Dear friends and neighbors, 

I hope each of you enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating holiday season, welcoming the New Year with joy! As the 2024 Legislative Session kicks off, the 60-day supplemental sessions move fast—don’t forget to follow me on Facebook for the latest.  

As we kick off the 2024 Legislative Session, I want to share with you the key priorities that will guide my work on your behalf. Reflecting on the interim, our focus remains steadfast on supporting overburdened communities, tackling the challenges of affordable housing, and initiating reforms in our tax structure. 

Acknowledging the pressing fentanyl crisis, we are committed to implementing effective measures to address this issue head-on. Additionally, ensuring adequate funding for K-12 education remains paramount. It’s important to note that despite the prevailing shortfalls reported by every school district, we have not made any cuts to state funding. In fact, we proudly stand behind our commitment to fully fund the formula, allocating more dollars to K-12 funding than ever before. We will need to keep building on our efforts to update the funding formulas to meet the needs of today’s kids.  This underscores our unwavering dedication to the well-being of our schools and the future of our students. 

I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions and working collaboratively to make positive strides on these vital issues during this legislative session. 

Recently, I had the privilege of attending a conference to learn more about the rapidly evolving technological landscape. 

At the end of the first week of session, I participated in the National Council of State Legislators’ Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Privacy conference in vibrant Las Vegas. It was an enlightening experience where I gained valuable insights into the latest developments in these critical tech domains. 

One of the highlights was the opportunity to engage with experts and policymakers from across the nation, exchanging ideas and learning about innovative approaches to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and privacy concerns. The collaborative spirit of the conference allowed me to gather firsthand information on how other states are navigating these common issues, providing a broader perspective on potential solutions. 

I wanted to take a moment to share some of the valuable learning experiences that have occupied my time and broadened my understanding of our community. Here are a few highlights: 

Engaging with Education: I had the privilege of meeting with dedicated staff and passionate advocates from schools across all levels of K-12 education. Additionally, I had insightful discussions with representatives from an aviation industry trade school. These engagements provided valuable insights into the diverse needs of our educational institutions. 

Exploring Local Businesses: To gain a deeper understanding of the local economy, I embarked on tours of hemp farms, a brewery, several wineries, and a distillery. This hands-on experience allowed me to connect with business owners, employees, and stakeholders, fostering a greater appreciation for the unique challenges and opportunities these industries bring to our community. 

Stewardship of Public Lands: I took the opportunity to hike into forestlands that were in various stages of recovery and reforestation following wildfires. This firsthand experience enabled me to learn about effective strategies for managing our public lands. Understanding the delicate balance between conservation and utilization is crucial for the sustainable development of our natural resources. 

These experiences have been instrumental in shaping my perspective on key issues facing our community. I look forward to bringing this knowledge into our ongoing efforts to create policies that benefit us all. 

Each E-Newsletter, I’m going to include a Housing Corner to shed light on the pressing need for increased housing in Washington. As of July 2021, the state had 3.25 million homes, but looking ahead to 2044, the demand is staggering—Washington requires over 1 million additional units to accommodate its growing population. This means an annual construction goal of 45,900 homes, encompassing various income levels, including state-funded affordable housing, for the next 22 years. 

To confront the scale of Washington’s housing shortage and the resulting homelessness crisis, it’s imperative to expedite the construction of thousands of housing units. Our Housing Corner will keep you informed about ongoing efforts, statistics, and initiatives aimed at creating a more sustainable and inclusive housing landscape for all. Stay tuned for updates on emergency housing, multifamily developments, and affordable housing solutions as we work together to address this need. 

Thank you for being an important part of our community! I’m looking forward to working for you this session.  

Sincerely,  

Rep. Shelley Kloba