Dear friends and neighbors,
The 2026 legislative session has officially begun, and I am back in Olympia ready to work for you, our district, and communities across Washington. Over the next 60 days, we will tackle critical issues that impact working families, public safety, affordability, and the overall well-being of our state.
At a time when we are seeing harmful federal policies, mass deportations, and extremist rhetoric that threaten immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ people, workers, and families nationwide, Washington state must continue to lead. We cannot remain silent as fear and abuse of power spread throughout our country. I am committed to standing up for our values and pushing back against policies that harm our communities.
That is why I am proud to share my bill, SB 5855, had its first public hearing yesterday in the Senate Law & Justice Committee. This legislation is about transparency, accountability, and protecting people from intimidation and abuse. Across the country and here in Washington state, we are seeing masked officers, aggressive federal enforcement, and immigration raids that tear families apart and spread fear. People deserve to know who is detaining them, what authority they have, and how to report misconduct.
SB 5855 would prohibit law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing face coverings during public interactions, with limited safety exceptions. This is about restoring public trust, preventing abuses of power, and ensuring no one is subjected to secretive or deceptive enforcement practices. I will continue standing up to discriminatory enforcement and fighting to protect the dignity and rights of our communities.
Legislation I’m Working On This Session
Here are some other bills I am working on and advancing this session:
- SB 5098 – Protecting children and families from gun violence
Gun violence continues to harm families across our state. Last year, I introduced SB 5098, which passed the Senate but did not receive a vote in the House. This bill would restrict weapons in places where children and families gather, including parks, playgrounds, community centers, public buildings, and county fairgrounds. These should be safe spaces for joy, learning, and community — not fear. I remain fully committed to advancing this legislation in 2026.
- SB 5973 – Protecting the integrity of our initiative and referendum process
As chair of the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee, protecting our democracy and ensuring fair, transparent, and accountable election processes is a core responsibility of my work. SB 5973 is about safeguarding the integrity of Washington’s initiative and referendum system. This bill would prohibit paying signature gatherers based on the number of signatures they collect. It also requires a modest demonstration of public support before a proposed initiative can move forward, helping prevent abuse of the system through dozens of duplicative filings and “ballot title shopping.”
- SB 5892 – Protecting the voter registration database and election security
This bill is prime-sponsored by Sen. Riccelli, and I am proud to be a leading co-sponsor and strong proponent of this legislation. It strengthens protections for sensitive voter information, safeguards the statewide voter registration database, and ensures election infrastructure and security records are not exploited or misused. It also reinforces penalties for the improper use or disclosure of voter data. At a time when election misinformation and interference are on the rise nationally, this legislation is about protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring every voter can have confidence in our democratic system.
Thank You for Attending the Town Hall
I want to thank everyone who attended our in-person town hall last week. We had a great turnout, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. It was energizing to see such an engaged and active community, and your feedback plays an important role in shaping my work this session.
If you were not able to attend, I still want to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office to share your priorities, questions, or concerns. Your input matters, and I value hearing directly from you.
How You Can Participate
As legislation moves through the process, I encourage you to stay engaged and share your feedback with my office. Public input makes our laws better. Here are a few ways you can participate:
- Learn how a bill becomes a law at leg.wa.gov/learn-and-participate/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law
- Find legislation at leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/bills
- Watch your democracy in action at tvw.org
- Testify in committee hearings remotely or in person at leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/session/how-to-testify-at-a-committee-meeting
- Stay informed by calling the Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with questions, ideas, or concerns. My team and I are here to help. You can contact me by email at javier.valdez@leg.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 786-7690. You can also stay informed about my work by visiting my website or following me on Facebook, Instagram and X for regular updates.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community.
Sincerely,
Sen. Javier Valdez
46th Legislative District
