Dear friends and neighbors,

The 2025 legislative session adjourned for the year on Sunday evening. During the 105-day session, legislators introduced 2,387 bills, and we expect that Gov. Ferguson will sign about 400 into law over the next few weeks. Significant shortfalls in our operating and transportation budgets made the session challenging, but we made significant progress on a wide range of issues, including new investments in housing, K-12 education, behavioral health, and the environment.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be sending newsletters focused on key issue areas the Legislature addressed this year. This first newsletter will focus on our work to support public schools.

Supporting public schools

My top priority this year was increasing support for our 1.1 million public school students. With four kids in Seattle Public Schools, I know how concerned students, teachers, and parents are about the potential impact of district budget shortfalls. I am pleased to report that the Legislature was able to preserve maintenance-level funding in K–12 education while also making a significant new investment of $1.4 billion over the next four years to boost special education services and help districts cover materials, supplies, and operating costs (commonly referred to as MSOC).

In addition to direct state funding, the Legislature gave school districts greater levy authority, which will result in over $25 million in additional funding for Seattle Public Schools in the next school year.  We also clarified the state’s parents’ rights law and adopted new anti-discrimination protections for students based on their gender expression or identity.

Here are a few major bills we passed this session to give our students the resources and supports they need to succeed:

  • SB 5263, a bill I prime sponsored, will increase funding for special education services by $750 million over the next four years. The bill also removes the artificial cap on the number of students who are eligible for these critical services. This represents a big step forward as our state works toward fully funding special education and I’m proud the legislation received unanimous support in the Senate and House;
  • SB 5253 extends special education services for students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which they turn 22;
  • SB 5192 will invest an additional $213 million to fill critical funding gaps for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) at our public schools;
  • HB 2049 will give school districts the option to ask communities for more levy support for their local schools. Restoring this authority will give districts like Seattle another tool to fund enrichment activities and address budget shortfalls. The budget also includes $200 million over the next four years for local effort assistance funding to help school districts without enough property value to raise funds through levies; and
  • HB 1296 clarifies a 2024 parents’ rights initiative by adjusting key provisions to eliminate ambiguity and confusion. It also updates Washington’s anti-discrimination laws to ensure all students are protected in public schools. It also includes new protections for students and parents with strengthened compliance requirements for school districts. These changes will help give certainty to schools as they work to provide a safer and more welcoming classroom for all Washington students.

I’m proud of the work we accomplished this session, but I know we must do more to meet our constitutional duty to fund education amply. I am already making plans for more progress in the 2026 legislative session.

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

Best wishes,

Jamie