Dear friends and neighbors,
Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking with University of Washington students during Huskies on the Hill Day. As UW’s student body president in 2018, I saw firsthand the challenges students, educators, and families face—and the power of policy to bring meaningful change. Now, as I serve on the Postsecondary Education and Workforce committee, I bring the same lessons that I learned years ago to advocate for our next generation of leaders.
Seeing so many engaged young people, filled with both hope and concern, reinforced my commitment to ensuring their voices shape our work in the House. As a lifelong resident of the 48th LD, like many of the young leaders I’ve connected with, I’m committed to serving the needs that matter most to our communities. Public service, whether at UW or in the Legislature, starts with listening—and I’m here to do just that.
Listening To Your Priorities
In my first e-newsletter, I included a survey to hear directly from you—and I appreciate everyone who participated. Your input matters. The results are in, and your top priorities are affordable housing, environmental protection, community safety, transportation, and reproductive rights.
I also asked what would make the biggest impact in your household—here’s what you shared:
- “Preparing for climate change consequences and strengthening our infrastructure.”
- “Cost of insurance – Home and Auto. Prices doubled in last year.”
- “I have a gifted grandson in the Bellevue schools and pray that program thrives along with adequate compensation for our public-school teachers.”
- “Reducing excessive spending and taxation. Being retired and living off our savings, paying property taxes is our largest expense.”
- “Non-car transportation, having safer dedicated bike routes and a stronger public transit network.”
Going forward, I remain committed to advancing policies that address your priorities, and I ask that you continue to share the issues that are most important to you. Stay tuned for a full update in my next newsletter.
Supporting Immigrant Communities
Washington has long been a leader in protecting immigrant rights, ensuring our communities remain safe, inclusive, and supported. Immigrant communities are foundational to the 48th LD, making up over 43% of the population. Thanks to the work of House Democrats, we continue to expand protections and resources for immigrants and their families. I am also honored to serve on the recently formed House Immigrant and Refugee Roundtable, where we will work to identify gaps in protections between federal and state policy.
New Action to Support Families:
- 📢Governor Ferguson recently signed an executive order creating a rapid response team to support children facing family separation. This critical step reinforces our state’s commitment to keeping families together and protecting vulnerable children.
- 🏛️ The Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs has also launched a rapid response hub to assist undocumented immigrants. This online resource provides essential legal, financial, and social service information to help families navigate these uncertain times.
- 🏫Superintendent Chris Reykdal recently reaffirmed, public schools have both a constitutional and moral obligation to serve all students. Undocumented children have the legal right to attend public school under Plyler v. Doe (1982). Learn more by reviewing: OSPI Guidance: Protections for Immigrant Students.
A Seat at The Table
For too long, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian communities have lacked representation in our Legislature. I’m working to change that. Last month, I had the honor of joining Senators Manka Dhingra and Vandana Slatter in hosting a celebration of India Republic Day. This event was a great opportunity to recognize the incredible contributions of the more than 100,000 Indian Americans who call Washington State home. We were also joined by distinguished members of the Indian community, including Consul General Prakash Gupta and several local leaders, whose work enriches our communities every day. Learn more about the event here.
In addition, I’ve introduced House Bill 1434 to recognize the contributions and challenges of the Muslim community by establishing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays. Representation matters and this bill is a step toward long-overdue recognition. To learn more, click here to watch my latest video update!
Keep Washington Welcoming
I want to reaffirm my commitment to immigrant families facing hardship—you are seen, valued, and loved. The 48th LD and Washington are your home, just as they became my parents’ home years ago. I will fight to ensure you can live with peace and dignity, protecting what matters most—your family and your future.
Our challenges are interconnected. Health care impacts economic stability, just as education, housing, and consumer protections shape opportunity. This session, my focus is on systemic solutions that create lasting change—not just quick fixes. I am excited to continue working toward our collective priorities and look forward to sharing updates on this work soon.
In Service,
Representative Osman Salahuddin
48th Legislative District