Ok that roll call is over. The bill is advanced to 3rd Reading. It is now on final passage. The Speaker called for Remarks and no one stood up so we almost went right to vote, but then a couple Republicans flew up. #waleg
April 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The WA leg House is now debating the final passage of the so-called Parents' Rights Bill: ESSB 5181. @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social is live skeeting.
SB 5167, Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations, is having a hearing in Senate Ways & Means now. This is the Senate Budget. First up is K-12 education commenters.
March 25, 2025 at 11:16 PM
SB 5167, Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations, is having a hearing in Senate Ways & Means now. This is the Senate Budget. First up is K-12 education commenters.
Today is a big day! It’s budget day! Here is a little primer on what to expect in #waleg (🧵) as we embark on the work to do the one thing the legislature actually MUST do each session by law: set and approve a state budget.
Tomorrow, we expect Trump is going to sign an Executive Order claiming to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education.
Reminder: Trump does not have the legal authority to destroy a cabinet department; reporting on the EO as if he does have that power is both inaccurate and unethical.
March 20, 2025 at 12:53 AM
But “we’re not in a constitutional crisis until he defies a Supreme Court order,” according to the Minority Leader in the Senate.
Superintendent Aramaki from Bellevue says that his condition is likely to head into binding conditions this school year if funding isn't increased. He says that special eduction is the biggest driver of their deficit.
March 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
*His school district is likely to head into binding conditions.
House Appropriations Committee is doing a hearing on the MSOC (materials, supplies, and operating costs) and Special Education bills any minute (OK, I'm guessing 15). #waleg
March 19, 2025 at 11:03 PM
House Appropriations Committee is doing a hearing on the MSOC (materials, supplies, and operating costs) and Special Education bills any minute (OK, I'm guessing 15). #waleg
Most knowledgeable people would immediately interpret the wording of the bill to cover conditions like dyspraxia, dyscalculia, tic disorders, sensory processing disorder, TBI, intellectual functioning and reasoning disabilities, NVLD, PTSD, bipolar, schizophrenia, OCD, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, etc.
March 7, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Most knowledgeable people would immediately interpret the wording of the bill to cover conditions like dyspraxia, dyscalculia, tic disorders, sensory processing disorder, TBI, intellectual functioning and reasoning disabilities, NVLD, PTSD, bipolar, schizophrenia, OCD, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, etc.
The neurodivergence definition in this bill is interesting: "Neurodivergence" means neurological differences including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neurodivergent individuals may or may not identify as disabled.
March 7, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The neurodivergence definition in this bill is interesting: "Neurodivergence" means neurological differences including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neurodivergent individuals may or may not identify as disabled.
Now up for a vote in the Senate. SB 5009: An act relating to modifying the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.
March 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Now up for a vote in the Senate. SB 5009: An act relating to modifying the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.
SB 5123, Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools, is up for vote in the Senate right now. It seeks to expand nondiscrimination to include ethnicity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence.
March 6, 2025 at 11:24 PM
SB 5123, Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools, is up for vote in the Senate right now. It seeks to expand nondiscrimination to include ethnicity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence.
Great news! SB 5192, Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC), just passed in the Washington State Senate. It increases MSOC to $1,656.50 per student, which is an additional $123.48 (about an 8% increase).
SB 5192 passed with 47 yeas; 2 nays. Senator Fortunato and McCune voted nay. #waleg
March 6, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Great news! SB 5192, Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC), just passed in the Washington State Senate. It increases MSOC to $1,656.50 per student, which is an additional $123.48 (about an 8% increase).
What's happening now in #waleg? Today is the very last day of "fiscal cutoff" meaning bills not scheduled for executive session today in Appropriations or Ways and Means are dead for now -- but still alive for next year! Monday we start two weeks of full time voting on the House/Senate floor.
February 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
What's happening now in #waleg? Today is the very last day of "fiscal cutoff" meaning bills not scheduled for executive session today in Appropriations or Ways and Means are dead for now -- but still alive for next year! Monday we start two weeks of full time voting on the House/Senate floor.
HB 1338 (an MSOC bill) passed out of the Appropriations Committee with this amendment. The total general education MSOC per pupil is currently $1,533.02.
The first amendment, from Rep. Gregerson (D-SeaTac), lowers the MSOC increase from 20% to just $5.55 per pupil. It also removes the inflation language and removes the decrease in skill center class sizes.
February 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
HB 1338 (an MSOC bill) passed out of the Appropriations Committee with this amendment. The total general education MSOC per pupil is currently $1,533.02.
House Appropriations Committee is meeting again and will be voting on HB 1338 - Concerning school operating costs (MSOC) and HB 1357 - Providing special education funding and support for inclusionary practices.
February 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
House Appropriations Committee is meeting again and will be voting on HB 1338 - Concerning school operating costs (MSOC) and HB 1357 - Providing special education funding and support for inclusionary practices.
The Senate Ways & Means Committee meeting should be starting any minute. Two of the Big 3 will be voted out of exec session: SSB 5263 - Concerning special education funding and SB 5192 - Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.
February 27, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The Senate Ways & Means Committee meeting should be starting any minute. Two of the Big 3 will be voted out of exec session: SSB 5263 - Concerning special education funding and SB 5192 - Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.
If you support both K-12 Education and progressive revenue, sing in Pro for HB 2019, Making the estate tax more progressive. This bill increases the rate of the estate tax (which would hit estates worth more than $3 million and funds go directly to Education Legacy Trust Account (ELTA). Sign in here
If you support both K-12 Education and progressive revenue, sing in Pro for HB 2019, Making the estate tax more progressive. This bill increases the rate of the estate tax (which would hit estates worth more than $3 million and funds go directly to Education Legacy Trust Account (ELTA). Sign in here
Senate Ways & Means Committee meeting right now. They're talking about S 5186. Concerning local funding for school district facilities. This bill would lower the threshold for capital (construction) bonds to a simple majority (50%).
February 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Senate Ways & Means Committee meeting right now. They're talking about S 5186. Concerning local funding for school district facilities. This bill would lower the threshold for capital (construction) bonds to a simple majority (50%).