Dear neighbor,
This week we finished sending House bills over to the Senate, and we have now begun the public hearing process in the House on bills sent over to the House, by the Senate.
As we finished floor debate this week the House passed a couple significant education measures.
- House Bill 2698 would delay changes to the school district formula for calculating a school district’s maximum M and O levy authority and corresponding local effort assistance provisions for one year. This is helpful in our work to ensure schools are adequately funded.
- House Bill 2573 would address the teacher shortage in Washington state.
- On Thursday, we passed Senate Bill 6195, legislation that would put a plan in place to address the McCleary decision and fully fund education. Since both chambers have passed this bill, it is on its way to the governor's desk for his signature.
Senate Bill 5894, the companion to my bill in the House to help property owners and law enforcement to deal with squatters, passed out of the Senate on a party-line vote. I will be working to build bipartisan support in the House. It is a common sense measure that would protect people's property rights. I had another interview with King 5 this week on this very issue. Click "WA squatter legislation passes Senate along party lines" to watch the news story. I have received a number of emails and calls from people across the state since the story first aired. I have heard horrendous stories about what landlords and neighborhoods have gone through. Sen. Bruce Dammeier, Rep. Melanie Stambaugh and I attended a meeting of the North Clover Creek Collins Community Association on this issue on Thursday night at the Collins Grange. It was a packed house, and the message is clear: we need to address this issue now.
As the ranking Republican on the House Higher Education Committee, I continue to work on higher education issues as the session progresses. The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University's daily newspaper printed my recent op-ed, "Students play big role in higher ed policy."
In my legislative video this week I discuss the Senate's vote to not confirm the governor's appointment of Lynn Peterson to the secretary of transportation position, my capital budget priorities and the squatter's legislation. Click here to watch it.
With less than three weeks remaining in the 2016 session, the focus turns now to the supplemental budget. If you have any concerns or questions please let me know.
Legislative Coffee Chat with 25th District Legislators
Please consider joining Sen. Bruce Dammeier, Rep. Melanie Stambaugh and I for an open house coffee meeting next Saturday.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 27
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Puyallup Sumner Chamber office, 323 N Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371
We look forward to seeing you there!
Keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Hans Zeiger
25th Legislative District
| Olympia Office (January-April) 468 John L. O'Brien Building - P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7968 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000 |
District Office (April-December) 101 South Meridian, Suite D Puyallup, WA 98371 (253) 840-4526 |
