Dear friends and neighbors,
The Legislature has adjourned Sine Die after one of the most challenging sessions we’ve had in years. Faced with a significant budget shortfall, we had to make incredibly difficult decisions. At every step, we stayed focused on protecting the people and communities who rely on essential services.
Even under serious constraints, we prioritized education, with more than a billion dollars in new money for K-12. The budget increases funding for special education and helps with the growing daily operating costs of running our schools. We rejected austerity and chose not to accept an irresponsible, all-cuts budget — instead, we raised new revenue, including an update to make our capital gains and estate taxes more progressive, and B&O tax surcharges on some of the world’s largest, most profitable corporations.
I’m also happy with what the budget does for state employees. The WFSE collective bargaining agreements are approved and funded, there are no furlough days, and no changes to state employee health care premiums. I heard very clearly about the importance of these issues from you, and I am grateful we passed a budget that reflects the needs of our state workers.
Besides the budget, we made positive progress on several other major issues. As chair of the Senate Housing Committee, I came into this session with a three-pronged housing strategy — expand our housing supply, support homeownership opportunities, and provide stability for renters. On all three, we delivered significant progress. We passed a rent stabilization bill to provide more predictability and stability for renters. House Bill 1217 caps rent increases annually at 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is less, preventing extreme price hikes that force people out of their homes. We also passed a long list of bills to expand the state’s housing supply, cut tape and lower construction costs, and increase density and middle housing options.
We passed a ‘permit to purchase’ gun safety law to require training and permitting to purchase a firearm. We passed an overhaul of Washington’s outdated recycling program and expanded access to recycling for more than 500,000 Washingtonians, helping protect our environment.
I want to give a special thank you to the staff who have worked so hard in my office this year. Kasey, Sarah, and Michael provided wonderful assistance this year, and I’m so grateful for their support and service to our district! None of what I do would be possible without their help.
While this session is over, I’m still your state senator year-round. Feel free to reach out any time at Jessica.Bateman@leg.wa.gov whether it’s with a question you have about a bill we passed, an idea for a new policy we should pursue, or you need assistance with a state agency.
Thank you so much for reading, and for the opportunity to serve you.
– Jess
