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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 105-day legislative session began on Monday, Jan. 9. It is an honor to be back in Olympia serving the great people of the 13th District.
As many of you know, because of election-year restrictions that began last May, I could not send email updates until after the election results were certified. With the start of the session, I will be sending legislative updates every couple of weeks to keep you informed on the public policy being considered at the state Capitol.
Because of the pandemic, for the past two years, lawmakers have conducted committee hearings and floor sessions remotely, via online programs like Teams and Zoom. Although we got the people's work accomplished, remote sessions are not nearly as effective as in-person meetings.
That's why I'm grateful to report the 2023 session will be conducted in person, including committee hearings and floor sessions. With reasonable precautions being taken to ensure a severe health concern does not occur, I'm confident this year will be far more “normal” than the previous two years.
Committee assignments
House committee assignments for the 2023-24 biennium were issued for Republicans in late December.
I'm honored that my colleagues selected me to be the ranking member of the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee. The committee considers issues relating to postsecondary education, including governance and coordination of public and private institutions of higher education and technical training; postsecondary offerings, student success, and much more.
I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work on this committee. The continued economic success of our state depends on quality postsecondary education. That doesn't necessarily mean every student has to go to a university to be successful. They can also attend career technical education, community college, or vocational training. It's exciting to be a part of defining and creating more options for students to take part in after graduation.
I've also been selected to be the assistant ranking member of the House Environment and Energy Committee. The committee considers issues relating to air quality, aquatic lands, oil spill prevention, hazardous waste, and energy.
And finally, I'll serve as a member of the House Innovation, Community and Economic Development, and Veterans Committee. The committee considers issues related to community and business development, as well as veterans and military affairs.
These assignments are great opportunities to represent our region's interests and values. I'm looking forward to contributing to their work.
13th District Virtual Town Hall
Your input matters! That's why I'm co-hosting, along with Sen. Judy Warnick and Rep. Tom Dent, a 13th District virtual town hall on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 6 to 7 p.m.
During the town hall, you can ask questions and share your thoughts on the topics and issues important to our communities. Space is limited, so register early by clicking here or on the photo above.
If you cannot attend, don't hesitate to reach out to my office and schedule an appointment. My contact information is listed below.
Redistricting changes for the 13th District
Because communities and populations change over time, every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, Washington redraws the boundaries of its congressional and state legislative districts to ensure that each district represents an equal number of residents. The new 13th Legislative District boundaries were approved in 2021.
- You can learn more about this process in this video.
- Click here to view a map of the 13th Legislative District.
Getting involved in the legislative process
Our government depends on the active participation of its citizens. Here are some handy links and resources to help you get started:
Staying connected
- 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.
- The Current | An online legislative publication from the Washington House Republicans.
- 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 | View bill reports, committee agendas, and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature here.
- State agencies | You can find a list of all state agencies, boards, and commissions here.
Tracking a bill?
Click here 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.”
Here is a quick set of “bill tracking” instructions
Go to leg.wa.gov
- On the left-hand panel, click “Bill Information.”
- If you know the bill number, enter it in the search field and hit enter.
- Don't have a bill number? Under the section “Standard Reports,” you'll find alternative tracking tools. You can search based on topic, legislative digests, cross-references and within a specific biennium.
- If you click on the House Floor Calendar, this helpful tool gives you a detailed list of all bills scheduled to be heard on the House floor each day.
Additional resources:
Testify in Committee
Thank you!
I am committed to staying connected with you as the session progresses. Please contact me if you have questions about bills being introduced, bills scheduled for a hearing, or other state government-related issues.
Throughout the legislative session, my office receives hundreds of emails per week. I will do my best to answer the ones I receive from constituents first, so please be sure to include your home address and phone number in your correspondence.
It's an honor to serve you!
Sincerely,
Alex Ybarra
