Jan. 1, 2014. Died in Senate Transportation Committee.

Ex-con supervision: SB 5288􀀁 would reduce supervision of offenders who get out of jail or prison to only six months unless they are considered at high risk to reoffend, most sex offenders, dangerously mentally ill, and some others. Senate passed 38-8.

King County car tax: County Council wants authority to impose a 1 percent motor vehicle excise tax countywide to raise more money for transit service. No bill has yet been introduced because prospects don’t look good.

Porn tax: HB 2103 would have let the state impose an 18.5 percent sales tax on visual pornography. Died without getting a publice hearing in the House Finance Committee.

Jobs tax credit: SB 5899 would let businesses with 10 or fewer workers substranct $2,000 to $4,000 from their state business taxes for every new job they create whose salary and benefits combined are at least 50 percent higher than the state minimum wage. Senate passed 46-0.

Prove citizenship: SB 5213 would have required proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Died in committee.

Gay marriage: SB 5674 would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. Died in committee.

Death Penalty: SB 5476 would have abolished the death penalty in Washington. Died in committee.

Dogs in bars: SB 5336 would have allowed patrons to bring their dogs into bars and coffee shops. Died in committee.

Stun guns in schools: SB 5263 would add stun guns and Tasers to the list of weapons that cannot be brought onto school property. Senate passed 48-0.

Internet tobacco sales: SB 5340 would require companies who sell cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff and other tobacco products (except cigars) on line to ship them only to retailers and wholesalers, not private residences of businesss, to keep teens from buying on line and everyone from avoiding state taxes. Senate passed 47-0.

Narrows Bridge: SB 5795 would give the state Transportation Commission the authority to make sure toll money collected from bridge commuters is spent only on project related to bridge operations. Senate passed 45-0.

Cheney Stadium: Tacoma wants an additional $4.5 million from the state to fix up the Tacoma Rainiers ballpark. Part of budget discussions.

Trail tax: SB 5545 would let Pierce County Council put a 0.1 percent sales tax increase proposal on the ballot, raising about $13 million a year to pay for a countywide trail system and park improvements. Appears to have died in Senate budget committee, but could be resurrected.

Four-day school week: HB 1292 would let mostly rural school districts with fewer than 500 students shorten their school year to less than the required 180 days as long as they provide 1,000 hours of instruction. House passed 87-10.

Military school kids: HB 1075 would enroll the state in an interstate compact and set uniform rules that govern how schools handle children who transfer from one state to another because their military parents have been reassigned. House passed 96-0.

RVs, mobile homes: HB 1227 would prohibit cities and counties from banning recreational vehicles from moving into mobile home parks if the RV is being used as a permanent residence. House passed 88-7.

Deport inmates: HB 2188 would allow the state to deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and are now serving time in Washington prisons. This is the kind of issue that might be put in the budget. Governor request.

Release old convicts: HB 2194 would let the state give early release to inmates who are chronically or terminally ill and cost the state a lot in health care costs. Requested by governor, so provisions for this policy might be put in the budget.

Felony suspects DNA: HB 1382 would let authorities collect DNA samples from suspects arrested on suspicion of committing felony crimes instead of waiting until they are convicted, contingent on federal funds to implement. Seems to have died in House budget committee.

Post grad tuition: SB 5734 would let the University of Washington and other public colleges continue to set tuition rates and fees for out-of-state and post-graduate students through 2015-16 school year. Senate passed 44-0.

Student loans: HB 2239 would establish the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) for students, using $10 million of state lottery money to provide low-interest loans. Did not advance beyond budget committee, but not necessarily dead.

All-day kindergarten: There’s a chance this may be frozen so it exists only at 10 percent of schools, or state fund could be reduced or eliminated. Part of budget talks.

Husky Stadium: The UW wants authority to use some taxes in King County to pay for $150 million of a $300 million overhaul to the structure on Montlake. Part of budget discussions.

