Oregon Public Broadcasting

The 2010 Washington legislative session kicks off Monday with the state facing an estimated $2.6 billion budget hole.

But already state lawmakers have filed more than 300 bills, many of which have nothing to do with the budget. Austin Jenkins has this preview.

The issues run the gamut. Democratic state Senator Karen Keiser wants to ban the sale of plastic drinking bottles that contain the chemical BPA. It's been shown to cause health problems.

State Senator Tim Sheldon, also a Democrat, is proposing to get the state out of the liquor business with the idea of saving money.

Representative Charles Ross, a Republican is pushing stiffer penalties for street gangs. Among his ideas, he wants to make gang graffiti a felony.

And finally, Democratic Representative Hans Dunshee has unveiled what he calls the "Jobs Act." He wants the state to sell nearly a billion dollars in bonds to make schools more energy efficient.

He also says it will create thousands of jobs.