Dear friends and neighbors,
The 69th Washington State Legislature convened Jan. 13. It is an honor to begin the 2025 legislative session as your new state senator. I want to thank Sen. Karen Keiser, whose seat I was appointed to. Sen. Keiser spent over three and a half decades fighting for the people of the 33rd district and it was a privilege to serve alongside her. I may have a new role, but my job description is the same: to work together to find solutions to issues our community faces and improve lives across our district and Washington state.
We have difficult work ahead of us as we work to pass bills and craft this biennium’s budget. Washingtonians still struggle with unbearable housing costs. We must ensure our K-12 schools are fully funded, and our students are given the tools needed to thrive. The incredible work we’ve done to address our behavioral health crisis and improve public safety is only just beginning. I am so proud to have helped lead the 988 efforts to build a more responsive crisis system. We must continue to expand our behavioral health system so Washingtonians can access care when and where they need it. I look forward to sharing more of my bills with you as we work through this session.
Meet My Team!
None of this is a single senator’s work. I’d like to introduce you to the talented legislative staff working with me in my office this year!
From Left to Right: Brooklynn Warner, Mary Soderlind, Vanessa Faker, Sen. Orwall, Aaron Wheeler
Mary Soderlind, my outstanding legislative assistant, was kind enough to stay by my side as we moved from the House to the Senate! She fills the “chief of staff” role — coordinating with community members and stakeholders as we work on legislation, scheduling meetings, and overseeing correspondence. She helps lead the rest of the team as we navigate the legislative session!
Vanessa Faker is my session aide this year! A position unique to the Senate, the session aide provides support wherever needed. Venessa will work closely alongside Mary to ensure our office runs smoothly, answering your questions or concerns. Vanessa graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s in political science and is interested in working to advance Indigenous rights and representation in Washington state.
Brooklynn Warner is our intern. She is from Lacey and currently a senior at Saint Martin’s University, where she studies communications. Brooklynn works with Vanessa to track the bills I’ve introduced and respond to constituent questions.
I’m also excited to introduce Aaron Wheeler, who is working toward his Master of Social Work (MSW) with a specialization in administration and policy practice at the University of Washington, where I received my own MSW. As a licensed social worker with 20 years in the public mental health system, I have the pleasure of working with one MSW candidate per year in the Legislature as part of their advanced practicum. Aaron will help research legislative policy, draft memos, work with constituents and stakeholders, and assist the rest of the office to make this legislative session a success.
Making your Voice Heard
My top priority is representing all of you, making sure I pay attention to the issues that matter most to you. It’s easier than ever to learn about bills, speak in public hearings, and reach out to my office. Democracy flourishes when you make your voice heard, so I hope you take advantage of all the tools the Senate offers to participate in the legislative process!
You can track specific bills, get updates from committees of interest, follow your favorite legislators, or look up bills by topic. If there’s a bill that matters to you, you have the chance to testify during its public hearing, either in person and remotely, or submit a written testimony online. You can also email your representatives directly to express your opinion on a piece of legislation by visiting their website’s contact page, which has information on how to reach out.
If you’re curious about a bill, you can contact the prime sponsor or committee members hearing the bill, who can best answer questions you might have about how a bill works or what it will do.
Keep in Touch!
Your voice is integral to the lawmaking process, and I hope you will continue to reach out and share your thoughts. I read every email and do my best to respond. Send me an email at Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov or call my office at 360-786-7664.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my newsletters! This session will be busy, so I hope you’ll stay tuned for more updates about my bills, important legislative priorities, and budget updates.
Sincerely,
