The Speaker’s Scoop: Session 2025 review
The 2025 session adjourned on Sunday, April 27th. In this final episode of The Speaker’s Scoop (until next January), Speaker Laurie Jinkins looks back on what she calls the most challenging session since her election to the Legislature 15 years ago. In the end, she says, the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate produced a balanced budget that centers education, housing, healthcare, mental health, public safety, jobs, and the basic needs of the people of Washington.
The Speaker’s Scoop: Five o’clock bills and concurrences
This week, Speaker Laurie Jinkins talks about opposite-house cutoff, five o’clock bills, conference committees, concurrences — the hectic give and take that characterizes the final days of a legislative session.
The Speaker’s Scoop: Reflections on National Public Health Week, and former DOH Secretary Mary Selecky
This week, Speaker Jinkins talks about public health, including key legislation this session; notes that this is National Public Health Week; and reminisces about about her friend and mentor Mary Selecky, the giant of the state’s public-health efforts, who died this week.
The Speaker’s Scoop: Opposite House cutoff, and reflections on Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp
This week, Speaker Jinkins talks about Opposite House cutoff, the next major turning point for the 2025 session. She also offers her thoughts on Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp, her predecessor in the speakership, whose death two weeks ago sent shock waves through the Legislature and the state.
The Speaker’s Scoop: 50/25/1
With a little over four weeks left to go in the session, Speaker Jinkins is thinking about the many steps that need to happen to get a final budget agreement, pass it in both chambers, and get it to the governor’s desk for signature.