Dear Friends and Neighbors,
On Monday, we kicked off the 2025 legislative session. My colleagues and I were all officially sworn in and have begun work in our committees. I am honored to represent your interests in the state House of Representatives.
There is a lot to do this year, including balancing the state’s budget and tackling the state’s housing crisis.
My priorities
This session I will be sitting on the Health Care and Wellness Committee, Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and the Community Safety Committee.
I am committed to supporting policies that ensure Washington remains a safe and affordable place to live. That includes bills such as HB 1217 which will cap rent increases at 7% a year for existing tenants in Washington. I’ve seen how skyrocketing rents are disrupting communities and reducing retirees buying power. Families must be able to stay in their homes and communities, and near schools and support networks. The Legislature is taking steps to increase the state’s housing supply, but that will take years or decades to bring any real relief to today’s renters. We need to stabilize rent to help tenants now. I look forward to supporting this bill to help create the stability so many in our community desperately need.
Follow along during session
You can get updates on what’s happening during the session by visiting my legislative website here or my Facebook page here.
This session is what’s called a “long session.” In odd-numbered years like 2025, the legislature will meet for 105-days straight, including weekends.
Now, it’s easier than ever to keep track of it all – and to share your thoughts.
- You can watch any committee hearing or floor debate on tvw.org, either live or after the event.
- To share your story, you testify live in committees or sign up to testify remotely.
- And you can reach all of your lawmakers by email, regular mail, or the toll-free Hotline.
If you’re interested in an issue, or passionate about solving a problem, don’t hesitate to let me know!
I look forward to sharing more updates with you throughout the session. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Rep. Edwin Obras