Dear neighbors:
We just began our fourth week of the 2025 legislative session, and things are moving quickly. We face many challenges this session — ensuring our students and teachers have the resources needed to succeed, building on our progress to make housing more affordable, and addressing our state’s budget shortfall.
This session, I play a larger role in shaping our state budget as the new vice chair of the Ways & Means Committee. I am responsible for helping craft the operating budget, which pays for things like schools, human services, government operations and much more. While we have to navigate a difficult fiscal environment this year, we have an opportunity to build a responsible, sustainable plan — one that keeps moving Washington forward.
Protecting consumers
SB 5423 would give Washingtonians the right to repair their own electronic devices and use local repair shops rather than being locked into a closed system where the original manufacturer is the only option. The bill would help Washingtonians save money, cut electronic waste, and allow small repair shops to be competitive. This bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5. Watch on TVW.
Resources for our LGBTQ+ community
The recent federal executive orders attacking the LGBTQ+ community are scary and incredibly distressing. But in Washington state, we have many protections in statute to safeguard all our neighbors. In recent years, we’ve:
- Strengthened protections against hate crimes
- Mandated LGBTQ+ history education in public schools
- Outlawed conversion therapy for minors
- Protected the right for transgender Washingtonians to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity
- Protected providers for performing abortion and gender-affirming care
- Ensured school officials don’t ban library books or course material solely because they lift up the stories of LGBTQ+ people or people of color
- Strengthened access to legal name change processes
- Increased access to HIV and AIDS prevention medications
- Protected private, personal health data
We will continue to work tirelessly to preserve every Washingtonian’s rights.
If you or anyone you know is being affected by any of the recent federal executive orders, you can contact the Washington State LGBTQ Commission (contact@lgbtq.wa.gov) and share your story, experiences and concerns. Your voice will help the commission inform the governor and Legislature on issues impacting our LGBTQ+ communities.
You can find statewide and county-level resources here.
Protecting immigrant students
We know there is also fear among our immigrant communities because of the federal administration’s actions. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction recently released guidance on state and federal protections for immigrant students in Washington’s K–12 public schools. The guidance provides school districts with a roadmap of requirements related to student privacy, access to educational services, and immigration enforcement on school campuses.
It is our responsibility to ensure every child who calls Washington home has access to education. We must continue our work to ensure each student remains protected, no matter their citizenship status.
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 and provide feedback on the bills before us. Everything we pass benefits from public input. Your time and effort help me do the best job I can representing our communities in the 1st Legislative District.
- Learn how a bill becomes a law.
- Find legislation on the issues important to you.
- Watch broadcasts and archived videos of your democracy in action.
- Testify before legislative committees remotely or in person.
- Reach out via my contact information below. You can also call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office directly with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely yours,
Derek Stanford
