News Releases

Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island) released the following statement today regarding Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to close public schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Wellman serves as chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. “Our number one concern is keeping our students, staff and their families safe. We know many people who attend or work in our ...

Kai Thomson, 15, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of January 31. Pages are typically sponsored by the senator from their legislative district. Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island) sponsored Thomson’s week in the Legislature. The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The interactive learning experience includes classes ...

Isabella Syverson, 16, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of Jan. 24. Pages are typically sponsored by the senator from their legislative district. Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island) sponsored Syverson’s week in the Legislature. The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The interactive learning experience includes classes ...

Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island) released the following statement in response to a press conference held today by Nathalie Asher, director of Seattle’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office. During her remarks, Asher specifically referenced Senate Bill 5497, the Keep Washington Working Act, which was sponsored by Wellman in the Legislature and enacted earlier this year. “Our nation and our ...

A bill signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee increases funding for special education, paving the way for more inclusive learning environments. Senate Bill 5091 was sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island), who chairs the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee. The additional special education funding comes at the request of parents, teachers and schools.

Gov. Inslee signed a bill today to expand broadband access to underserved communities. Senate Bill 5511 was sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island).

“Expanding internet access throughout Washington state will increase equity in both education and business,” Wellman said. “Many of us simply can’t get through the day without accessing the internet. But we still have so many rural ...

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Funding K-12 education is the paramount duty of the state, yet students need far more than just academics in school. More resources, more coordination, and more support is needed to help all schools improve training and safety measures. Those are the guiding principles behind House Bill 1216, the bipartisan school safety measure by Rep. Laurie Dolan (D-Olympia), ...

The Washington State Legislature reached an agreement Sunday, and passed an update to the state’s school enrichment levy policy to better serve students, teachers and Washington’s 295 school districts.

The bill now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for signing.

In 2017, the Legislature made historic changes to the state’s school levy policy to satisfy the state Supreme ...

A bill passed today by the Washington State Senate would update the state’s levy policy to better serve students, teachers and Washington’s 295 school districts.

In 2017, the Legislature made historic changes to the state’s school levy policy to satisfy the state Supreme Court’s McCleary ruling that basic education must be funded by the state, not by local levy dollars. ...

A measure that would have made it easier for local districts to pass school bonds failed today after it didn’t receive the required vote in the Senate.

Senate Joint Resolution 8201, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island), would have amended the state constitution to change the school bond threshold for passage from 60 percent to a simple majority. Changing ...