{"id":3254,"date":"2026-01-23T10:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/slatter\/?p=3254"},"modified":"2026-01-23T14:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T21:49:43","slug":"happy-week-two-of-the-2026-legislative-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/slatter\/2026\/01\/23\/happy-week-two-of-the-2026-legislative-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy week two of the 2026 legislative session!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

The\u00a02026 legislative session\u00a0is\u00a0officially\u00a0underway!\u00a0This is my second year as your state senator, and my team and I\u00a0are\u00a0hard at work delivering results for our community.\u00a0This legislative session,\u00a0I\u00a0remain\u00a0committed to working with each of you to find forward-looking solutions that strengthen our\u00a0district.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve you and represent the 48th\u00a0in Olympia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s Legacy:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On Monday, we honored Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s legacy with a Senate resolution sponsored by Sen. T\u2019wina Nobles. During these difficult times when it feels like progress keeps hitting a wall, it\u2019s critical we remember King\u2019s leadership and resolve through times of injustice. King once said, \u201c<\/span>If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Slow progress is still progress, and\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0why I keep fighting\u00a0every\u00a0day\u00a0to make Washington a place where everyone can thrive.\u00a0<\/span>You can watch\u00a0the full floor session where we honor\u00a0King\u00a0here.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

State of the State:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week,\u00a0Gov. Bob Ferguson\u00a0kicked off the legislative session by delivering his\u00a02026 State of the State address.\u00a0The\u00a0governor\u00a0acknowledged\u00a0the challenges facing our state,\u00a0such as shifting policy at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the exodus of scientific experts,\u00a0and an affordability crisis.\u00a0However, the\u00a0governor also spoke of the heart\u00a0of Washingtonians and\u00a0our\u00a0ability to\u00a0persevere\u00a0during\u00a0difficult times.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I share the\u00a0governor\u2019s concerns about the rising cost of living in our state. We see it all around us\u00a0\u2014\u00a0in health care,\u00a0child care, housing, groceries,\u00a0and more.\u00a0I look forward to working with my colleagues in the\u00a0state Senate\u00a0this legislative session\u00a0to enact an agenda that\u00a0focusses on\u00a0making Washington a place people can afford to live\u00a0in.\u00a0I know that together we can make Washington more affordable and build the infrastructure we need to house and care for our people.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2026 Priorities:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I spent\u00a0last\u00a0year meeting with neighbors and community members across the 48th District. These conversations have helped inform my priorities this session.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0working hard to develop commonsense\u00a0approaches that tackle\u00a0the big issues facing our state: fully funding our schools, expanding access to early learning and\u00a0child\u00a0care, keeping our communities healthy and safe, building affordable housing, and protecting public health and our environment.\u00a0Below is a snapshot of my priorities this legislative session!\u00a0<\/span>You can find a complete list of the legislation\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sponsoring or co-sponsoring this session here.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Funding education:<\/strong>\u00a0Last session, we increased funding for K-12 special education and boosted support for school operating costs. We also preserved investments in our\u00a0child\u00a0care\u00a0system and higher education programs. However, there is more work to do.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0essential that we fully fund education and ensure all of Washington\u2019s 1.1 million students\u00a0and their educators have the tools needed to succeed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This session,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sponsoring\u00a0<\/span>Senate Bill 6089<\/span><\/a>, which would increase coordination and alignment throughout our pre-school to workforce system (P20W).\u00a0This bill\u00a0would enhance\u00a0Washington’s\u00a0education and workforce landscape by\u00a0establishing\u00a0a structured\u00a0partnership between the state and the philanthropic community.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0critical we support young Washingtonians from\u00a0pre-K\u00a0to college, and this bill\u00a0helps us do just that.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping all communities safe:\u00a0<\/strong>Community safety is a top priority for me. Last session, we passed several new laws to improve our justice system and strengthen law enforcement training and recruitment. Community safety also means safeguarding the rights\u00a0and safety\u00a0of our immigrant and refugee neighbors.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0critical we protect our neighbors from violence and injustice, regardless of immigration status, so we all feel safe and secure in our community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now more than ever,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0essential we pass legislation that helps ensure transparency and accountability.