The 2025 session of the Washington state legislature begins tomorrow, Monday, January 13, and will go until April 27. This is the first year of the new biennium. Bills introduced this year will “live” until the end of the second biennial year, 2026.

The session is beginning with stress over the looming financial choices that will have to be made. Revenue is below previous forecasts, while service obligations are higher. Additionally, there is great uncertainty about what federal funding that currently supports many state and local programs may be reduced or eliminated. As a result, many policy bills are being withheld or will have difficulty being considered.

That said, the session will start right up with a full week of committee meetings, some involving issue briefings, but many with public hearings this week. The LWVWA Lobby Team is at work analyzing the bills that have been pre-filed and getting ready to testify.

What You Can Expect

Each week during the session, you will receive this newsletter on Sunday afternoon. The newsletter will have highlights for the week ahead and options for you to support the LWVWA's actions as individuals (not as the League of Women Voters). This can be done by signing in pro or con on bills that are of interest.

We don’t expect you to read about every single issue in the upcoming series of newsletters; but we ask that you do take action on our priority action items each week (usually three actions which are found at the top of the newsletter). Then follow up on your favorite issues. This week, we have two priority action alerts—both related to the criminal justice system. You can find them below.

Beginning in next Sunday's newsletter, you can find information and action alerts for all of the issues we cover in the "2025 Legislative Issues" section at the bottom of the newsletter. It will look like this example from last year:

You can also find out what is coming up by checking the Legislature’s schedule for the week at this page (scroll down to the bottom to find the upcoming committee meetings). You are also able to sign up to follow committees there.

How the League Makes Decisions

The LWVWA Lobby Team evaluates bills based on adopted League positions, which are found in the LWVWA Program in Action and the LWVUS Impact on Issues, both of which can be found on the Advocacy page at LWVWA.org. You can also find a link to our 2025 legislative priorities, approved by the LWVWA Board of Directors, on the Advocacy page.

If a bill is consistent with those positions, our Issue Chairs can support it. If it is inconsistent, they can oppose it. If there are no relevant positions, the Issue Chairs cannot address the bill.

REMEMBER: Only LWVWA Issue Chairs are authorized to speak for the League; but everyone else can add public support by sending messages and signing in pro/con as individuals.

We thank you for your interest and your support as the session proceeds!

Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can “take action” on these most pressing bills by following the links below. Please sign in as individuals and not as representing the League of Women Voters. Thank you for taking action!

Priority Actions

Reducing the Use of Solitary Confinement

This bill, HB 1137, will reduce the number of people who are placed in solitary confinement by (1) raising the burden of proof for proving that someone has committed an infraction, and (2) limiting the types of infractions that will result in solitary confinement.

⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 1137 HERE by 3:00 pm on Monday, January 13

Act for Civic Engagement

This bill, HB 1147, ensures that those in state correctional facilities and state hospitals are fully able to exercise their right to participate in the civic process without fear of retaliation.

This includes testifying before legislative committees, organizing groups inside, and working with groups outside to have their voices heard.

⚠️Sign in PRO on HB 1147 HERE by 12:30 pm on Wednesday, January 15

League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 801, Seattle, WA 98101
206-622-8961 | 1-800-419-2596 | www.lwvwa.org

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 Third Ave, Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
United States

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