Dear friends and neighbors,
Today wraps up week 4 of the legislative session. If you’ve been following along, you know that we’ve been working hard to address Washington’s housing crisis, make higher education more accessible, and support the health of our communities, including those with developmental disabilities.
Next week is the last full week of committee hearings before policy cutoff on Friday, February 21. That’s the deadline for committees to pass any policy-related bills on to either the Rules or Appropriations committees.
The following Friday is the fiscal deadline, which is the final day for fiscal committees to pass bills for consideration on the House floor. After that we move to full-time floor debate until Wednesday, March 3, at which point the process starts all over again with bills that have come over from the Senate.
In this newsletter you’ll find out about some of the bills I’ve introduced so far, as well as a little more information about the committees I serve on, and what my grumpy animals have been up to over the last few weeks.
Oh hello, bills!
You can find the whole list of bills I’ve introduced for the 2025 session, including bills I’ve co-sponsored here.
Committee Round-up
Every member of the House serves on a few (sometimes several!) committees. This is the first stop a bill makes on its legislative journey. The committee chair works with the members to schedule bills for public testimony and later for executive session where bills are voted out of committee. Not every bill will get a hearing, there’s just not enough time! It’s up to the chair to decide which bills are the highest priority and will benefit Washingtonians the most.
Bills that deal with issues involving constitutional law; privacy rights; anti-discrimination measures; commercial law; torts; probate; guardianships; civil commitment; forensic mental health; firearms; common interest community issues involving liability and uniform laws; family law, the court system. through this committee. As Chair, my focus is on passing bills that make our courts more efficient and accessible, and preserving and strengthening civil rights for all Washingtonians, including standing up for marginalized groups who have traditionally had fewer assured protections guaranteed.
We have lots of ways to get around our state, from freeways and highways to mass transit and ferries. The Transportation Committee works to ensure each mode is funded and maintained along with funding transportation agencies like the Washington State Patrol, Department of Transportation, and Kitsap Transit.
Early Learning & Human Services
This is where we look at bills concerning services affecting children and families, including early learning; childcare; child and youth development; child welfare services; children’s mental health; at-risk and homeless youth; juvenile justice; economic assistance programs; developmental disabilities; and long-term care. A lot of bills tend to flow into this committee so it’s important for the chair to run a tight ship so we can pass as many bills as possible.
And a few more…
In addition to the committees above, I also serve on the Washington State Women’s Commission, the Covenant Homeownership Program Oversight Committee, the Interbranch Advisory Committee, and the Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee. If you’re wondering what those committees do stay tuned for some upcoming videos!
Girl Scout Day at the Capitol
Me as a Brownie circa 1982.
I am so excited to be hosting Girl Scout Day on the Capito with Rep. April Connors on Thursday, March 13. As a third-generation Girl Scout, I have so much respect and love for this organization that empowers girls and young women to grow into young leaders who inspire each other and their community through service and example.
If you’re part of a troop and can’t make it on Girl Scout Day, you can always come down to Olympia to visit anytime. Be sure to reach out and let my office know you’re coming so we can say hello!
https://www.girlscoutsww.org/en/sf-events-repository/2025/girl-scout-day-at-the-capitol—olympia.html
Flashback Friday with Grumpy Baby Animals
The closer we get to cutoff, the easier it is to find grumpy legislators. It’s never fun to find out that a bill you’ve worked hard on for months or even years isn’t going to pass committee, or maybe even get a hearing.
As disappointing as that can be, it’s important to find a way to lighten the mood and smile before carrying on with the work at hand. That’s why grumpy baby animals are so important – these furry bundles of grumpy joy have been making the rounds in Olympia, offering a soft shoulder to lean on in stressful moments, and bringing a moment of levity into what can otherwise be long, serious days.
Here’s some of the adventures our fluffy friends had this week:
As always, feel free to reach me by email at jamila.taylor@leg.wa.gov or follow me on Facebook for fresh updates.
