{"id":3285,"date":"2025-03-21T09:43:14","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/hansen\/?p=3285"},"modified":"2025-03-21T09:43:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:43:14","slug":"session-update-townhalls-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/hansen\/2025\/03\/21\/session-update-townhalls-tomorrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Session update + townhalls tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

We are about two-thirds of the way through the legislative session. As usual, I\u2019ve focused on helping people find good jobs to support their families, and we\u2019ve 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!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bills on the move<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Right to repair wheelchairs<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s repair shop. I\u2019m excited to share the House is now considering one of my bills, which passed the Senate (<\/span>SB 5680<\/span><\/a>), to give wheelchair users the right to repair their own equipment. I’m grateful to <\/span>Rep. Mia Gregerson<\/span> for her work on this bill and the disability community\u2014<\/span> especially my constituent Dr. Marsha Cutting\u2014 for helping us understand how much this bill will help!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Public school funding\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ensuring Washington\u2019s 1.1 million students have the resources they need to thrive is the state\u2019s paramount duty. I\u2019m pleased to share the House is now considering two major K-12 education funding bills, which I was very involved with in the Senate.<\/span> SB 5192<\/span><\/a> will fill critical funding gaps school districts face for materials, supplies, and operating costs. <\/span>SB 5263<\/span><\/a> will provide another $2 billion in the next four years for special education services for students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Town halls tomorrow!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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\u2019re doing in Olympia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here are the two options:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n