Dear friends and neighbors,

A big part of my job is making sure that our district receives money for important local projects. Our state capital budget funds infrastructure and maintenance – the physical projects that we can all see, touch, and feel. It’s good government at work to make sure that each district, including ours, gets an investment in local and community needs.

The supplemental budget in even-numbered years always has less money than the full budget, but we were still able to get funding for some important projects.

  • More than $16 million for the ongoing estuary project in Capitol Lake. I am glad to see this program moving forward, and that much of that money is going to involve working more closely with the Squaxin Tribe. We all recognize our partners in Tribal government and the importance of involving them in this work of environmental rehabilitation, particularly around salmon and wildlife.
  • $1 million for security and repairs at the Capitol building, where the break-in and arson occurred last fall. Many of you contacted me after this incident with concerns. Increased security measures will help protect our historic building as well as the people who work there.
  • $453,000 for the Class A+ Purified Water project that the LOTT Clean Water Alliance is doing at Budd Inlet Treatment Plant. By purifying recycled water up to drinking water quality, we’ll have a more sustainable, reliable water supply for the future.
  • $258,000 for the city of Tumwater’s research on redevelopment of the Brewery District, so we can get a better sense of the costs and clean-up needs for turning the old Olympia Brewery land into something that’s actually useful.
  • $500,000 for Thurston County’s new Regional Justice Center, which will consolidate courts and services in one modern location.

Protecting Washingtonians from federal overreach

One of the issues I have received the most emails about over the past year is concerns about the  federal administration’s actions and the enormous damage they are doing to our state – from cutting funding for health care, scientific research, hungry families, and so much more, to the violent immigration enforcement, the efforts to undermine our secure and reliable vote-by-mail elections, and the assault on modern medicine. I share your deep concerns. The Legislature has an obligation to do everything we can to help the residents of our state, and we delivered strong and meaningful protections this session.

  • SB 5855 prohibits local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings while interacting with the public. State and local law enforcement officers are already expected to be clearly identifiable; federal law enforcement officers operating in our state will be held to the same standard.
  • HB 2105 requires employers to notify workers about federal I-9 form audits, protects against retaliation, limits federal access to employment records, and establishes enforcement mechanisms and penalties to ensure that workers’ rights are respected.
  • HB 2242 preserves continued access to affordable preventive health care services in Washington, including vaccines. The legislation updates state law so coverage of vaccines is tied to recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health instead of federal guidance. Learn more.
  • SB 5892 protects sensitive voter information by designating certain information, such as full birthdate, social security number and driver’s license number, as confidential. An election officer or designee who discloses confidential voter information will be guilty of a class C felony.
  • SB 6081 prevents the Department of Licensing and the Department of Health from disclosing records about sex designation changes. This will help protect trans individuals who are stalked, harassed, or forced to change how they live because their personal information is made public.

At the bill signing for SB 5917, the bill I sponsored expanding access to mifepristone and essential medications for abortion and miscarriage care.

Thanks for reading! In these weeks after the session, I am going to continue to send out occasional emails like this highlighting the work we did this year in particular issue areas, as we did here with capital budget investments and bills having to do with the federal government’s actions effecting Washington. If you have an issue area you think it would be helpful for people to know more about – or a question about anything else – feel free to send me an email at Jessica.Bateman@leg.wa.gov. I am always happy to hear from constituents, and it helps me know what the top priorities are for the district. Please stay in touch!

In service,

-Jess