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Dear friends and neighbors – The 2026 legislative session is officially underway! This is my second year as your state senator, and my team and I are hard at work delivering results for our community. This legislative session, I remain committed to working with each of you to find forward-looking solutions that strengthen our district. I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve you and represent the 48th in Olympia.
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy: On Monday, we honored Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with a Senate resolution sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles. During these difficult times when it feels like progress keeps hitting a wall, it’s critical we remember King’s leadership and resolve through times of injustice. King once said, “If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” Slow progress is still progress, and that’s why I keep fighting every day to make Washington a place where everyone can thrive. You can watch the full floor session where we honor King here. State of the State: Last week, Gov. Bob Ferguson kicked off the legislative session by delivering his 2026 State of the State address. The governor acknowledged the challenges facing our state, such as shifting policy at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the exodus of scientific experts, and an affordability crisis. However, the governor also spoke of the heart of Washingtonians and our ability to persevere during difficult times. I share the governor’s concerns about the rising cost of living in our state. We see it all around us — in health care, child care, housing, groceries, and more. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the state Senate this legislative session to enact an agenda that focusses on making Washington a place people can afford to live in. I know that together we can make Washington more affordable and build the infrastructure we need to house and care for our people.
2026 Priorities: I spent last year meeting with neighbors and community members across the 48th District. These conversations have helped inform my priorities this session. I’m working hard to develop commonsense approaches that tackle the big issues facing our state: fully funding our schools, expanding access to early learning and child care, keeping our communities healthy and safe, building affordable housing, and protecting public health and our environment. Below is a snapshot of my priorities this legislative session! You can find a complete list of the legislation I’m sponsoring or co-sponsoring this session here. Funding education: Last session, we increased funding for K-12 special education and boosted support for school operating costs. We also preserved investments in our child care system and higher education programs. However, there is more work to do. It’s essential that we fully fund education and ensure all of Washington’s 1.1 million students and their educators have the tools needed to succeed. This session, I’m sponsoring Senate Bill 6089, which would increase coordination and alignment throughout our pre-school to workforce system (P20W). This bill would enhance Washington’s education and workforce landscape by establishing a structured partnership between the state and the philanthropic community. It’s critical we support young Washingtonians from pre-K to college, and this bill helps us do just that. Keeping all communities safe: Community safety is a top priority for me. Last session, we passed several new laws to improve our justice system and strengthen law enforcement training and recruitment. Community safety also means safeguarding the rights and safety of our immigrant and refugee neighbors. It’s critical we protect our neighbors from violence and injustice, regardless of immigration status, so we all feel safe and secure in our community. Now more than ever, it’s essential we pass legislation that helps ensure transparency and accountability. This session, I’m proud to co-sponsor Senate Bill 5855, which is sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez and would prohibit law enforcement from using face coverings during operations. No law enforcement official carrying out enforcement actions should be allowed to hide their identity from the public. Improving and expanding access to health care: While our federal government is limiting health care access for millions of Americans, I’m more dedicated than ever to ensuring Washingtonians have safe and consistent access to care. I’ve brought my background as a pharmacist and clinical scientist to the Senate and will continue to fight for your right to high-quality, affordable health care. This session, I’m sponsoring Senate Bill 5924, which would expand the prescriptive authority of pharmacists. Pharmacists are highly educated health care professionals and are uniquely qualified to prescribe medications and devices, and this bill would enable us to expand care options for Washingtonians. I’m also supporting Senate Bill 5967, which would allow the state Department of Health to propose recommendations for vaccines based on medical and scientific expertise and evidence without having to rely solely on recommendations from federal committees. Protecting our environment and tackling climate change: I’m committed to supporting legislation this session that protects our environment and helps our state continue to lead on climate action and renewable energy. I’m focused on ensuring our state invests in green infrastructure, develops a reliable energy grid, improves public transportation, grows our green economy, and creates more good-paying green jobs, all while centering frontline communities impacted by climate change. This session, I’m excited to co-sponsor legislation to help us prepare for future environmental events that can lead to power outages. Senate Bill 6008 incentivizes grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems. I sponsored a similar bill last session, and I’m glad this legislation is being brought forth again this year. This bill addresses a critical problem that will only get worse by increasing energy storage capacity across the state. Workforce development and higher education: We must provide pathways to economic mobility and opportunity for every Washingtonian. That means expanding access to apprenticeships, higher education, and workforce retraining. Last session and in prior years, I worked to remove barriers and streamline the process for earning college credits for adult learners and people pursuing online pathways by pushing for a virtual online campus. I will continue to support policies that make education more accessible and affordable. Building affordable housing: We need to build 1.1 million new homes over the next 20 years, according to census data. Last session, we passed several new laws to help expand affordable housing options. This session, I’m focused on policy solutions that concentrate on both expanding housing supply and fostering strong communities near major job, transit, and school centers. I’m also focused on finding ways we can develop housing that is affordable for all income levels. That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor Senate Bill 6069, which would encourage the development of various types of housing such as permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters. Stay involved: These are just a few of my priorities this legislative session! It’s important I hear from you because your voice is critical to our work in Olympia. Below you will find helpful resources that make it easy for you to be part of the legislative process. You can testify in real time on a bill, submit written testimony, and track all the policies being considered in Olympia. You can also sign up for free committee notifications on a particular bill of interest, so you know each time it takes a step in the legislative process.
It’s a privilege to serve the 48th, and I look forward to continuing our work together this legislative session. Please feel free to reach out to our office if you have any questions or concerns by calling 360-786-7694 or emailing [email protected]. Be sure to stay tuned for more updates from our office! Sincerely, Sen. Vandana Slatter
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