| Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2023 legislative session has begun, and we are back in Olympia after operating mostly remotely for two years. Ahead of us is four months of work that is critical to addressing the housing crisis, workforce development, strengthening economic wellbeing, creating safer communities, and supporting military families. This newsletter introduces the work ahead and what it means for our district and state. I hope you will find it useful!
How to Get Involved in the Lawmaking Process
As we tackle numerous issues, I encourage you to stay engaged and participate! I’m excited to let you know that while the legislature will be meeting in person, we will retain the option for remote testimony at committee hearings. This is an important way that we can make the process of creating and amending laws more accessible to everyone. Below are some fantastic ways of following the legislative session:
- Learn—The whole legislative process, from start to finish, is explained at leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx
- Watch—Go to TVW.org for broadcasts of debates, votes, committee meetings, and other events in the House and Senate. There’s also an extensive archive of past events if you couldn’t watch it live.
- Research—To look up legislation by lawmaker or topic, visit app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
- Testify—The 2021 and 2022 Legislative Session proved that remote testimony is a great way for everyone to have a chance to share their voice. The remote committee testimony system will continue to be in use for all testimony for all bills.
Deputy Majority Whip
For this upcoming legislative session, I am honored to share that my colleagues have elected me as Deputy Majority Whip. Since I joined the legislature, I have been committed to addressing the needs of our community whether it is local capital projects or creating sustainable economic growth. Looking ahead, I am excited to lead a bipartisan effort to address the most pressing issues in our state!
2023 Legislative Priorities
I encourage you to look at the legislation I will be supporting here. This session has been moving quickly, and I am proud to share that House Bill (HB) 1001, HB 1002, HB 1009, HB 1012, HB 1030, HB1051, HB1069, HB1209, and HB1241 have already passed committee! In addition, I have introduced a House Resolution honoring the legacy of progress that Director Lourdes E. “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos created at the WA Dept. of Veterans Affairs. I wish her a joyous and relaxing retirement!
As session progresses, workforce development will be one of the most important issues before us. Investing in a workforce requires that we make post-secondary education and apprenticeships accessible to as many people as possible. It’s also crucial for individuals looking to make changes in their current careers have the flexibility to do so. That is why I have introduced House Bill 1009, House Bill 1030, House Bill 1069, and House Bill 1001. In combination, these bills will make is easier for military spouses to pursue new employment opportunities, allow regional universities to offer applied doctoral degrees to train the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow, and streamline certification of mental health counselors, speech therapists and audiologists in Washington.
Another large issue on the docket is to ensure our communities are safe and behavioral health issues can be addressed in a healthy and safe manner. I have introduced House Bill 1002, the Sam Martinez Stop Hazing Act, increasing the penalty for hazing. Additionally, I have sponsored: HB 1012, the Extreme Weather Protection Act, ensuring our neighbors are safe during times of extreme heat, cold, or times of poor air quality, HB 1051, the Robocall Spam Protection Act, to stop the illegal use of robocalls and telephone scam calls, HB 1241 to provide protection for election officials who are threatened, and HB 1569, the common interest community unit owners protection act that addresses protection related to HOAs.
I have also introduced HB 1209 restricting the possession and purchase of equipment used to create controlled substances such as fentanyl. I am hopeful that this legislation, in combination with the work of my colleagues can help us reduce substance abuse, harassment, expand behavioral healthcare access, and provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to keep us safe.
Lastly, as Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, my colleagues and I will be working to address the housing availability and affordability crisis. The cost of housing has been increasing faster than people can keep up. People are being driven out of communities where their families grew up and into homelessness. This year brings crucial legislation to address supply, affordability, and stabilization of housing.
Legislative Page Program
Two weeks ago, I was proud to sponsor the fabulous 28th district page! Her name is Alexis Lynn. She is a 10th-grader at Harrison Prep in Lakewood. Her long-term goal is to practice family law. Alexis worked hard to learn about the legislative process and how bills become a law and all that it entails. Thank you so much for your service, Alexis!
With the Legislature returning to in-person meetings in Olympia, the legislative page program is back and accepting applications! The page program gives young Washington residents the chance to learn and participate in the legislative process by attending page school, assisting legislative offices, delivering messages, and working on the House and Senate floors.
This unique opportunity is open to Washington residents who are at least 14 years old but have not reached their 17th birthday. This year only, the House is allowing 17- and 18-year-olds to participate during two specific weeks since the program was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note that we have a scholarship program available to students interested in the page program. The goal of the scholarship is to encourage all students – regardless of income level – to participate in the page program by helping to offset the expense of travel to and staying in Olympia during their week of service. By reducing the financial burden for families, the legislature hopes to make participation of this great educational opportunity economically feasible for students across Washington. For more information, please visit the page program’s website by clicking here. For more information about the Gina Grant Bull Memorial Legislative Page Scholarship Program, please follow this link.
Let Me Know What Is Important To You
If you come down to Olympia, please schedule a time for us to meet so you can share your concerns with me. I am also happy to meet remotely if you are not quite comfortable in a public setting or simply don’t have time to make it to Olympia. My priority is hearing from you however you are most comfortable, whether remotely or in person.
If you have comments, questions, or ideas, please contact my office. I hope to hear from you soon!
In service,
State Representative Mari Leavitt
28th Legislative District |
