Dear friends and neighbors:

We are now more than halfway through the 2025 legislative session.  As we have done for many years, your legislative team will be holding a town hall this weekend to meet with you and answer your questions about our work in Olympia. I hope you can join me and Reps. Nicole Macri and Shaun Scott for our 43rd District Town Hall this Saturday, March 15, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bloedel Hall at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.

Supporting K-12 education

This evening, the Senate passed my bill to boost support for special education services for students with disabilities (SB 5263). You can watch my remarks on the bill here. My top priority this year is increasing support for our 1.1 million public school students. With four kids in Seattle Public Schools, I know how concerned families are about their children’s education. I am focused on providing more state funding to districts across the state facing challenging budget shortfalls. We have a lot more work to do this session, but the bipartisan support in the Senate for our students, teachers, and parents gives me hope. Here are other important education bills that passed the Senate in the first half of the session:

  • SB 5192 will fill critical funding gaps districts are facing for materials, supplies, and operating costs (commonly referred to as MSOC) at our public schools;
  • SB 5123 clarifies rules protecting students from discrimination, creating more inclusive learning environments;
  • SB 5253 extends special education services for students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which they turn 22;
  • SB 5570 ensures students learn about the history, culture and traditions of Tribal Nations in our state;
  • SB 5189 supports the implementation of competency-based learning; and
  • SB 5193 allows remote testing options for online students.

Today we passed one of the major “cutoffs” of the 105-day session, where bills must pass their chamber of origin to stay alive. These bills will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Tenant protections bill advances

I’m pleased to report that my bill to protect tenants from unfair rental agreements also passed the Senate by a vote of 41-7. SB 5313 would expand the list of prohibited provisions in rental agreements, including banning nondisclosure agreements about lease terms; banning lease provisions that would prevent tenants from joining class action lawsuits; and preventing landlords from requiring payment for nonessential services such as “valet trash”.

Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov.

Best wishes,

Jamie