Dear friends and neighbors,
That’s a wrap for the 2024 legislative session! Thanks so much to all who reached out and came to visit over the last 60 days—I really appreciate it.
I’m incredibly proud of the work we were able to accomplish in such a short period of time, including my four bills that are on their way to the governor’s desk!
I look forward to sharing more extensively at our in-person Town Hall on March 23, too! In the meantime, keep reading to learn more about how the state budget invests in our community!
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Our State’s Operating Budget
Our supplemental operating budget is full of impactful investments, from behavioral health and higher education to climate resiliency and developmental disability services. Here is a quick summary of just some of our investments:
K-12 EDUCATION: Boost special education funding; Fund additional paraeducators and materials, supplies, and operating costs to support schools; Increase access to free student meals
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES: Expand childcare slots and eligibility to support working families; Increase funding to foster care families and ECEAP providers; Address complex developmental needs of adolescents
SAFETY NET & FENTANYL: Expand access to opioid use disorder treatment, outreach programs and lifesaving NARCAN; Increase food assistance for seniors, summer EBT for kids, and support to food banks; Support local homelessness services and immigrant and refugee assistance; launch a new clean energy assistance program providing a credit to qualifying utility customers
…and so much more! Please reach out with any specific questions.
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Investments in Our Community
We passed a $1.2 billion capital budget with new spending to help address pressing infrastructure needs across our state, from housing and behavioral health facilities to fish culvert replacements and school construction assistance. These investments are made possible by revenue from the Climate Commitment Act and the capital gains tax—in fact, dollars from these two policies generate about 75% of our funding for the capital budget! We must stand firm in safeguarding these funding sources to ensure a sustainable future and equitable opportunities for all Washingtonians.
Looking locally, I’m happy to announce that I secured $200,000 in the capital budget for a new playground at the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer Island! Their new play structure and grounds will address safety concerns and enhance the recreational experience for kids. As a 41st Legislative District team, we also secured funding for a new water exhibit at KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Bellevue and an educational center at the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah.
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Sustainability in Transportation Budget
Fun fact: Back in college, I drove a big yellow school bus. That makes it all the more exciting that this year, I secured $40 million towards electric school buses. (We also secured an electric fire engine and needed infrastructure for Bellevue!) I’m incredibly proud to see this major environmental priority come to fruition through HB 1368.
Furthermore, I’m delighted to share that we secured the funding for the Mountains to Sound Greenway project, leveraging federal resources to the fullest extent. This investment strengthens our multi-modal transportation infrastructure and enhances access to our breathtaking natural landscapes.
The 2024 Supplemental Transportation Budget also puts an additional $100 million into the preservation of roads, bridges, pedestrian and bicycle paths throughout our state. I’m committed to preserving the infrastructure we have even as we invest in new projects.
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You’re Invited: Community Town Hall
I’m looking forward to being back in-district and connecting with our community at our March 23 Town Hall. Please join us!
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In case you missed it, I’m grateful for the front page recognition in the Seattle Times published on International Women’s Day discussing pay equity, my landmark 2018 law and the work on childcare needed to reach equal pay.
Throughout the interim period, please feel free to reach out to me at Tana.Senn@leg.wa.gov with any questions, concerns, advocacy, or feedback. You can also contact my legislative assistant, Yuval, at Yuval.Berenstein@leg.wa.gov to schedule a meeting.
Thanks again for a great legislative session! Hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Rep. Tana Senn