Dear neighbors,
What can we do, together, to make living and working in Washington state better for all our families?
Washington families deserve more affordable and safe housing, better public transportation and infrastructure, and protections for our environment.
As the 2026 legislative session begins, I have been working hard here in Olympia on those key issues and to represent the interests of all of the people her in the 1st Legislative District.
This e-newsletter includes:
- The governor’s State of the State speech and opening day remarks by the Speaker of the House
- Why building codes matter for consumers and communities
- All the ways you can participate in your democracy this session
State of the State and opening day remarks
Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins provided the opening day remarks and Governor Ferguson gave his State of the State address last week in Olympia, which each discussed their, and our, priorities for Washington state this legislative session.
Use these links to watch the Speaker’s opening day remarks and the Governor’s State of the State address.
This is a short session. We have 60 days this year to work on issues that, matter to the people of Washington state: housing, health care, education, and the environment.
Building codes
Building codes matter. They protect homebuyers from unreliable construction that might fail during the extreme weather events, such as windstorms or earthquakes.
Our building codes are also a way to make sure that buildings and new construction meet minimum standards around things like energy efficiency, saving you money every month.
The first meeting of the House Local Government Committee occurred Tuesday, January 13, at 10:30 a.m. This included hearing from the State Building Code Council along with a session on Performance-Based Codes.
Later in this session, we’ll hear legislation to reform and improve our state building codes. Click here to watch!
All the ways to get informed and involved
Unlike Congress, your state Legislature is made of citizen-lawmakers, not full-time politicians. My fellow lawmakers and I live, work, and stay involved in our communities.
What you might not know is that most bills here pass with large bipartisan support. They don’t make the news though because there’s no conflict.
Our state House and Senate are built to listen to you and be as accessible as possible every step of the way. You can find videos of every committee hearing and debate on the House floor on TVW.org–live or in their archives.
Additionally, it’s never been easier to comment on bills online, testify in person or online, and contact all your lawmakers by the toll-free Hotline at 800-562-6000.
Click here for all the ways to participate this session!
Hearing from you is important to me
I’m also listening to your ideas and stories of people with this quick, two-question survey focused on affordability. Please take a moment to tell your story!
I can share your experiences with other lawmakers—in committee or on the floor, without using your name—to fight for changes that could help you and other people like you throughout the state.
