{"id":3231,"date":"2025-05-06T17:24:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T00:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/slatter\/?p=3231"},"modified":"2025-12-10T10:43:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T17:43:01","slug":"2025-session-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/slatter\/2025\/05\/06\/2025-session-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 session recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friends and neighbors,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2025 legislative session is officially over, and I\u2019m excited to share with you our progress and accomplishments. During the legislative session this year, we passed policies to put people first while focusing on balancing our budget. Thank you to everyone who engaged in the legislative process this year. I\u2019m grateful for your trust and partnership this session. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I had many meaningful conversations with people all over our district, and the two issues you were most concerned about were the budget deficit and the daily chaos coming from the Trump administration. I know many members of our community and across Washington state are worried about what is happening nationally. I want you to know I will continue to fight for legislation that protects you, your families, and your neighbors. \u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This session had its challenges, and we lost a dear colleague and friend, Sen. Bill Ramos. It was truly an honor to serve alongside Bill. He showed up every day ready to work for his community and the people he loved. On the final day of session, we passed a transportation budget dedicated to Sen. Ramos\u2019 legacy and adopted a resolution commemorating his contributions to his district and our state. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sen. Bill Ramos congratulating me\u00a0when my first bill as a senator passed off the floor!<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m proud to serve as vice chair of the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee and a member on the Health & Long-Term Care and Higher Education & Workforce Development committees. Here is a snapshot of legislation we passed from these committees this session. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Environment, Energy & Technology:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fair Repair Act<\/span><\/a>: You shouldn\u2019t have to throw away an expensive phone or another electronic item you own and buy a new one just because you don\u2019t have the resources to repair it yourself.\u00a0 That\u2019s where the Fair Repair Act comes in! This legislation supports the servicing and right to repair of certain products with digital electronics in a secure and reliable manner to increase access and affordability for Washingtonians.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5680<\/span><\/a>: Establishes a right to repair for mobility equipment for people with physical disabilities. This bill breaks down repair barriers and helps ensure people with disabilities can repair essential mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs<\/span>,<\/span> without unnecessary delays or expenses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5284<\/span><\/a>: It\u2019s critical we hold producers responsible for reducing the environmental impact of packaging. This bill helps us do just that by modernizes our state\u2019s recycling system by creating a producer responsibility organization to require manufacturers and consumer brands to reduce unnecessary packaging, fund statewide collection services, and ensure materials put in curbside bins are recycled. The state Department of Ecology, which will oversee the program, estimates this policy will expand recycling services to an additional 500,000 homes in Washington, most notably in rural areas and multi-family residences. \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Health & Long-Term Care:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5239<\/span><\/a>: Right now, hospitals are required to keep medical records for 10 years after a patient\u2019s discharge. If there\u2019s no official discharge date, hospitals must keep the records indefinitely \u2014 something that\u2019s been proven costly and hard to manage. The University of Washington Medical Center is spending about $750,000 every year just to store these old files \u2014 money that could be used to support patient care instead. This bill helps hospitals significantly cut medical record storage costs without impacting patient care by changing the retention period for medical records to 26 years after it is created rather than the discharge date. This bill also ensures patients can still access their medical records for a reasonable amount of time after receiving hospital care. \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5498:<\/span><\/a> Ensures people can access a one-year supply of birth control upon initial prescription. This means\u00a0people can make fewer unnecessary trips to the doctor and have continued access to contraceptives, even when they get a new job, switch insurance, or change birth control methods.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5084<\/span><\/a>: Improves<\/span> transparency by requiring health carriers to report their primary care spending. This new law supports data-driven decisions that move us toward a more equitable and effective health care system in Washington.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Higher Education & Workforce Development:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5355<\/span><\/a>: Improves safety on college campuses and increases support for survivors of sexual assault. Beginning in the 2027 fall academic term, student identification cards at public colleges and universities must include the hotline for a regional organization providing 24\/7 support for survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sex- and gender-based violence. The bill also prohibits public colleges and universities from proposing, requesting, or pressuring students to enter into a nondisclosure agreement relating to a sexual misconduct report under Title IX.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5110:<\/span><\/a> Allows community and technical colleges to grant tuition waivers to tribal elders starting at age 55. This bill honors the cultural values of our tribal communities, given they recognize elder status at 55 rather than 60.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HB <\/span>1273<\/span><\/a>: Expands access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual credit opportunities for high school students across Washington. This bill also strengthens partnerships between school districts and community colleges, creating a clearer pathway for students to transition from high school into post-secondary education opportunities such as apprenticeships and college programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HB <\/span>1556<\/span><\/a>: expands the ability of community and technical colleges to grant tuition waivers to high school equivalency seeking students, regardless of age. Currently, this is limited to those over 19 years old.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HB <\/span>1279<\/span><\/a>: This bill builds upon existing protections for students enrolled at Washington institutions and extends consumer guarantees to those in online programs through state reciprocity agreements. This bill ensures online, out-of-state colleges and universities seeking to enroll Washington residents must abide by the same student consumer protections as in-state institutions. \u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional legislative achievements:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5480:<\/span><\/a> Unfair medical debt collection practices remain a huge challenge for many working families in our state. No one should be burdened with medical debt when they\u2019re just trying to live healthy lives. This bill ensures medical debt can\u2019t be reported to credit bureaus until families have had a chance to address it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB <\/span>5686<\/span><\/a>: Nearly one-third of Washington homes are part of a homeowner association (HOA) assessments, and these homeowners pay an average of $4,500 annually in fees. When homeowners fall behind on these assessments, they are at risk of facing foreclosure with few options for negotiating repayment. This bill will extend the resolution process under the Foreclosure Fairness Act to HOA homeowners to help avoid foreclosure. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HB <\/span>1217<\/span><\/a>: Improving housing stability for renters by capping rent increases annually at 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is less, preventing extreme price hikes that force people out of their homes. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

HB <\/span>2015<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0Improves public safety funding by providing resources to local governments and state and local criminal justice agencies and authorizing a local option tax.<\/span> This is a bold step toward justice, accountability, and true community safety by shifting how we invest in public safety. It moves away from a one-size-fits-all policing model and ensures local governments can tailor solutions to their own communities’ needs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Budget Highlights:<\/strong> This legislative session we had the difficult task of balancing our state budget while making strategic investments. Despite this, Senate Democrats were able to accomplish a lot on behalf of all Washingtonians during the 105-day session, and we passed an <\/span>operating budget<\/span><\/a> that invests in K-12 education, protects core services and leaves a responsible, robust ending fund balance. <\/span>For more information, please watch <\/span>this post session press conference<\/span><\/a> with legislative democratic leaders. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Protecting core services<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n