2019 Legislative Session – Week 14
Cutoffs continue to claim bills, budget negotiations begin Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Tuesday, April 9th was the deadline for bills to pass out of the fiscal committees to remain under consideration this session. As always, there are exceptions, particularly if funding for a bill has been appropriated in one of the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
An Update on the Proposed National PTA Dues Increase
WSPTA Shares Your Feedback with National PTA, Requests Your Additional Input Grassroots Engagement. Powered by PTA. Washington State PTA recently conducted a short survey with local leaders and members to gather preliminary feedback about the National PTA proposed membership dues increase that will be considered at the National PTA Convention in June. Thank you to…
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Membership
WSPTA Testifies on E2SHB 1139
Click here to hear testimony Everett PTSA Council Advocacy Chair Lizzie Sebring testified in favor of E2SHB 1139, the comprehensive approach to recruiting and retaining professional educators, after waiting nearly 5.5 hours! (Gold stars Lizzie!!!) The bill was before the Senate Ways & Means Committee on April 5. The House budget includes funding for various…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 13
Legislature starts final four: last weeks of session, that is Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org With only four weeks left in the 105-day regular session, lawmakers worked late into the evening in some committees and on the floor, passing out policy and budget bills to meet various deadlines and get budgets into…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on the Senate Democrats’ Operating Budget Proposal SB 5153
Click to hear Jennifer’s testimony Mercer Island parent Jennifer Flood testified on the Senate Democrats’ operating budget proposal. While the Senate two-year spending plan is better than the House in many areas, investments in special education and additional school staffing to support student safety and well being could be increased. Click here to read Jennifer’s…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
March 2019 – WSPTA Executive Director Message
Dear Members, What a contrast a month makes. Spring seemed to hit like a brick this month with temperatures in Western Washington jumping from the 40s to over 70 within a week. It has been a great opportunity to spend time in the yard, cleaning up the mess left by the winter storms, and pulling…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA Testifies on EHB 1638
Click to hear testimony Lexi Nims, a college student considering a degree in public health, was one of the dozen or so people who testified on EHB 1638 at last Friday’s Senate Health & Long-Term Care committee. Nims testified on behalf of Washington State PTA. National PTA holds a position, which the state Advocacy Committee voted…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 12
Budgets released during whirlwind week, House unveils levy proposal Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Within the span of the week, House Democrats released operating, capital and transportation budgets, holding hearings and passing two of the three off the House floor by Friday evening. (Listen to the House Democrat announcement here.) Not to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 11
Snow gives way to sun as legislative pace quickens Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Sunglasses, sandals and short sleeves graced the Capitol last week, as temperatures hit the mid-70s and snow piles in parking lots finally melted. Spring was in the air, and committees resumed action, scheduling full hearings of bills from…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Legislative Session – Week 10
Legislature past half-way point but many bills remain Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Wednesday, March 13th at 5 PM was the deadline for bills to have passed the chamber in which they started. In other words, House bills needed to pass the House, and Senate bills needed to have passed the Senate…
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Advocacy
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Legislative