January 22, 2025
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope all of you are doing well. I’m reporting to you from Olympia, where the Legislature is in its second week of the 2025 session, which is scheduled to last 105 days and end April 27.
The first week was busy for me and my fellow legislators. Other new state senators and I were sworn in by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens before the full Senate on January 13, the first day of the new session. It was a tremendous honor to stand before my family, my new Senate colleagues and Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck – a former Clark County legislator himself – and take the oath of office as the new 17th District senator.
Senator Harris was sworn into office January 13 by Chief Justice Debra Stephens in the Senate chamber.
On January 15, a day after outgoing Governor Jay Inslee gave his final State of the State address, new Governor Bob Ferguson was sworn into office and then gave his inaugural address before a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber. You can view a video of Ferguson’s speech here and see the text of his speech here.
Now that we’re past the pomp and circumstance typical for the opening days of any session, my fellow legislators and I are devoting most of our time to committee meetings. When I’m not attending a committee meeting, you will likely find me meeting with citizens, other legislators and staff to talk about bills or issues before the Legislature.
My Senate committee assignments
I am serving on four Senate committees this session. I was appointed Republican leader – or “ranking Republican,” to use the legislative term – on the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, similar to the post I held on the House Education Committee for several years.
I also am on the Environment, Energy and Technology; Health and Long-Term Care; and Transportation committees.
During the first several weeks of our time at the Capitol, most of the Senate action will be at the committee level, as these panels hold public hearings on bills sent to them. This first “committee phase” of this year’s session will last until February 21, which is the cutoff date for the Senate’s policy committees to pass bills originating in the Senate. The Senate’s Transportation, and Ways and Means committees will have until February 28 to approve Senate bills sent there, except for any bills considered necessary to implement the state’s upcoming two-year operating, capital and transportation budgets.
Senator Harris with a page he sponsored as a state representative during the 2024 session.
Seeking Senate page applicants!
Do you know a teenager who would like to spend a week in Olympia working at the Capitol? Applications for the 2025 Senate Page Program are being taken. The application form is here. As a state senator, I can sponsor several Senate pages during the legislative session.
Senate pages help senators and their offices and deliver messages to members on the Senate floor. Pages attend and participate in Page School, where they learn more about how the Legislature works. Pages earn a stipend of $65 a day and can earn up to 20 hours of community service.
Pages must be 14 to 16 years old at the time they participate in the program, and they must attend a school in Washington or be homeschooled in our state. To be a page, students must receive approval and recommendation from their teacher and principal. (This requirement is waived for homeschooled students.)
The page program is a great way for Washington teens to see the Legislature in action and to meet other students from around the state.
For more information about the Senate Page Program, please go here. You can also email the page program at SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov if you have questions.
Staying connected with the Legislature
There are many ways for you to stay up to date with what is happening in the Legislature during the 2025 legislative session and throughout the year:
- My Senate website, where you will find my contact information, bio, bills and other information.
- The Capitol Buzz, a daily roundup of online news stories. Click on the link to subscribe.
- TVW, our state’s version of C-SPAN. TVW broadcasts Senate and House floor and committee action live online and on certain cable channels.
- The Legislature’s website, where you may view see bill reports, committee agendas and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature.
- A list of state agencies, boards, and commissions is here.
- To track legislation, click the link to find information on specific bills and other measures.
Thank you for your input, and please continue reaching out
One of the ways I can serve you and the 17th District better is by reaching out to me. If you will be in Olympia during the legislative session and want to meet with me, please click here to set up an in-person meeting. You also may click here to set up a virtual meeting. You may also contact me with questions, concerns, and input. The bottom line is, my door is open and I’m here to listen. Thank you for trusting me.
It’s an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Harris’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7632.
To request public records from Sen. Harris, please contact Tim Ford, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members, at Senate.PublicRecords@leg.wa.gov.