2027 WaSHINGTOn State Legislative Session
The Washington State Legislature is the state's lawmaking body, where elected Senators and Representatives come together to create and pass laws that shape the daily lives of Washingtonians.
The citizen Legislature meets annually on the second Monday in January in the Capitol building in Olympia. The Washington State Legislature works on a biennial cycle. The biennial begins in odd-numbered years, when the Legislature meets for 105 days. This is known as the budget year or long session. In even-numbered years — the second year of the biennium, known as the short session — the Legislature meets for 60 days.
The 2027 regular session begins on Monday January 11, 2027. It is a long session — year one of the biennial cycle — lasting up to 105-days, with an expected end date of Thursday, April 26, 2027.
Prefiling for the 2027 session begins December 7, 2026.
Co-chair and Legislative Advocacy Committee members needed. Join our team!
Want to learn more about how a bill becomes law, how to give public testimony, meet with legislators, or host inclusive virtual meetings? We would love to advocate with you. No prior experience required. Just a desire to improve education and willingness to center students. To learn more and/or join our team, please contact our Legislative Advocacy Co-Chair.
-
Did you know that you can watch or listen to Legislative work sessions and public hearings via TVW? And most are recorded and become available approximately two hours after the close of the hearing or session. Check out all the ways to access TVW.
-
SCPTSA advocates under National PTA & Washington State PTA (WSPTA) to make every child’s potential a reality. WSPTA & SCPTSA engage and empower families and communities to advocate for all children by organizing members across Washington state and Seattle through priorities selected by membership.
WSPTA is hosting the 48th Annual Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly October 16th-17th, 2026, at Cascadia College in Bothell. All PTA members are welcome, including students. WSPTA Top 5 Legislative Priorities for the 2027–29 biennium will be determined by PTA members at the assembly.
SCPTSA is also informed by:
Seattle Public Schools Legislative Priorities
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Legislative Priorities
2027-29 OSPI Operating Budget Requests:
Constitutionally Required Basic Education:
The Arc of King County Legislative Priorities
-
OSPI K12 Funding Equity Workgroup
The 2025 Legislature passed , which directs OSPI to gather and administer a workgroup around K-12 funding in Washington. The goal is to explore and suggest options for revising K-12 funding to more equitably and efficiently serve student needs. By November 1, 2027, OSPI will submit a report to the legislature detailing the workgroup’s progress, relevant data, and the agency’s recommendations, one year ahead of the legislature’s 2027 deadline.
➜ OSPI
➜ Resource Accountability & Efficiency Executive Summary -
WA State Legislature District Finder by Address
Please note: the committee assignments below are for 2025 and we’ll see some shifting in early January before the 2026 session starts.36th Legislative District
(Northwest Seattle)
Representative Liz Berry・Chair, Labor & Workplace Standards
Senator Noel Frame・Vice Chair, Human Services・Vice Chair Finance, Ways & Means
Representative Julia Reed・Vice Chair, Transportation・Member, Postsecondary Education & Workforce46th Legislative District
(Northeast Seattle)
Representative Darya Farivar・Vice Chair, Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
Representative Gerry Pollet・Chair, JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee・Member, Appropriations Committee・Member, Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee・Member, Education Committee
Senator Javier Valdez・Chair, State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee・Vice Chair, Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee・Member, Transportation Committee43rd Legislative District
(Central Seattle)
Representative Nicole Macri・Vice Chair, Appropriations Committee
Senator Jamie Pedersen・Majority Leader・Member, Appropriations Committee・Member, Ways & Means Committee
Representative Shaun Scott・Vice Chair, Labor & Workplace Standards Committee・Member, Education Committee・Member, Finance Committee34th Legislative District
(Southwest Seattle)
Senator Emily Alvarado・Vice Chair, Housing Committee・Member, Transportation Committee
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon・Majority Leader・Member, Appropriations Committee・Member, Rules Committee
Representative Brianna Thomas・Assistant Majority Whip・Member, Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee37th Legislative District
(Southeast Seattle)
Senator Rebecca Saldaña・Chair, Labor & Commerce Committee・Member, Rules Committee・Member, Ways & Means Committee
Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos・Chair, Education Committee・Member, Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight & Accountability Committee・Member, Finance Committee
Representative Chipalo Street・Majority Caucus Vice Chair・Member, Finance Committee・Member, Appropriations Committee -
Send a Message About a Bill
After searching for a bill, click the dark green "Comment on a Bill" button on the Bill Summary Page to send a message to your elected official and share your opinion. You can request a response to your message if you wish. -
Many bills introduced in the Legislature will receive a public hearing, where citizens are given a chance to present their opinions on proposed legislation.
There are three ways to participate in a public committee hearing:
Testify in a Committee Hearing
During the Legislative Session, you can register to testify in a committee hearing in-person or remotely through Zoom.If you frequently testify on bills, you may find it useful to create a Legislative Account. An account allows you to autofill sign-in information and view and edit your sign-in history.
Submit Written Testimony to a Committee
Written testimony has a 5000 character limit. You will need to copy and paste your testimony into a form box. 2 MB of supporting info can also be uploaded.Note Your Position on a Bill for Legislative Record
If you wish, you can choose to simply have your position noted — Pro (for the bill), Con (against the bill), or Other (there is more nuance to the decision).
To sign-up to participate in a committee hearing,
Start from the Homepage of the WA State Legislature website, enter the bill number, and click the “search” button.
Once on the Bill Summary Page, click the dark green “sign-up to testify/submit written testimony” button. If you do not see this button (directly below the “Send a comment on this bill…” button) there may not be opportunities to participate in a hearing at this time..
Once on the Committee Sign In Page, select the bill/agenda item you would like to comment on and a list of options to participate will be listed below.
Select the option you would like, fill out a simple form (your street address is NOT required), and click the “Submit Registration” button.
Alternatively, you can start from the Committee Sign In Page on the WA State Legislature website, however, you will need the following info to navigate to the registration page…
The chamber (House or Senate) where the public hearing will take place
The committee the bill has been assigned to
The Meeting date and time
The agenda item/bill you would like to comment on
Students can testify too!
Use the Seattle Public Schools Civic Engagement Activity Excused Absence Form -
The Washington State Legislature is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can fully participate in the legislative process. Requests for onsite spoken language and ASL interpretation should be submitted at least 48 hours in advance by completing our Accessibility Request Form and coordinating with the ADA Coordinators in the House or Senate. The more advance notice you are able to provide, the higher likelihood that your request can be fulfilled.
For complete information, visit the accessibility information page.
Any legislative number can be reached via the state Telephone Relay Service at 800-833-6384 (voice) or 800-833-6388 (TTY).
-
December 1, 2026 – Prefiling begins.
January 11, 2027 – First day of session.
TBD – Policy Committee Cutoff. Last day to read in committee reports in house of origin, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
TBD – Fiscal Committee Cutoff. Last day to read in committee reports from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees in house of origin.
TBD – House of Origin Cutoff. Last day to consider bills in house of origin (5 pm).
TBD – Policy Committee Cutoff - Opposite House. Last day to read in committee reports from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
TBD – Fiscal Committee Cutoff - Opposite House. Last day to read in opposite house committee reports from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
TBD – Opposite House Cutoff. Last day to consider opposite house bills (5 pm).April 26, 2027 – Last day allowed for regular session under the state constitution.
TBD – The last day the governor has to take action on a bill.
TBD – 90-day effective date. Legislation becomes effective 90 days after adjournment of the session unless otherwise specified in the bill text.
