Dear friends and neighbors,  

We are about two-thirds of the way through the legislative session. As usual, I’ve focused on helping people find good jobs to support their families, and we’ve made some progress there: part of helping people succeed is funding our public schools, and the Senate has led the way in expanding school funding, as I explain in more detail below. I also have a bill giving people the right to repair their own wheelchairs, which will help open up opportunities for independent repair shops to get into this line of business! 

Bills on the move 

Right to repair wheelchairs 

For the many people in this state who use wheelchairs, even a minor breakdown could mean weeks without mobility as they wait for an appointment at a manufacturer’s repair shop. I’m excited to share the House is now considering one of my bills, which passed the Senate (SB 5680), to give wheelchair users the right to repair their own equipment. I’m grateful to Rep. Mia Gregerson for her work on this bill and the disability community— especially my constituent Dr. Marsha Cutting— for helping us understand how much this bill will help! 

Public school funding  

Ensuring Washington’s 1.1 million students have the resources they need to thrive is the state’s paramount duty. I’m pleased to share the House is now considering two major K-12 education funding bills, which I was very involved with in the Senate. SB 5192 will fill critical funding gaps school districts face for materials, supplies, and operating costs. SB 5263 will provide another $2 billion in the next four years for special education services for students. 

Town halls tomorrow! 

I’m excited to hear directly from you at one of our two town halls tomorrow. Bring any questions or concerns you have about the work we’re doing in Olympia.  

Here are the two options:  

  • 9:30-11 a.m. at Bainbridge High School (9330 High School Rd. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110)  
  • 1:30-3 p.m. at Olympic College Bremerton Campus Theater (1600 Chester Ave., Bremerton, WA 98337) 

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office any time you have questions or concerns. I hope to see you this weekend! 

Sincerely,  

Drew Hansen