Dear Friend,

It is interesting to note that as busy as the last week in Olympia might have felt in the moment, there is not that much to report. It is almost as if everyone involved with the Legislature is holding their breath, saving their strength for when the budget proposals are released – like everything happening now is just the opening act for the budget that will be taking the main stage in early February.

As an example, this year the upcoming week is breaking the session norm. Usually, the third week of a short session means that committee hearings are packed full of bills being heard. Everyone typically runs around in a panic to get their bills scheduled, debated, and have executive action taken before the policy committee House of Origin cutoff on February 4^th, which then will be quickly followed by the fiscal committee cutoff on February 9th. This session, the number of bills receiving hearings in week 3 is much lower, which one can only imagine is due to the budget situation and that committee chairs are reluctant to hear any policy bills that have significant (or any) fiscal notes.

The House Finance and the Senate Ways & Means Committees are hearing long lists of bills on our state's current tax exemptions. Governor Ferguson's supplemental budget proposal, released on December 23^rd, banked significant savings by closing the myriad of tax exemptions that are in our various state statutes. It will be interesting to see if the Legislature follows his lead, chooses to investigate closing more, or, in the end, does fewer. Unlike the Governor's budget building process, which is mostly done behind closed doors, the Legislature must hold public hearings on the various tax policy proposals, which means they will be hearing directly from the public, whom they are accountable to, and consensus must be found within their own caucuses. This falls into the idea that often things are easier said than done. 

This week, the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee held a work session on the recommendations of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Workgroup. The work session was followed by the committee hearing House Bill 2429. HB 2429, sponsored by Representative Lisa Callan (D-5), would extend the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Workgroup by two years and take the first steps to start the process of implementing the Washington Thriving strategic plan, including establishing it as the roadmap for the work ahead. This change is supported by the various programs, advocates, and legislators committed to lifting up the behavioral health needs of Washington’s youth. The bill directs the Governor’s office to both maintain an executive coordinating officer and to create a leadership council to oversee the work tasked to Washington Thriving. Senator Claire Wilson (D-30) introduced the companion bill in the Senate, SB 6224.

Next week, the House Education Committee will hear House Bill 2594 on Tuesday the 27^th at 4:00 pm. HB 2594, sponsored by Representative Kristine Reeves (D-30), ensures that unhoused children and youth have equal access to a free public education. The Federal McKinney-Vento Act (MKV), created in 1987, provides guidelines to states to ensure that youth experiencing homelessness have equal access to public education, including transportation. MKV also requires that every school district have a liaison who works to identify and support the various needs of homeless students. One of the requirements is that our state’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) compile data regarding the implementation of the MKV Act, including the number of students served, and share this report with the US Department of Education. The goal of HB 2594 is to take the Federal MKV language and clearly place it in our state’s law to make sure it is aligned, and to direct that OSPI also share their report on the program with the Governor’s office and the Washington state Legislature. This will allow lawmakers to receive up-to-date data on the program and needs of the students served in their districts. 

After serving in the Legislature for 34 years, Senator Steve Conway (D-29) announced that he will not be running for re-election. Senator Conway will be missed for his hallway jokes, his strong support of unions, and his deep knowledge of our state’s pension system. He might have slowed down a bit over the last few years, but personally, I have always appreciated Senator Conway for his willingness to engage in conversation (or debate) when you run into him anywhere on campus, and his knack for often asking the questions that so many of us are thinking. 34 years is an impressive commitment to our state, and we wish him well in his next adventure. 

• Follow the education-related bills we are watching in our Bill Tracker.
• Read our 2026 Legislative Platform.
• Check out our Youth Advocacy Hub on how to engage with legislation in Olympia.
• Read our Legislative Issue Brief on Student Homelessness  
• Read our updated Local Levy FAQ.
• Watch the recording of our LEVinar on What to Expect in the 2026 Legislative Session.
• Join Investing in Student Potential, our coalition to champion students who need special education services.
• Join the Coalition to Eliminate Isolation and Reduce Restraint, which is working to end these harmful practices.
• Read frequently asked questions about the Washington state Legislature.