Friends and neighbors,
Right about now, you may have seen and heard news stories about bills that have “died” in the legislature. That’s likely referring to our first deadline of the session called “policy cutoff.” It happened on Feb. 21 this year.
Any bill that changes state policy must pass out of a policy committee like the Education or Housing committees for example. Any idea that didn’t pass out of a policy committee by Feb. 21 can’t get a vote on the House floor. The only exceptions are bills that raise or spend money.
Several of my bills have passed the policy cutoff. You can keep track of all of my bills here. Below are a few bills I’d like to highlight.
Some of my bills that passed policy cutoff:
➡️HOUSE BILL 1257/SENATE BILL 5253 – EXTENDS SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO AGE 22
This bill is necessary to bring our state policy in line with a federal court order and will help support our special education students into adulthood. Unfortunately, the house version will not move forward this session. Based on the house’s language a senate companion, Senate Bill 5253, was introduced by Sen. Cortes. SB 5253 passed the Senate unanimously this week and will now head to the House. I look forward to helping pass this important legislation and I encourage you to reach out in support of SB 5253.
➡️HOUSE BILL 1337 – INCREASES TRANSPARENCY WHEN SELECTING UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
University presidents have incredibly important responsibilities leading educational policies affecting tens of thousands of students, thousands of faculty, and the research that makes Washington a worldwide leader in health and industry. Transparency and openness in selecting university presidents ensures that the selected presidents start with the confidence of the faculty they will lead and the entire community. For the just concluded presidential searches for the University of Washington and Washington State University, however, the faculty and student regents were barred from full participation and voting on selection of the president.
I was the prime sponsor of the 2021 legislation to provide that the UW and WSU faculty are represented on the Regents. The legislature intended for the faculty regents to participate fully and vote on the most important decision that regents make: the choice of president.
I met personally with the current presidents of UW and WSU to discuss this. They both agreed that the faculty and student regents should be guaranteed in law that they are full voting participants in the selection of the universities’ presidents. House Bill 1337 was passed out of the House Postsecondary Education Committee to make this so – and now awaits a vote by the full House.
➡️HOUSE BILL 1343 – PROTECTS STUDENTS FROM LOSING FINANICIAL AID IF THEY CHOOSE TO DEMONSTRATE
Under an old law from the 1960’s, students on university campuses in Washington can jeopardize their financial aid if they organize or participate in any demonstration or protest if the administrators claim that the event is disruptive. Students from the Washington Student Association came to me asking for help to repeal this law. Students should be able to exercise their right to free speech and peaceful assembly just like any other citizen. House Bill 1343 eliminates this language from the law and allows student code of conduct rules to govern student behavior on campus. The bill passed out of the Postsecondary Education Committee and awaits action by the full House.
I am looking forward to guiding each of these bills through the legislative process and will keep you updated on their progress.
Here’s how we help schools and local governments pay for critical services:
You’ve heard me talk about the need to increase funding for schools. Local governments are also clamoring for help funding public safety, roads, and other local services. In my latest video, I discuss a proposal for how to do that, and what would be necessary to make it happen. You can watch that video here.
This proposal includes ending the 1% growth limit on total revenue from property taxes. That was a Tim Eyman initiative. The courts struck down Eyman’s initiative, but the legislature adopted it anyway nearly 20 years ago. This has kneecapped our local governments’ ability to fund things like public safety, courts, roads, and pedestrian safety.
The 1% cap has also kneecapped our ability to fund schools. The state’s property tax is constitutionally dedicated to public schools and is our top funding source.
The cost of police salaries, jails, courts, road maintenance all grow far faster than 1%. Population in most cities grows at more than 1%. So, our local governments fall further and further behind in being able to fund essential services.
House Bill 1334 allows local elected officials to choose to raise property tax revenue based on inflation and population growth capped at 3%. And it allows our primary source for school funding to grow at 3% per year if inflation and population growth are at 3% or higher.
This is not a 3% hike for homeowners! Because of the cap, new commercial construction does not get to add to our revenues the way it should. HB 1334 is an important progressive revenue solution.
I am continuing to fight on behalf of our kids and working to ensure the state makes good on its commitment that each child receives a quality education and the supports they need. It’s time for all of us to pitch in to make that goal a reality.
Get ready for the REAL ID act:
Finally, I have a brief public service announcement: if you’re planning on flying this year, you need to make sure you have a REAL ID – you can’t get on a plane without it!
On May 7, 2025, the federal REAL ID Act goes into effect nationwide. Beginning on that date, if you don’t have a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, you won’t be able to fly in the U.S. or enter a restricted federal facility. Click here to learn more and click here to see if you’re ready for this change.
Don’t get caught without it!
Thank you,
Rep. Gerry Pollet