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Legislative Session

March 3, 2024

2024 Bill Status Reports

Each week, WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan assembles a list of bills and upcoming events that are associated with our legislative priorities. We will update this page regularly during the 2024 Legislative Session with Marie’s updates. Reports will be updated every Monday morning. Week 1 – January 8  to January 12 Week 2 – January…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative


February 1, 2024

WSPTA Testifies: Schools Meals for All Students

Advocacy in Action! WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Danica Noble testified in favor of SB 5964, providing school meals to all students at the January 29th public hearing of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. While the bill didn’t advance, the companion to it – HB 2058 – is moving through the process in…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

January 16, 2024

WSPTA Testifies: Students and Leaders Convene in Olympia for Focus on Advocacy Day

Advocacy in Action! Washington State PTA was rocking Olympia on January 15, testifying both in person and remotely before three different committees and talking with their legislators. Here’s a look at the day’s testifiers. While he was in town for Focus on Advocacy Day, Paultoro Tanaka, a student at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, testified…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative

January 12, 2024

WSPTA Testifies on Education Funding

Advocacy in Action! Angela Steck, President of Washington State PTA, testified on January 8 before the House Appropriations Committee, thanking Governor Jay Inslee for investments in school meals and lifting the cap on special education from 15% to 17.25%. Angela also noted that 113 school districts would remain above the 17.25% cap, so it was…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

May 1, 2023

Week 16 Report: 2023 Legislative Session Summary

Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org  As was reported last week, the Washington State Legislature adjourned Sunday, April 23rd, closing the 105-day session with some significant gains, including increased funding for special education, investments from the Climate Commitment Act, and bills designed to prevent and mitigate gun violence. Governor Jay Inslee has until May 16th to sign…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 24, 2023

Week 15 Report: Sine Die Edition

Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org  April 23rd was the final day of the 105-day 2023 legislative session. The operating budget Conference Committee released the biennial budget Saturday, April 22nd. The Senate and House are expected to approve the budget bills before adjourning sine die[1]. Here’s a quick overview of ESSB 5187, related to the bigger K-12…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 17, 2023

One Week Left in 68th Legislative Session

Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org  April 12th was the final day for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber, with just a few exceptions. On Thursday, House and Senate legislators turned their floor action attention to changes made in the opposite chamber. Agreed-to changes were marked and passed for concurrence, sending them along to…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 10, 2023

Senate Passes Preventing Gun Violence Legislation in Week 13 Report

Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org  By a vote of 27-21 (and one excused), the Senate passed legislation that would prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or offer for sale, of any assault weapon, with a few exceptions, effective upon the governor’s signature. SHB 1240 passed Saturday afternoon after more than 22 amendments and three hours…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 3, 2023

House Releases 2023-2025 Budgets, Negotiations to Start This Week

Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org   House Democrats announced their 2023-25 operating budget on Monday, March 27, and the House Appropriations Committee immediately held a public hearing on the more than 1,200-page document that afternoon. Also released on the 27 was the bipartisan 2023-2025 capital budget.  Both budgets have some things in common with the Senate…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative