Dear neighbors:

The first few weeks of session have been eventful. As we approach the first major deadline, when legislation has to move out of policy committees, I wanted to share the progress of several bills I’m prime sponsoring. Many of these are focused on consumer protection, and one important bill would increase funding for K-12 education.

Protecting consumers

SB 6252 would protect people buying cars in our state by making sure the appraisal process is standardized and fair to all parties. This bill has been heard in the Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee.

SB 5968 would protect homeowners from companies taking advantage of people in a vulnerable financial situation where they could potentially lose their home equity. The legislation would help families hold on to intergenerational wealth and help alleviate a problem that disproportionately affects communities of color. This bill has been passed to the Rules Committee.

SB 6025 would protect consumers from predatory loans by making it harder for unscrupulous lenders to evade the protections in the Consumer Loan Act. This bill is awaiting executive action in the Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee.

SB 5930 would provide protections for borrowers of payday loans by adopting the federal rule capping the interest rates that can be charged to military servicemembers and applying it to all borrowers. This bill is in front of the Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee.

SB 6256 would encourage more people to have solar panels installed at their homes or businesses by providing greater consumer protections. This bill is scheduled for executive action in the Labor & Commerce Committee on Monday, Jan. 29.

SB 6276 would give Washingtonians the right to repair their own electronic devices rather than relying only on manufacturers and their authorized technicians. And just as importantly, the bill would supercharge the independent repair business and allow small repair shops to compete again. This bill has been heard in the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.

Increasing funding for education

One of my priorities every session — and our state government’s paramount duty — is high-quality education for all students in Washington. That’s why I’m sponsoring SB 5882, which changes the funding formula for schools to increase support for paraprofessionals. Paras are crucial in helping students overcome barriers to education — whether from poverty, learning loss, or special needs — and provide important one-on-one and small group instruction. But current staffing levels are outdated. To support the social, emotional, and academic needs of students, this bill increases paraprofessional staffing, as suggested by the Staffing Enrichment Work Group.

How you can get involved in the legislative session

Now that legislation is moving through the process, I hope you will get in touch with my office with feedback on the bills before us. All the bills we pass benefit from public input. Your time and effort help me do the best job I can representing our communities in the 1st Legislative District.

  • Reach out via my contact information below.

Stay in touch

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office directly with any questions or concerns. Take care!

Sincerely yours,

Derek Stanford
Senator, 1st Legislative District
Leadership Liaison to Tribal Communities
Chair, Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee
Labor & Commerce Committee
Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee