Dear friends and neighbors, 

Time has flown by! Today marks the 30th day of the 2024 legislative session, which means we are officially halfway done. We’ve made good progress in this first half, but we still have a lot of work left to do. I want to thank you again for your continued support in driving meaningful change for our communities. 

Updates on my bills 

Last Wednesday marked the policy committee cutoff, and while unfortunately some great bills did not advance, I am very excited about those that did. When it comes to bills and budget priorities, I remain determined to advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of our communities. 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 be designed to deliver comprehensive support, including crisis intervention and culturally sensitive, trauma-informed information. This bill passed out of the Ways & Means Committee and will hopefully soon head to the Senate floor for a vote. 
  • SB 5444 enhances public safety by explicitly prohibiting individuals from knowingly carrying weapons in designated places where families gather, especially those frequented by children including public libraries, zoos, aquariums and transit stations. This bill passed out of the Ways & Means Committee and will hopefully soon head to the Senate floor for a vote. 
  • 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 legislation advances in the form of Rep. Rude’s companion House bill (HB 1915). 
  • 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 the Senate and is now being considered in the House.
  • 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 policy is advancing in the form of Rep. Gregerson’s House bill (HB 1932).    

Fiscal cutoff 

Yesterday was what we know as “fiscal cutoff” in the Legislature. This means all bills with a significant fiscal note had to move out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee by the end of the day yesterday in order to continue moving through the process. It also means we will start spending more of our time on the Senate floor passing the bills still in play.   

Budget update  

Our state budget comprises three main categories: the operating budget, covering ongoing investments like schools and healthcare; the capital budget, allocated for the state’s physical infrastructure, including buildings and various projects; and the transportation budget, focused on investments in roads, highways, ferries, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.  

This session, we are in the second year of our budget cycle; therefore, our capacity for accommodating requests and undertaking major projects is limited. Nevertheless, we have requested funds for several key investments this year. Here are some of those requests: 

  • Lake City Community Center rebuild 
  • Northaven Green Space restoration 
  • Aurora Avenue Project — Revisioning of the Aurora Ave N. corridor, centering safety, mobility, and accessibility for all travelers. 
  • Health Equity for Immigrants — Funding for a Medicaid-like program to provide health coverage to undocumented immigrants, aiming to cover at least 25,000 individuals and support immigrant-led community organizations, a community accountability committee and program waitlists. 

These investments reflect our commitment to addressing essential needs and promoting our community’s well-being. 

Stay involved 

We’re halfway through the session, but I hope you’ll continue to stay in touch and let me know about the issues most important to you. Your time and effort help me do the best job I can representing our communities in the 46th Legislative District. 

Follow my official legislative Facebook page and Twitter account.  

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office directly with any questions or concerns. It is an honor to represent you. 

Sincerely yours, 

Javier Valdez