Dear friends and neighbors,
We are now in week 3 of the 2024 Legislative Session, which means by the end of this week, we’re already one-third through this year’s short 60-day session. January 31 marks the first legislative cutoff, when bills need to be voted out of policy committee, and two weeks from now my fellow legislators and I will be debating bills on the House floor long into the night. I’m looking forward to next steps in the legislative process, and today I wanted to provide you with an update regarding my priorities and one of my bills at this point in session.
Top Issues during the 2024 Session
Click here or the image below to view my latest video update, where I discuss some of the subject matter I’m committed to addressing, including housing, education, public safety, the fentanyl crisis, and disaster response. I look forward to working on all of these issues and more this session, and I would welcome your input along the way. The end of the video provides tips for how you can contact my office. I hope to hear from you!
The Importance of Developing Social-Emotional Skills
I have heard from countless constituents about the importance of supporting mental and behavioral health, particularly for our youth. I share your concerns regarding the state of youth mental health, and that’s why I introduced House Bill 2239, supporting student well-being. This bill would encourage schools to provide instruction that help students develop social and emotional skills and create a grant program through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to assist schools in implementing this instruction around the state.
Social-emotional skills are shown to improve student well-being by reducing depression and anxiety, increasing academic engagement, and reducing bullying and substance abuse. These skills have always been important for our youth but are increasingly essential following the pandemic and with the rise of fentanyl use.
The House Education Committee heard public testimony on this bill this week that you can watch here on TVW. This bill is currently scheduled for executive session on January 29.
I look forward to providing additional updates on this bill and other issues I’m working on in Olympia.
Best wishes,
