Friends, neighbors —
We’re already two weeks into the 2023 session, and I have lots of good news to share!
#1: I’m excited to announce that I was chosen to step into a big new leadership role by my colleagues — deputy majority leader! I also have the privilege of continuing to serve as the chair of the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee. As a first-gen college grad, it means so much to be in this position, to work to open doorways to educational opportunities for learners of all ages, to give other first-generation students the support they need to navigate these systems and continue building a strong workforce through education.
Other committees: Health & Long Term Care and Transportation!!
#2: Bills bills bills. So far, we’ve filed:
🚑 The Keep Our Care Act to protect patient interests against hospital and health system mergers and preserve our access to secular health care, including gender-affirming, reproductive and end-of-life care. We’ve got a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Senate Law & Justice Committee! Read more about it here. ➡️➡️➡️ Sign up to testify here. (Learn more about how to testify below!)
🏥 A bill reimbursing ARNPs and PAs at the same rate as physicians, so they can affordably provide more care to all our neighbors. Read more about it here.
🏍️ A bill allowing motorcycle lane-sharing. Read more about it here.
⛴ A bill supporting local passenger-only ferries, which help better connect our communities and make travel easier and more accessible. We’ve got a hearing Monday, Jan. 23, in the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee! Read more about it here.
🚌 A bill authorizing Pierce Transit to hire and train limited jurisdiction law enforcement officers to keep transit riders and operators safe. Read more about it here.
🩺 A bill to continue our efforts to grow practice opportunities for graduates of international medical schools. Read more about it here.
#3: The Legislature will continue to offer universal remote testimony!
“Public testimony” is when parents, teachers, doctors, union workers, landlords, farmers, mayors, data scientists — any of our neighbors — get to share their stories about how a bill would affect them, helping us make the best-informed policy decisions. You can click this link to learn more about public testimony and find easy instructions on how to sign up to testify in your chosen committee, either virtually or in person.
You can submit your story in writing too! Using the same link you would use to sign up to testify, choose the committee and bill you’d like to share your thoughts about. Then select “I would like to Submit Written Testimony,” and fill out your story in the online form provided.
This option works well for folks who can’t tune in at the time of a committee hearing — or who may live in a rural community like ours and have broadband connectivity issues. Whether public testimony in real time or written testimony works best for you, remember: your voice and your story matter — thank you in advance for sharing it!
As always, please feel free to reach out to our office anytime. Easy ways to reach me include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter — where you can shoot me a message and follow along to see what we’re up to. You can also contact me at 360-786-7650 or Emily.Randall@leg.wa.gov. The more I hear from you, the more my work in Olympia can reflect our shared values and goals.
