Dear friends and neighbors, 

We are just over two weeks into legislative session, and it has already been a busy one. I’ve had many productive meetings with constituents, resulting in meaningful conversations about important legislation that will benefit our communities. I’ve also been busy participating in committee hearings, specifically in the Transportation and Law & Justice committees, as well as in the State Government & Elections Committee, where I serve as vice chair. We’ve even taken to the Senate floor to start voting on bills.  

Updates on my bills 

Here are the latest updates on the status of some of my bills this session: 

  • SB 5427 – creates a hotline under the administration of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) for reporting hate crimes and bias incidents that would deliver comprehensive support, including crisis intervention and culturally sensitive, trauma-informed information. This bill was heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee last week.  
  • SB 5444 – enhances public safety by explicitly prohibiting individuals from knowingly carrying weapons in certain designated places where families gather, especially those frequented by children, including public libraries, zoos and aquariums, parks and transit stations. This bill was passed out of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and has been referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for further action.  
  • SB 5819 – addresses a critical gap in our education system — financial literacy — by requiring public school students, starting with the class of 2029, to take financial education classes as a graduation prerequisite. This bill was heard in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. 
  • SB 5723 – addresses record-low voter turnout in Washington by giving cities and towns the freedom to switch their general elections to even-numbered years. This bill was referred to the Rules Committee for consideration.  
  • SB 5890 – solidifies the democratic process by ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice is heard and that ballot rejection is minimized by prioritizing voter education, support for election offices, and accessibility. This bill passed out of the Senate State Government & Elections Committee and has been referred to the Rules Committee, where it is waiting to be scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor.  

In other news 

During these busy first weeks of session, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with several constituents from the 46th Legislative District. Last week, students from McDonald International Elementary, Thornton Creek Elementary, Roosevelt High, and Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, joined PTSA delegates for Washington State PTA Focus on Advocacy Day at the Capitol. The students even surprised us with some beautiful drawings. These young minds serve as a reminder of why education is a top priority. This session, I remain committed to putting students first and ensuring they have the support necessary to thrive.  

Stay involved 

Now that session has begun, I hope you will get in touch with my office about the issues most important to you. Many of the ideas for legislation I’ve sponsored came from constituents and all the bills we have passed have benefitted from public input. Your time and effort help me do the best job I can representing our communities in the 46th Legislative District.  

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

Sincerely yours, 

 

 

 

Javier Valdez