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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2024 legislative session is heading into the final weeks, and we just wrapped up more than a week of floor action, where we debated and voted on dozens of bills. We also recently reached a significant deadline. Tuesday, Feb. 13, marked the last chance for bills to gain approval in the chamber where they originated — known as the house of origin cutoff.
Update on My Bills
Two of my bills were among the many pieces of legislation the House passed before the deadline. House Bill 1970, which the House passed on Monday, would require the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to establish a caregiver communication specialist position within the DCYF to improve communication between the DCYF and people caring for children receiving child welfare services. By improving communication between the DCYF and caregivers, ultimately, it’s going to help these kids. Click here to learn more. You can also click on the image below to watch my floor speech on final passage, or click here to listen to some key moments from the speech.
House Bill 1880 also passed the House. It would eliminate the five-year rolling timeline for architecture applicants to successfully pass each section of their examination for registration. This would remove an unnecessary barrier for someone trying to pursue an architectural career in Washington and level the playing field for everyone. Click here to learn more.
Unfortunately, despite getting through their respective committees with bipartisan support, my other bills were not brought to the House floor for a vote. I will continue working on improving and perfecting these bills for future sessions.
House Bill 2018 would improve students’ educational success by restricting cellphone use in public schools. Click here to read more and here to watch me explain in more detail.
House Bill 2038 would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create a voluntary online survey for parents or guardians to fill out when transferring or withdrawing a student from a public school. Click here to read more and here to watch me explain in more detail.
House Bill 2017 would address aging school facilities by creating a capital grant program for the planning, modernization, and new construction projects in school districts with enrollments of 1,001 or more. Click here to read more and here to watch me explain in more detail.
Statewide Initiatives
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any movement on the six statewide initiatives certified by the Secretary of State and introduced into the Legislature last month. On Wednesday, Democratic leaders said they won’t hold hearings on two of the initiatives, one to repeal the state’s new capital gains tax and the other to repeal the new carbon tax. The announcement signals legislators won’t act on either proposal, meaning the two initiatives will almost surely head to the November ballot as is. The fate of the other four is likely to be the same. Please click here for some in-depth background and explanation of these initiatives.
Save the Date for Our Town Hall Meetings
I want to invite you to join me and my fellow 18th District lawmakers, Rep. Greg Cheney and Sen. Ann Rivers, for two town hall meetings on Saturday, Feb. 17. (Unfortunately, due to an unexpected memorial service scheduled for that afternoon, I will not be able to attend the second meeting).
Town halls are a great opportunity for us to connect directly with the people we represent to listen to your input, concerns, and feedback. We want to ensure that your voices are heard as we work together to address the important issues facing our communities and our state.
Locations and times are:
- 10:00 a.m. Battle Ground City Hall, 109 SW 1st Street
- 12:30 p.m. WSU Vancouver: Dengerink Building, Room 110 (VDEN 110) Lecture Hall, WSU Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave.
During this town hall, we will provide updates on various legislation and initiatives, and we’ll be available to answer your questions and listen to your ideas. Your input is incredibly valuable to us, as we work to represent you in Olympia. Please join us this Saturday in Southwest Washington.
Thank You and Please Stay in Touch
Thank you for your continued support as I represent you in the 18th District. If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. It is an honor to serve you.
Stephanie McClintock
