Yesterday Governor Gregoire announced that a special session is expected. 

After discussions with House and Senate leadership it is unlikely that they will be able to complete their work by April 24 the last day of the regular session. 

Though the budget process continues to move forward, the Senate passed out the biennial operating budget from Committee to floor last night, the Legislature must still find agreement on the operating and capital budgets and enact over 75 bills necessary to implement the budget.

The real question is when will the special session begin. Senate and House leadership have indicated that they would like to take a short weekend break and then resume work. But Gregoire said she wasn’t certain if she’d call them back immediately. The governor also said any special session needed to be limited in scope.