Author Archives: akerndl

Dear friends and neighbors,   We just started the second week of the 2025 legislative session, and I wanted to give you a brief update. Most time-sensitive: We are accepting page applications, so if you know a young person 14-16 years ...

Dear friends and neighbors,   As vice chair of the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, I’m excited about the work we’re doing to expand access to college and career training and respond to workforce demands and shortages.    I ...

Dear friends and neighbors,   We just wrapped up the 2024 legislative session! This is my first year in the Washington State Senate, and I focused on some of the most pressing issues Kitsap County faces—ferries, homelessness, and substance use disorder—and ...

Dear friends and neighbors,  The Senate just released its proposal for the state’s capital budget (the budget that builds things—hospitals, schools, drug treatment centers, etc.). I’m happy to report that the Senate budget proposal funds significant projects I requested to ...

Dear friends and neighbors,  We’re over a third of the way through the 2024 legislative session! We’ve got our first deadline this week – Jan. 31. That’s when policy bills will need to make it through their committee of origin. ...

Dear friends and neighbors,  We’re off to a busy start of the 2024 legislative session! I’m so excited about the work we have ahead of us over the next 54 days.  Chief Justice Gonzalez swore me in on the first ...

Dear friends and neighbors,   We’re less than a week out from the 2024 legislative session. Over the last several months, I’ve been busy meeting with constituents, community partners and legislative colleagues as we gear up for the first day on ...