{"id":3120,"date":"2025-01-31T17:49:37","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T00:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/cortes\/?p=3120"},"modified":"2025-01-31T18:12:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T01:12:52","slug":"my-first-newsletter-as-your-senator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/cortes\/2025\/01\/31\/my-first-newsletter-as-your-senator\/","title":{"rendered":"My first newsletter as your senator!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friends and neighbors –<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I just wrapped up my third week in the state Senate! It\u2019s an honor to represent the 18th Legislative District here in Olympia. Our office has hit the ground running<\/span>,<\/span> and I\u2019m working hard to deliver results for our district and state.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear Washingtonians in every corner of our state have been greatly impacted by soaring costs. That\u2019s why I\u2019m dedicated to ensuring we take action this legislative session to provide support for working families, who are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to put food on their tables.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m proud to serve as <\/span>vice chair of the Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee and a member of the Early Learning & K-12 Education and Transportation committees. These committees all touch on different issues low- and middle-income households face. From supporting small family businesses to investing in the transportation infrastructure our workforce depends on to strengthening public education, the committees I sit on have wide-ranging impacts on working families.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So far this session, I\u2019ve sponsored legislation that <\/span>gives local communities the power to decide the level of support needed to fund their schools, extends special education services, makes standardized testing accessible for remote students, and more. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SJR 8200<\/span><\/a> proposes a constitutional amendment to allow school districts to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes, levy taxes to make payments on those bonds, and exceed the constitutional debt limit with 55% voter approval.\u00a0 Currently, the state constitution requires 60% voter approval for school bond measures. As an educator, I\u2019ve seen firsthand the harm caused to our students when school bonds fail to get 60% of the vote, preventing school districts from funding basic improvements.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB 5141<\/span><\/a> r<\/span>equires disability income insurers include all applicable rating factors and credibility formulas in rate manual filings with the insurance commissioner.<\/span> This will streamline the regulatory approval process to ensure that employees receive insurance policies tailored to their employer\u2019s workforce, improving access to affordable and effective income protection if a disability happens.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB 5149<\/span><\/a> expands the Early Childhood Courts program by broadening the service age and allowing courts to engage families earlier in the dependency process. This expansion is designed to allow courts to reach a greater number of families and improve outcomes, particularly by increasing reunification rates, at no added cost.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB 5253<\/span><\/a> extends special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22 years old. Right now, in Washington state, students with disabilities are eligible for special education services until age 22.\u00a0 By updating this law to extend special education services till the end of the school year in which a student turns 22, we are able to ensure a smooth transition from school to post-school life for students with disabilities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB 5193<\/span><\/a> requires school districts with online programs to provide all students within those programs the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely. Right now, students enrolled in online programs are required to travel to testing sites for state assessments. This can pose significant barriers to those students and their families because it could mean parents or guardians need to take time off work, travel long distances, or spend money on food and accommodations. I know firsthand how important these assessments are for educators. Standardized testing is <\/span>critical for measuring students\u2019 academic progress in online programs<\/span>,<\/span> and we must make sure these tests are accessible for remote students and their families.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are just five examples of the bills I am supporting this session, but I also need your input on what I should focus on. It\u2019s important I hear from you directly on the issues that matter most to you.\u00a0 Your feedback, questions, and concerns help inform my priorities so I can better represent you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can connect with our office by calling 360-786-7634 or emailing me at <\/span>Adrian.Cortes@leg.wa.gov<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an honor to serve you, and I hope to hear from you soon!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

State Senator Adrian Cortes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear friends and neighbors –\u00a0 I just wrapped up my third week in the state Senate! It\u2019s an honor to represent the 18th Legislative District here in Olympia. Our office has hit the ground running, and I\u2019m working hard to deliver results for our district and state.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s clear Washingtonians in every corner of our state have been greatly impacted by soaring costs. That\u2019s why I\u2019m dedicated to ensuring we take action this legislative session to provide support for working families, who are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to put food on their tables.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to serve as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":1390,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMy first newsletter as your senator! - Sen. 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That\u2019s why I\u2019m dedicated to ensuring we take action this legislative session to provide support for working families, who are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to put food on their tables.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to serve as...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/cortes\/2025\/01\/31\/my-first-newsletter-as-your-senator\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sen. 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