NEED TO BE UPDATED BELOW THIS LINE

Unemployment: SB 5963 would limit the list of valid reasons for quitting a job to 12, such as being stalked by ex-spouse, and readjust the rates paid into the unemployment insurance trust fund by seasonal and year-round employers. Awaiting vote by the Senate.

Marijuana fines: SB 5615 would lower the penalties for possession of less than 1.4 ounces of dope, making it a $100 fine instead of a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of as much as 90 days in jail and $1,000 fine. It would remain a misdemeanor for those younger than 18. Awaiting vote by Senate.

Young hunters: HB 1114 would require hunters younger than 14 years old be accompanied by an adult hunter who has a license. Awaiting vote by House.

Cigarette tax: SB 5626 is bill to raise the state cigarette tax by $1 per pack of 20 cigarettes to $3.02, which would raise about $90 million a year. No hearing yet, but don’t be surprised to see some version of this on the November ballot.

Newspaper tax break: HB 2122 would lower the state business and occupation tax rate for newspaper and printing companies by 43 percent, making their rate the same as it is for The Boeing Co., Weyerhaeuser and Microsoft, lowering their taxes (and state tax collections) by an estimated $3-5 million over the next two years. Awaiting vote by House.

E-911 telephone fee: HB 2029 will raise the monthly fee for Enhanced 911 operations to 25 cents from 20 cents for the state share and to 70 cents from 50 cents for the county shares. Stuck in House Finance Committee, but not dead yet.

Oil tax for cleanup: HB 1614 would levy a $1.50 tax on each barrel to raise $110 million a year for prevention and cleanup of pollution from storm water runoff. Awaiting vote by House.

Car sales fee of $150: SB 5816 and HB 1939 would triple the maximum document fee that auto dealers could charge customers for processing sales paperwork, from the current $50 fee. Awaiting votes in respective chambers.

Gay civil rights: HB 1727 would give same-sex couples all the civil rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples, except marriage. It has 57 sponsors and now awaits a vote by the House.

Vote by mail: HB 1572, which is aimed squarely at Pierce County, would require all counties to conduct elections entirely by mail-in ballot, starting later this year. Awaiting vote by House.

Family leave: HB 1609 would give families $250 a week for up to six weeks to take care of a newborn or adopted child, funded by a 2-cent-an-hour payroll deduction from workers. Introduced, but no hearing has yet been held. Probably dead this year because that funding source would require a public vote or supermajority vote of Legislature.

Three strikes change: SB 5292 would change the definition of crimes that call for life without parole sentences, by dropping second-degree robbery from the list, thus setting free 81 of 292 inmates who have been sentenced to life under the Three Strikes law. Awaiting vote by Senate.

Trapping moles: HB 1115 would let homeowner trap moles, gophers and squirrels by removing the prohibition on using body gripping traps. Awaiting vote by House.

Regional transportation: SB 6064 would allow creation of a new board of elected officials in Pierce, King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties to made decisions on transportation projects in Puget Sound. Probalby won’t advance beyond the hearing it got in Senate Transportation Committee, but you never know.

State Liquor Board: SB 6065, sought by the governor, would dissolve the paid three-member liquor board, turn them into volunteers and put a governor-appointed executive director in charge of state liquor stores. Awaiting vote by Senate.

Electric cars: HB 1481 would give a sales tax break on the sale of electric vehicles, batteries and installation of infrastructure such as charging outlets, tell state to start installing charging stations at rest areas and maintenance facilities, and have Pierce, King and Snohomish counties study how to set up network for plug-in outlets for vehicles. Awaiting vote by House.

Day care unions: SB 5572 and HB 1329 would let operators and employees of child care centers form a union to bargain with state for pay and benefits if at least one child at the center is state-subsidized. Each awaits a vote in its respective chamber.

Union-management: SB 5446 and HB 1528 are the so-called “Worker Privacy Act” measures. Unions want their members - and non-members - to be able to walk out of company meetings that require them to listen to anti-union stuff, charitable payroll deductions, etc. Each awaits a vote in its respective chamber.