Legislative Session Week 10

We are more than halfway done with the 2021 session.

Proposals for our state’s three budgets (operating, transportation, and construction) will be unveiled next week. The Washington State Wire released this insightful piece about the complexities of the budget process. You can also stay up-to-date by reviewing the resources on the Washington State Fiscal website.

Testimony

This week WSSDA provided our input on the remaining bills still progressing through the session:

• SB 5128 – Concerning student transportation funding during a local, state, or national emergency.
• HB 1139 – Taking action to address lead in drinking water.
• HB 1162 – Concerning high school graduation credit and pathway options.
• HB 1365 – Procuring and supporting appropriate computers and devices for public school students and instructional staff.
• HB 1225 – Concerning school-based health centers.
• E2SSB 5141 – Reducing environmental and health disparities and improving the health of all Washington state residents by implementing the recommendations of the environmental justice task force.
• SB 5017 – Clarifying school district procurement requirements for personal service contracts for construction management, value engineering, constructibility review, and building commissioning.
• HB 1430 – Concerning the duration of state upland leases for lands managed by the department of natural resources.

Advocacy with your legislators

We hope that you all had productive meetings with your legislators this week as part of the WASA, WSSDA, WASBO week on the hill. We know that 250 of you met with legislators from 48/49 legislative districts. We’d say that’s a pretty great reach! 

In addition to your legislator meetings, we arranged for meetings with Governor Inslee, Lieutenant Governor Heck, and OSPI Superintendent Reykdal specifically for student advocates to learn about and discuss the hot topics. These meetings were well attended and extremely productive!

WSSDA position proposals

The annual WSSDA position proposal window is open until May 14! During this time, school directors have the opportunity to submit proposals for new or amended permanent and legislative positions. WSSDA’s positions are so important because they communicate your voice. We encourage you to consider if there’s a position proposal you might submit.

Use your voice

If you want to provide testimony as an individual, school board member, or on behalf of WSSDA, email WSSDA Strategic Advocacy Director Marissa Rathbone for more information.

If you have a student leader who would like to provide testimony, email WSSDA Strategic Advocacy Coordinator Logan Endres for more information.