Dear friends and neighbors –
The 2025 legislative session is officially underway, and I want to take a moment to update you on my priorities and bills this session and introduce you to team Wilson!
2025 Legislative Priorities:
I’m proud to serve as chair of the Human Services Committee and vice chair of the Early Learning & K-12 Committee. I also sit on the Ways & Means and Rules committees and am excited to share I’m the new co-chair of the Washington State Legislative LGBTQ Caucus!
This year, I’m focused on reforming our state’s juvenile justice and criminal justice systems, expanding support for foster youth, investing in early childhood education, protecting our LGBTQIA+ and vulnerable students, and more.
16 Bills and Counting:
So far, I’ve introduced 16 bills, 10 of those just this week! Here is a snapshot of my bills.
Human Services Committee:
- SB 5029 assists people released from the Department of Corrections (DOC) get home and back on their feet.
- SB 5031 creates a new council within the Department of Health to help address the lack of communication across agencies and re-entry coordination regarding individuals in confinement settings.
- SB 5032 gives the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds the authority to manage, investigate and resolve complaints about juvenile rehabilitation facilities.
- SB 5082 creates a housing program that provides young people in extended foster care housing support and extended foster care benefits.
- SB 5128 helps prevent young people from losing their health care coverage while serving sentences in juvenile detention facilities or facilities operated by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).
- SB 5131 protects the religious freedoms of incarcerated people.
- SB 5139 removes barriers that prevent or discourage people with lived experiences from participating in the Washington Statewide Reentry Council.
- SB 5199 provides compensation to members of the DCYF Oversight Board with direct lived experience.
- SB 5219 aligns several DOC partial confinement programs to allow a person to participate up to the final 18 months of their confinement term.
- SB 5232 updates the eligible uses for the Essential Needs and Housing Program, known as HEN, so it can more effectively serve individuals who are low-income, disabled, and unable to work.
Early Learning & K-12 Committee:
- SB 5030 improves access to early learning programs by removing barriers to obtaining vital records, such as birth certificates needed for enrollment.
- SB 5130 supports childcare workers by removing fees for obtaining a license.
- SB 5179 establishes procedures to investigate and address complaints against school districts intentionally violating state law.
- SB 5180 ensures school districts follow state law allowing students to use facilities, be addressed by their preferred pronouns, participate in activities according to their gender identity, and more.
- SB 5181 amends the 2024 parental rights initiative the Legislature passed to bring the initiative into alignment with existing state laws.
Law & Justice Committee:
- SB 5133 gives the courts the option to depart from the standard felony sentencing range if the defendant is a parent or caregiver by adding a new mitigating circumstance.
My concentration on human services, childcare and early learning, and K-12 schools have made me the go-to person on these issues among Senate Democrats. I’m dedicated to championing legislation that supports some of the most vulnerable individuals and communities in our state. From ensuring we provide the resources necessary to help foster youth transition to living independently to protecting our LGBTQ+ students by establishing procedures to investigate complaints against school districts intentionally violating state law — I’m working to deliver solutions to some of our most complex challenges.
Human services, early learning and childcare offer the most effective ways to address countless difficulties that people face later. It’s more important than ever that we prioritize this critical work, and that’s why I’ve hit the ground running. There’s still 93 days left this session, so be sure to stay tuned for more updates from my office.
Meet the team:
On that note, the new legislative session means we have a new team in our office (with some familiar faces!) I’m excited to introduce the Wilson Warriors — Dane, Kit, Bridget and Joseph!
Dane (he/him) is our session aide this year! He was born and raised in Seattle and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 2024. He spent the fall working on campaigns. Dane is passionate about building a world that supports working people and families.
Kit (he/him) is our office’s legislative assistant. He is originally from Colorado and came to Washington to study law, diversity and justice at Western Washington University, graduating in 2023. Kit is passionate about supporting young people, especially queer and vulnerable youth.
Bridget (she/her) is our new communications specialist, and she was born and raised in Seattle. She went to Western Washington University for political science and the University of Washington for digital communications. Bridget is passionate about making our corner of the country a better place for everyone.
Joseph (he/him) is our office’s intern, and he is from Bothell. He attends the University of Washington, where he studies political science, sociology, and law. Joseph is passionate about international human rights activism and international relations research.

Sen. Wilson with Staff – Jan. 16, 2025
Stay connected with our office:
This session will be jam packed, but I want to make sure you know you can reach out to our office at any time if you have any questions or concerns. Your input is critical to my work, and it helps me better represent you and our community. Contact our office by calling 360-786-7658 or emailing me at claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov.
As always, I am honored to be able to do this work and serve the 30th Legislative District.