Dear friends and neighbors,
We’re in the fourth week of the 2023 legislative session, and I am honored to return to the Washington State Legislature as one of your 30th Legislative District representatives. Thank you so much to those of you who have reached out already—the most important part of the legislative process is hearing from you. I am excited to get to work on behalf of our South King County communities and their families. As a working mom of two young kids in our schools, a small business owner, and a military family member, I am dedicated to ensuring our education system, our economy, and our environment work best for everyone.
This session, I look forward to seeing many of you, both virtually and in person to hear about your legislative priorities for our community, district, and state.
Here’s how to share your legislative priorities this session:
My greatest priority is to serve our community. Here are some ways to continue to stay involved in the legislative process this year:
- Watch — TVW.org broadcasts all the debates and votes that happen in the House and Senate, along with committee meetings and other events you may be interested in. You can watch live or access recorded content.
- Research — Look up legislation by lawmaker or by topic.
- Learn — Learn about the legislative process, from start to finish.
- Testify — Committee testimony will continue to have both a virtual and in person option. Written testimony is also an option, and you can always share your story with me. Learn more about how to testify.
- Get in touch — You can reach my office by email at Kristine.Reeves@leg.wa.gov. To schedule a meeting, please contact my Legislative Assistant, Thalia Corona, at Thalia.Corona@leg.wa.gov.
A new tax credit for Washington workers starts in 2023!
The Working Families Tax Credit is a new program that will provide payments of up to $1,200 to low-to-moderate income individuals and families. The amounts are based on income level and the number of qualifying children (if any). This credit is projected to reach more than 400,000 Washington households and will benefit one in three kids in our state.
This new program goes live this February, and will help us stimulate local economies, promote racial equity, and provide the financial stability Washington families need right now. To find more information in several available languages, and to see if you qualify, visit WorkingFamililesCredit.wa.gov.
Serve as a Legislative Page!
The Washington State Legislature has one of the best Legislative Page programs in the country. Because we are operating in-person again, this program is open to youth ages 14-18. I encourage anyone interested to apply.
Pages contribute to the efficient operation of the legislature, receive daily civics instruction, draft their own bills, and participate in mock committee hearings. They also earn a stiped of $50 a day and can also earn up to 20 hours of community service.
To help lower-income families participate in the program, the House of Representatives created the Gina Grant Bull Scholarship; check out the FAQ page to see if you can apply.
Taking part in the page program is a great opportunity for young people to gain a unique perspective of the legislative process. If you have a teen who could benefit from this experience, I encourage you to consider sending them to Olympia for a week.
For more information, please visit the House Page Program website.
With an open door, an open mind, and a commitment to an accessible and transparent government, I look forward to meeting you in Olympia, at “Coffee with Kristine” in district, or at one of my kids’ sporting events. I work for you.
It is an honor to return to the Legislature to serve and represent the 30th District. I look forward to hearing your stories, advocacy, and feedback throughout the 2023 Legislative Session—please don’t hesitate to send me an email.
Thank you for reading!
Sincerely,
Rep. Kristine Reeves