Dear friends and neighbors,

We are just five weeks away from adjourning the 2026 session. Today is policy cutoff and next Monday is fiscal cutoff. So we’ll start all-day floor action very soon!

Let’s start with an update on the bills I sponsored that are still moving:

HB 1683 – Adjusting school director districts: Requires larger school districts to elect a portion of board members from geographic director districts to ensure more local representation. STATUS – in Rules. HB 2218 – Access to medical care in workers’ compensation: Improves injured workers’ access to necessary medical care, including minimum standards for providers, right to choose a provider, and expanded treatment network and quality guidelines. STATUS – was passed by Labor & Workplace Standards yesterday. HB 2219 – Enhancing childcare providers efficiency: Updates childcare licensing standards to give providers more operational flexibility and waive certain orientation requirements for experienced staff, helping streamline child care operations across the state. STATUS – in Rules. HB 2475 – Language accessible public programs and services: Requires state agencies to ensure that public programs, activities, and services are accessible to people with limited English proficiency through appropriate language support and communication options. STATUS – was passed by State Government & Tribal Relations today. HB 2660 – Strengthening Child Welfare Oversight: When it comes to child safety, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. My legislation recognizes that reality. It acknowledges that families are complicated, and every situation, every circumstance is different. I discuss this bill in my latest video update. Click here or on the image below to watch it:

HB 2660 gives judges flexibility to look at the whole picture during early shelter care hearings and decide what is truly in a child’s best interest.

Instead of forcing blanket outcomes, this bill allows courts to set appropriate conditions based on the facts of each case, improving coordination with community-based services, and aligning related behavioral health and family support services across agencies.

My bill will protect children and avoid unnecessary family separation when there are safer, more supportive options. STATUS – passed Early Learning & Human Services today.

The Seattle Times published an editorial last week about this issue; I encourage you to read it:

And over the weekend, the Times ran a column stating that removing children should not be the immediate response. Early support, treatment, housing, and legal help can change lives — and keep kids safe at home:

I have two more bills (HB 2105 & HB 2464) that are still going through the process. You’ll read about them in the next section.

CALLING OUT THE ABUSE AND LEGISLATING MEANINGFUL PROTECTIONS

Across the country, we are witnessing deeply troubling immigration enforcement actions — people taken from their communities by masked agents in unmarked vehicles, often without an explanation or notice to their families. Many of those impacted have been following the law and navigating the immigration process for years, investing time, money, and hope, only to be detained as they leave routine immigration hearings.

The fear this creates is real, and it’s being felt here in Washington. Families are justifiably afraid to leave their homes and go about their day without having to worry if they’ll make it back home. We’ve all seen the videos — bystanders pepper-sprayed for filming, people injured simply for being present. And just a few weeks ago, in Minneapolis, two U.S. citizens were shot and killed during an encounter with federal immigration agents. This level of force and disregard for due process is alarming. While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility — and there are limits on what states can do — that does not mean we are powerless. This session, in Olympia, we are taking action where we can. We are working to protect people’s rights and ensure families remain connected to services. My colleagues and I have introduced a package of bills (see section below) aimed at addressing abuses, increasing transparency, and safeguarding all Washingtonians, including our immigrant and refugee communities.

OUR EFFORTS IN OLYMPIA

SURVEY RESULTS!

First, many thanks for taking the 21^st district priorities survey. Your input will help us make better decisions as we go through the legislative process.

According to your responses:

• The top three issue areas in our district are community safety and well-being; housing affordability and homelessness; and a more sustainable tax system.
• When it comes to availability and affordability of housing, 38% of you said it’s fair, 33% said it’s poor, 14% said it’s good, 12% said it’s very poor, and 3% said it’s very good.
• The top three public services that need the most improvement are mental health and addiction treatment; public safety resources; and support for small businesses.
• Since our safety net is being impacted by federal cuts, most of you said the state should prioritize resources mainly in health care (Medicaid & Medicare) and food assistance (SNAP, WIC).
• Lastly, an overwhelming majority of you (75%) prefer to receive updates from your legislators through email newsletters, like this one!

Thank you for your interest in my legislative updates, there was a lot of information here! As always, please contact me with your feedback, ideas and concerns.

Sincerely,