\u00a0This session,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0proud to\u00a0co-sponsor\u00a0<\/span>Senate Bill\u00a05855<\/span><\/a>, which is\u00a0sponsored\u00a0by Sen.\u00a0Javier\u00a0Valdez and would prohibit law enforcement from using face coverings during operations.\u00a0<\/span>No law enforcement official<\/span>\u00a0carrying out enforcement actions should be allowed to hide their identity from the public.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Improving and expanding access to health care:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>While our federal government is limiting health care access for millions of Americans,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0more dedicated than ever to ensuring Washingtonians have safe and consistent access to care.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0brought my background as a pharmacist and clinical scientist to the Senate and will continue to fight for your right to high-quality, affordable health care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This session,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sponsoring\u00a0<\/span>Senate\u00a0Bill 5924<\/span><\/a>, which would expand the prescriptive authority of pharmacists. Pharmacists are highly educated health care professionals and are uniquely qualified to prescribe medications and devices, and this bill would enable us to expand care options for Washingtonians. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m\u00a0also supporting\u00a0<\/span>Senate Bill 5967<\/span><\/a>, which would allow\u00a0<\/span>the state Department of Health to propose recommendations for vaccines based on medical and scientific\u00a0expertise\u00a0and evidence without having to rely solely on recommendations from federal committees.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Protecting our environment and tackling climate change:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m\u00a0committed to supporting legislation\u00a0this session\u00a0that protects our environment and helps our state\u00a0continue to\u00a0lead on climate action and renewable energy.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0focused on ensuring our state invests in green infrastructure, develops a reliable energy grid, improves public transportation, grows our green economy, and creates\u00a0more good-paying green jobs, all while centering frontline communities\u00a0impacted\u00a0by climate change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This session,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0excited to co-sponsor\u00a0legislation\u00a0to help us prepare for future\u00a0environmental\u00a0events that can lead to power outages.\u00a0<\/a><\/span>Senate 6008<\/span>\u00a0incentivizes\u00a0grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems.\u00a0I sponsored a similar bill last session, and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0glad this legislation is being brought forth again this year. This\u00a0bill\u00a0addresses\u00a0a critical problem that will only get\u00a0worse by increasing\u00a0energy storage capacity across the state.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workforce development and higher education:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>We must provide pathways to economic mobility and opportunity for every Washingtonian. That means expanding access to apprenticeships, higher education, and workforce retraining. Last session and in prior years, I worked to remove barriers and streamline the process for earning college credits for adult learners and people pursuing online pathways by pushing for a virtual online campus.\u00a0I will continue to support policies that make education more accessible and affordable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Building affordable housing:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>We need to build 1.1 million new homes over the next 20 years,\u00a0according to census data. Last session, we passed several new laws to help expand affordable housing options.\u00a0This session,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0focused on policy solutions that concentrate on both expanding housing supply and fostering strong communities near major job, transit, and school centers.\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m\u00a0also focused on finding ways we can\u00a0develop\u00a0housing\u00a0that is affordable for all income levels.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0proud to\u00a0co-sponsor\u00a0<\/span>Senate Bill 6069<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0which would encourage the development of\u00a0various types\u00a0of housing\u00a0such as\u00a0permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay involved:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are just a few of my priorities this legislative\u00a0session!\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0important I hear from\u00a0you\u00a0because your\u00a0voice is critical to our work in Olympia. Below you will find helpful resources that make it easy for you to be part of the legislative process. You can testify in real time on a bill,\u00a0submit\u00a0written testimony, and track all the policies being considered in Olympia. You can also sign up for free committee notifications on a particular bill of interest, so you know each time it takes a step in the legislative process.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n