Dear friends and neighbors, 

We have just a little under two weeks left in the session! As we approach our final days in Olympia, I want to again thank you for your participation and hope you will continue to stay involved until the very end. Keep reading for an update on the budget, my bills, and more. 

BUILDING A BALANCED BUDGET 

Right now, House and Senate budget writers are negotiating the final operating budget. You may have heard our state faces a significant budget shortfall, which has made this year particularly challenging. But one thing remains clear: We must take a balanced approach, one that combines new revenue with responsible, targeted reductions. This will enable us to sustain essential services, like education, health care, housing and food assistance, while putting our state on a stronger financial footing for the future.  

I was in the Senate during the Great Recession and saw firsthand the devastating impact of all-cuts budgets, which gave way to the housing, behavioral health, and education funding crises we grapple with today. Our state cannot go backward. As the budget process progresses, I remain committed to advocating for the communities I represent and ensuring the final budget protects critical services, strengthens our economy, and reflects our shared priorities. 

PROTECTING ALL WASHINGTONIANS 

The recent ICE raids in Washington have struck at the heart of our communities — tearing families apart, disrupting businesses, and creating deep fear and uncertainty. As a member and co-vice chair of the Senate Members of Color Caucus, I’m committed to fighting alongside my colleagues for a more humane and just immigration system. 

This session, our caucus is fighting for meaningful investments that protect due process and uphold the dignity of immigrant and refugee families — because no one should live in fear of being separated from loved ones simply for going to work or school.  

Read our caucus’s recent statement on the ongoing deportations here. Find more information from the attorney general’s office about your rights and civil immigration enforcement here. 

A CRISIS DEMANDING ACTION 

Yesterday, I sponsored a resolution on the Senate floor to honor the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. Washington ranks among the highest in the nation for these cases — but this is more than a statistic. It’s a crisis that has devastated families for generations. 

Indigenous communities have long carried this burden, often without justice. While Washington state made progress in reporting and coordination, there’s more work ahead. This resolution is a call to action: Every Indigenous person deserves to be safe. We must continue working with Native communities, Tribal Nations, advocates, and families to ensure there are no more stolen sisters. 

MY LEGISLATION 

I am so pleased to share eight of my bills are still moving through the legislative process, either awaiting a vote on the House floor or heading to the governor’s desk to be signed into law! 

Enhancing Consumer Protections 

  • Ensuring service contracts and product guarantees are clear and affordable for Washington consumers (SB 5108).  
  • Making critical updates to the Mortgage Lending Fraud Prosecution Account (SB 5109).  
  • Protecting consumers who use virtual currency kiosks (SB 5280).  

Empowering Tribal Communities 

  • Offering tuition waivers for Tribal elders at Washington’s community and technical colleges (SB 5110).  
  • Ensuring Tribal governments have a meaningful role in transportation planning and safety initiatives (SB 5374). 

Good Governance 

  • Updating outdated laws managed by the insurance commissioner (SB 5262).  

Protecting Public Health 

  • Strengthening protections for Washington communities from the dangers of lead-based paint (SB 5494).  

Honoring Legacy 

  • Extending the naming of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to further honor his legacy (SJM 8000).  

You can track all of my legislation here. 

STAY IN TOUCH 

Please continue to reach out, especially in these final weeks. Your engagement helps me better represent our district and is essential to this work. Contact my office at Claudia.Kauffman@leg.wa.gov or 360-786-7692. You can also follow my official Facebook and Instagram pages for regular updates. 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. 

Warm regards, 

Sen. Claudia Kauffman