Dear Friend, It was a busy start to the 2024 Legislative Session. Short sessions are always fast-paced, but this week has surpassed normal expectations. Nearly 600 bills were pre-filed, which is a bit unprecedented. Committee chairs started Day One by holding hearings on caucus priorities and controversial issues. Conversations in the hallways have been a bit nostalgic as “old timers” spoke of missing the “the first day of school vibe” that used to be a helpful transition from interim work to the session pace when chairs would usually spend their first committee hearings introducing staff and talking about goals and procedures. I guess with only 23 days between the start of session and the first cut-off, there isn’t much time to waste on niceties. The legislative session is expected to end on time this year. The anticipation of the upcoming elections is looming over the Capitol in Olympia and is a strong motivator to keep things moving. With all of the House up for reelection and the Senate having at least seven members actively running for other offices (with even a few running for the same positions), House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-27) and Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-3) will have to work to keep their caucuses focused on the task at hand. Both the House and Senate budget committees heard testimony on Governor Inslee’s proposed 2024 Supplemental Budget. This is Governor Inslee’s last budget proposal and, as expected, it reflects his core priorities. Substantial investments were seen in climate and environmental conservation programs. The proposal also included investments in education policy. These small incremental investments were smaller than hoped, but still positive. Governor Inslee proposed lifting the special education funded enrollment cap to 17.25% and providing a $3 an hour raise for paraeducators. Significant investments in capital funding for public schools were also included. This budget proposal will be the blueprint that the House and Senate budget writers will use to build their Supplemental Operating budgets. Advocates testified before the various committees this week, thanking Governor Inslee but strongly encouraging legislators to increase the investments made to better support our students and educators. The House Education Committee focused this week on the practice of isolation and restraint in our public schools, dedicating the majority of their committee time to do a deep dive into the issue by hearing from educators, students, families, and researchers to get a more comprehensive understanding. On Friday, Chair Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37) held a hearing on Engrossed 2nd Substitute House Bill 1479, legislation that was introduced last session on isolation and restraint. The expectation is that the House Education Committee will once again vote this bill out of committee and will work to find a path for the legislation in the Senate. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 5809 which would provide equitable funding for charter public schools. Currently, our charter public school sector does not have access to local levy funding, nor can they access local effort assistance (LEA) dollars. LEA is state funding provided to school districts that are disadvantaged in raising enrichment levies due to low property values. SB 5809, sponsored by Senator Mark Mullet (D-5), would provide additional funding to charter public schools located in school districts where voters have authorized a local enrichment levy, with an amount equal to the state LEA threshold. This current LEA amount is $1,550 per student. The Senate committee members heard positive testimony from students about their experiences attending their local charter public schools and encouraged the committee to bring the bill up for a vote. The pace next week will be equally as busy, as the ever-present countdown clock of the legislative session ticks away. League of Education Voters will continue to monitor and take action on various issues and bills before the Legislature, including advocating for equitable funding and access to services across our state. | 
