Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue) will lead efforts to address the growing crises related to housing and homelessness in Washington state as chair of the newly created Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee.
Selected by her colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus, Kuderer will focus the committee on short- and long-term solutions to the broad range of causes, barriers and impacts that affect housing options for communities and individuals in every corner of Washington.
“There isn’t a place in our state where a conversation about local politics goes on long without the cost of housing and the need for community services becoming the dominant topic,” said Kuderer. “I am honored to have been elected chair of this new committee and look forward to working with an expanded Democratic majority and our colleagues across the aisle to address these issues head on.”
Additionally, Kuderer will serve as vice chair of the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee and serve as a member of the Senate Law & Justice and Rules committees.
Kuderer will retain her position in caucus leadership as Assistant Floor Leader.
During the 2018 Legislative Session, Kuderer was pivotal in enacting a slate of elections reforms, including prime sponsorship bills implementing same-day voter registration and critical legislation designed to reduce recidivism rates among juvenile offenders.
Formerly a member of the state House of Representatives, Kuderer was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Senate and then won election to serve out the remainder of the term for that seat. Earlier this month, she was re-elected to serve a full four-year term. She is the first female senator to represent the 48th Legislative District.
