Honoring Black leaders, honoring history.
February is the month where we call special attention to Black leaders both here in Washington State,
and across the nation. It is my hope that while this month serves as a calibration point for all of us to ...
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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 ...
Read MoreFriends and neighbors, Our economy will continue to grow and change, and, to answer the needs of tomorrow we need our education system to be responsive now to the 21st century’s digital economy. At the state level, we are building on the preparatory work already accomplished; establishing pathways for graduation, setting ...
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Educational Service Districts Tour
This interim, I resumed my annual tradition of visiting each educational service district (ESD) around the state, a tradition that took a pause in 2020 due to the pandemic. I heard from each ESD about the ...Read More
Sine Die
On Sunday April 25, 2021, the Washington State Legislature will meet for its last day of the 105 day session before adjourning sine die, the final act of the Legislature. Sine die is Latin for “without a day” because the Legislature adjourns without setting a day to reconvene. We sine die when both chambers are finished with their legislative business or ...Read More
As the second to last week of session draws to a close, many bills are undergoing the last step of the legislative process – attaining the governor’s signature. After the legislative chambers complete the reconciliation and concurrence processes, outlined in my last newsletter, and have agreed to the final form of ...
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This Sunday was the final major legislative deadline in this session: the opposite chamber cutoff. For the next two weeks until the end of session, the House and Senate will focus on debating and passing the operating, capital, and transportation budgets, bills necessary to implement the budget (NTIB), and bills ...
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On Tuesday, the Ways & Means Committee held hearings on three bills relating to juvenile justice. Incarcerated youth, a disproportionate amount of whom are children of color, face adversity from beginning to end of their interaction with the penal system. Taking preemptive action can keep them from entering the system ...
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