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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we draw closer to the 2024 legislative session, I continue to work on your behalf in Olympia. Since my last legislative update, I have had several great opportunities to meet many of you and learn how to best serve our diverse communities in the 25th District. Thank you for being a part of this vital work and for sharing your ideas and concerns with me. As this 60-day legislative session approaches, we have many important issues to address, including public safety, the state’s housing crisis, insufficient child care facilities, and a lack of affordability.
2024 Session Focus
This session I will be focused on these and several other issues. I also plan to continue working on House Bill 1402, which would give cities and counties the flexibility to adjust urban boundaries to include different or more land so developers and homebuilders would have additional area to work with.
Additionally, in my role as assistant ranking member on the House Finance Committee, I sponsored House Bill 1561, which would be a small technical correction that would reduce taxes for UBER and LYFT drivers. I’m also working on legislation concerning school transparency, childcare zoning, and supporting law enforcement and corrections officers.
Capital Budget Projects Form Now Available
Additionally, now is good time to make you aware of some important information about the state’s capital budget funds. The 2024 Local Community Project form is now available. The deadline for submission is Jan. 26, 2024, at 12 p.m.
Funding is appropriated for the Local and Community Projects through a selection process during the legislative session. Requestors are strongly encouraged to submit their project early to ensure their request is received and to address any questions that may arise. Funding is not guaranteed and will be decided during the 2024 legislative session.
The form must be filled out in one sitting and is unable to be saved, therefore, the attached document outlines the questions so a requestor can be prepared with the information they will need in order to complete the form. All requests must be made using this form. Past versions of this form are unable to be accepted. Please no attachments.
Once a project proposal is submitted, an email will be sent to the address provided letting you know that the request was received. This is an automatic email, so there is no need to reply. Please ensure that the email address provided is correct.
Recent Legislative Activities
I’ve been busy in our communities since my last update. These are just a few of the events I’ve participated in recently. In October, I attended a “Constituent Coffee” at FIKA in Puyallup, toured the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Academy, the Waste Connections Recycling facility and the Step-by-Step Program at Farm 12 in Puyallup, and attended a meeting to discuss legislation for the Blue Bridge Alliance proviso. I also participated in a KTTH 770 AM Freedom Series Panel on Schooling: Safety on campus and gender identity. You can click here to watch this panel discussion.
In November, I also represented the 25th Legislative District at the Pierce County School Superintendents’ meeting where we heard about the challenges our districts face. Major issues include learning loss, transportation, and capital funding for buildings that need to be remodeled as a result of the Clean Buildings law. I also attended the South Sound Military and Communities Partnership Elected Officials Council and the Pierce County Developmental Disability Legislative Forum and toured the Anacortes Family Center with Rep. Carolyn Eslick (R-Sultan).
House Page Program
With session almost here, now is a great time to let you know about the Washington State House of Representatives Page Program, which is now open for applications. Being a page can add a meaningful and unforgettable chapter in a student’s education and life experience.
Student pages spend a week helping House members with all sorts of tasks, including making deliveries across campus, supporting member offices, and diving into Page School.
- Eligibility: Students should be 14-16 years old. Pages earn a stipend of $65 per day and can rack up to 20 hours of community service.
- Extra help: If you need a hand with the costs of getting to Olympia and staying there, the Gina Grant Bull Memorial Legislative Page Scholarship can help. It’s designed to ease the financial load, so don’t hesitate to apply.
If you know a student who would benefit from this opportunity, please let them know about this program. It’s a great way soak up knowledge, and genuinely make a positive impact.
Staying Connected with the Legislature
With the 2024 legislative session just around the corner I wanted to share some important links with you. Here are several ways to keep up with the work of the Legislature:
My legislative website | Here you will find my contact information, bio, news releases, email updates, videos, opinion pieces, bills, and other information.
The Capitol Buzz | A weekday roundup of online news stories. Click on the link to subscribe.
The Current | An online legislative publication from the Washington House Republicans. Click on the link to subscribe.
TVW | The state’s own version of C-SPAN, TVW broadcasts floor and committee action live online.
The Ledger | A legislative news aggregator.
Legislature’s website | Here you can see bill reports, committee agendas, and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature.
State agencies | You can find a list of all state agencies, boards, and commissions here.
Tracking a bill? | Click the link to find information on specific bills. In addition, when you visit my website you can easily view the legislation I’m sponsoring or co-sponsoring by clicking “Sponsored Bills.”
Please Continue to Reach Out
I’m so grateful to everyone who reaches out to me to share their input. I value your feedback and ideas, and I want to hear from you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please continue reaching out to me via the contact information below. I’m here to represent you, listen, and be your voice in Olympia.
It’s a privilege to serve you.
Sincerely,
Cyndy Jacobsen
