Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2022 Legislative Session is off to a strong start, and we’ve already seen some landmark legislation hit the floor. I’m proud of the progress we made in 2021 and I am eager to continue expanding upon some of the work we had to leave unfinished. Though we passed the Fair Start for Kids Act, seeing a $430 million increase into Childcare and Early Learning Services, we have rolled up our sleeves and hit the ground running for this short session.
As your champion for Schools and Students, my job is to act as a strong advocate for impactful K-12 Policy. As we emerge from the pandemic, I’m focused on continuing the transformation of our education system that will support our children moving into the 21st century digital economy with the skills and resources needed to thrive. I’ll keep you informed and by my side the whole way.
Here’s a glimpse of what I’m working on:
Juvenile Justice & a Pipeline to Tech.
We have long needed to create a sustainable career pipeline in our juvenile justice system. SB 5657 helps give a hand up and out of juvenile institutions and into Tech by adding elective computer science credits to the curriculum. Kids in all other high schools across the state have access to computer science. These kids don’t. They should.
Students of color predominantly make up these classrooms as they are disproportionately affected by our law and justice system. Rehabilitation and re-entry must be better prioritized to ensure that all youth have a fighting chance. Great job opportunities shouldn’t be defined by zip code or circumstance. I know some students will find they’re great at coding and see a future they never could have imagined before.
PNW on the Big Screen
From Frasier, to Twilight, nearly everyone knows that the Pacific Northwest is the stuff of movies. But until now this has largely only been a fictitious narrative. SB 5760 brings forth financial incentives to increase production and proliferation of the Film Industry in our beautiful state. It’s past time that lawmakers helped give a needed competitive edge to movie making in Washington State. Streaming films, episodic stories, animated movies: we’ve got the talent, let’s attract the projects and the jobs right here.
I toured the “under renovation” Harbor Island Studios with Kate Becker from Dow Constantine’s and Tom Skerritt (I’ll never forget him from Alien and Top Gun) our local movie star. Tom and I discussed his dream to start a local writer’s group.
Strengthening Our Sense of Community.
If we have learned anything in these last two years of the pandemic it is that we are all in this together. SB 5252 gets us closer than ever before by equipping our educational leaders at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with tribal consultation training. This legislation, required by the federal government and certain school districts paves the way to help us design an accurate and appropriate training curriculum.
Various stakeholders such as the Washington State Native American education advisory committee, the Washington State School Directors’ Association’s (WSSDA) Government-to-Government Task Force, Tribal Leaders Congress on Education, and others are on board. And I am looking forward to taking the training myself. It will help us work out how to address topics like mascots, regalia at graduation, canoe journeys and more.
Other Items of Note:
In addition to the bills that I am helping handcraft and hand deliver (virtually of course), here are some other areas of interest that I’ll be helping see forward this session:
- I am serving on the Bi-Partisan Tax Structure Work Group to help break new ground on Washington State’s outdated tax system. Please take a second to fill out this survey to help us learn how we can improve our tax system.
- I am honored to have received Digital Public Schools Alliance (DPSA ‘s) Champion for Kids award for “work to support Mastery Based Learning and technology in K12 education.”
Into Another Virtual Session.
Though we may not be physically in the same space, I’ve felt more connected to my fellow legislators and Washingtonians with hundreds of constituents from around the state able to participate in remote testimony.
We’re seeing a spike in representation and more diverse voices than ever before. While we recognize and work to address the digital divide across the state, removing the physical barrier of needing to be present in Olympia to gain access to the legislative process has allowed a more open and robust dialogue.
If you’d like to participate in this mostly remote session, here are some helpful links:
- Universal remote testimony: The Legislature has expanded remote testimony capabilities so people can testify on any bill from anywhere up to an hour prior to a committee meeting.
- To testify remotely in the Senate: https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate.
- To testify remotely in the House: https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/House
- Submit written testimony: People can also submit written testimony on any bill scheduled for a public hearing. People have long been able to submit written comment on a bill, but prior to this year, those comments were sent directly to the constituent’s own legislators. The new written testimony system allows committee members and staff to read it more easily and maintains it as part of the permanent public record.
- Written testimony can be submitted at the same links used to sign-in for public testimony above.
- Set up a Zoom with your legislator: Due to Covid-19 protocols, legislators won’t be meeting in person with constituents, but people are encouraged to schedule Zoom meetings with their senators and representatives.
- To find your legislator’s contact information and schedule a meeting: https://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/
- It’s all on TVW: As always, every committee meeting, floor session, press conference and special event will be broadcast at TVW.org
As always, you can reach me with your questions, comments, and concerns at Lisa.Wellman@leg.wa.gov. Please also feel free to call should you like to connect.
Sincerely,
State Senator
48th Legislative District
