Dear friends and neighbors,  

With just over a week left in the 2025 session, the Senate is hard at work sending bills to the governor, who has already signed many into law.  

Our Senate budget team has also been working with our House counterparts and the governor to reach an agreement on a final operating budget that works for the people of Washington and reflects our shared values. As one of the Senate’s lead budget writers, I’ve advocated all session for progressive revenue reform to make our tax code fairer, help fund housing, health care and essential services, and ensure Washington’s 1.1 million public school students have the necessary support to succeed. The Senate budget proposal included significant support for special education funding, and I continue to keep a focus on this.  I’ve heard a great deal of input and ideas from my constituents and colleagues, and we’re taking all of that feedback into consideration as we craft the final budget. Once the House and Senate agree on the details, both chambers will vote on the final budget by April 27, sending it to the governor for his signature.    

Bill update

I’m excited to share several bills I’ve worked on have passed the Legislature and are headed to the governor to be signed into law, including:  

  • HB 1483 would give people the right to repair their own electronic devices. If you own an electronic device and it breaks, you should be allowed to fix it yourself or take it to a local repair shop if you want to. Unfortunately, some companies intentionally make products difficult or impossible to repair. HB 1483 will help prevent that, saving families money, reducing electronic waste, and supporting small businesses. 
  • HB 1644 would strengthen Washington’s labor laws, ensuring working minors are safe at their job sites and employers with repeated youth labor violations are held accountable. Work-based learning programs can be a great opportunity for students to earn credit and gain real-world experience, but we must do a better job keeping these young people safe. 
  • SB 5501 would expand job opportunities for Washingtonians who don’t drive due to a disability. Some jobs require driving — and some don’t — but requiring a driver’s license for a job that doesn’t involve driving doesn’t make sense.  We should not exclude qualified job candidates just because they don’t drive due to a disability. 

My office is always ready to help you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out any time you have questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,  

Derek Stanford