Home | About Cyndy | News & Media | Email Updates | The Ledger | Contact
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We’re one month into the 2025 legislative session, and it’s been a whirlwind. In this email, I will update you on all my legislation, including my efforts to remove dangerous encampments near schools, parks, child day care centers and other locations. But first, I want to update you on something you may have missed.
Majority Party Votes to Weaken Open Debate in the House
During the second week of session, the majority party voted to change a 132-year-old rule in the Washington State House of Representatives requiring a supermajority vote to suspend debate on a bill brought to the floor. The new rule lowers the requirement to a simple majority, giving the ruling party significant control over the legislative process.
With the House currently composed of 59 Democrats and 39 Republicans, this change diminishes the minority party’s ability to advocate for their constituents. This is troubling for the 3 million Washingtonians whose voices can now be silenced at any time. I believe every voice should be heard and this decision by the majority party allows them to end a debate whenever they want. It undermines the democracy and deliberative nature of the House and erodes the balance that allows for meaningful debate.
Read more here:
- The Spokesman-Review – Republican lawmakers protest rule change they say could limit House debate
- The Center Square – A House Dems change 132-year-old rule requiring supermajority to end debates
- The Seattle Times – New rules adopted by WA House Democrats spark Republican ire
Update on My Legislation
I’ve introduced several bills this session. Here’s the latest on each one.
House Bill 1255 would mandate and fund the removal of dangerous camps near several locations, including schools, parks, and child daycare centers. This is a public safety issue that needs to be addressed. Children should not have to worry about stepping on needles or being harassed on their way to school or while playing at the park. Crime in homeless camps is rampant, nearby retailers experience increased theft, and fires can spread to homes and businesses. The bill would also provide cities with the necessary tools to rehabilitate people experiencing homelessness. Unfortunately, the chair of the House Local Government Committee has not given it a hearing. However there has been a lot of media attention about this bill.
Click here to read my op-ed that recently appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune,
Click here to read and watch a story that appeared on KING 5.
Click on the image below to watch my recent interview about homeless camps on TVW.
House Bill 1101 would ensure that all forms of Vehicular Homicide are included in the definitions of both “violent offense” and “most serious offense,” consistent with their designation as class A felonies. Vehicular Homicide with disregard for the safety of others is a conviction that involves gross criminal negligence. Ten people have received such a waiver in the last three years. We should not grant first-time offender waivers for this fatal crime. We should sanction what we hope to prevent. The House Community Safety Committee unanimously passed this bill and it is now in the Appropriations Committee.
House Bill 1074 would exclude any person who is convicted of a hit-and-run resulting in death from being eligible for a first-time offender waiver. l introduced this bill because a person who is found guilty of hit and run and is a first-time offender could get a sentence waiver under current law. This means that a person could be free with no time served or after serving a maximum of just 90 days in jail. If HB 1074 were to become law, a hit-and-run resulting in someone’s death would be added to the list of felony offenses that are ineligible for a first-time offender waiver. This bill received a hearing but has not been voted on. Click here to learn more.
House Bill 1242 would reduce professional licensing fees for lower-paying professions. This would be a positive step in reducing the cost of doing business for lower-income people. Too many people live on fixed incomes, and this legislation would make life a little easier for them to make ends meet. The House Consumer Protection and Business Committee was scheduled to vote on this bill but, unfortunately, took no action. Click here to learn more.
House Bill 1011 would authorize the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer a School Safety Capital Grant program. If we were to make some minor changes in the design and construction of our schools, we could make people feel safer, and possibly prevent bad actors. There are many factors to consider in making our schools safe, and this is a positive step in the right direction. We should do everything possible to secure our school facilities so students and staff can thrive. This bill is waiting for a vote from the House Capital Budget Committee.
House Bill 1447 calls for more transparency and accountability for money being disbursed through the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), which grants aid to undocumented workers who are ineligible for federal financial aid. There is no current accounting mechanism in place to track the amount of aid the state is handing out through this program. This bill simply asks for an accounting of the amount of aid we are giving out on the WASFA applications. This bill has yet to receive a hearing. Click here to learn more.
House Bill 1100 would authorize a city or county the option to impose a sales and use tax that is credited against the state rate. This policy ensures that local governments can secure the resources necessary to meet critical infrastructure and service demands without increasing the overall tax burden on consumers, thereby supporting both fiscal responsibility and economic stability. This has not received a hearing.
House Bill 1027 would prevent a biological male who has been convicted of a crime against a female from being housed with biological females. This has not received a hearing.
House Bill 1038, which has not received a hearing, would prohibit dangerous puberty-blocking medications, cross-sex hormones, and gender transition surgeries for minors. Democratic leadership attacked this bill, claiming it would lead to deaths. That’s fearmongering, not policy debate. No child is mature enough to make irreversible medical decisions. Let’s protect kids, not push radical ideology. I recently appeared on KOMO news as part of a report on this issue. Click here to watch the video.
I recently appeared on KONA radio and discussed three of these bills in more detail. Click here to listen.
Thank you for Visiting
My 25th LD seatmates and I often welcome guests to the Capitol in Olympia. A group of fire chiefs from Central Pierce, East Pierce, and Graham Fire and Rescue visited with Sen. Chris Gildon, Rep. Michael Keaton, and me on Thursday, February 6. Thank you for coming to Olympia, advocating for your profession, and your dedicated service in our district!
Please Continue Reaching Out
If I can assist you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to represent you, listen, and be your voice in Olympia.
It’s an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Cyndy Jacobsen
