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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2023 legislative session began on January 9 and is scheduled to run for 105 consecutive days. Thankfully, this is the first time since 2020 that the Capitol Campus is fully open and accessible to the public. I think your ability to meet with state lawmakers face-to-face, testify in person before committees and rally on the Capitol steps are vital to policymaking and the legislative process.
I don't have to tell you that our communities and state face major challenges. Some of these problems are visible, such as homelessness, substance abuse and crime. Others are talked about at kitchen tables, including inflation, housing costs and learning loss, to name a few. It's critical for state lawmakers to address these challenges in comprehensive and accountable ways. The status quo is simply not acceptable.
As the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees the state operating budget, I'm directly involved with many of the debates and policies mentioned above. It's also my responsibility to develop and articulate budget priorities for the House Republican Caucus.
I discussed some of those House Republican priorities and my own perspectives on the 2023 legislative session as part of a panel of state budget leaders for the Legislative Session Preview event earlier this month. You can watch these remarks in the video below.
You can watch the entire event, including the leadership panel and Gov. Inslee's Q&A with reporters, here.
Bill sponsorship
I'm the prime sponsor and secondary sponsor of several bills this legislative session. You can find the entire list here. Here are a few of my prime-sponsored bills:
- House Bill 1000, the first bill introduced in the House, would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, a program that provides sales tax rebates.
- House Bill 1328 would provide resources to schools and families to address some of the learning loss suffered during COVID-related school closures.
- House Bill 1373 would fund the removal of illegal homeless encampments near schools, child care centers, parks, and courthouses.
- House Bill 1446 would provide cities and counties with funding to hire and retain more law enforcement officers.
Ways to be involved in the legislative process
While I encourage you to come to the Capitol Campus during the legislative session, I know that's not always possible for everyone. The good news is there are several ways for you to be involved in the legislative session from home and behind your computer. Here is a list of helpful platforms and links:
- TVW
- Washington State Legislature
- Legislative Information Center
- Participating in the process
- How to comment on a bill
- Sign-up for The Capitol Buzz
Contact information
I hope you find these email updates informative. However, we all have inboxes to manage. If for any reason you want to unsubscribe, you can so do below. Future editions of this email update will also have this option.
An important part of my job as a state representative is to listen. If you ever have a question, comment or concern to share, please don't hesitate to email, call or send me a letter. My contact information can be found below and my contact webpage can be found here.
Warmly,
Drew Stokesbary
