On The Issues is produced by Teach with TVW, the education wing of TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs network, in partnership with the Legislative Page Program. Each week throughout the Legislative Session Legislative Pages research issues the legislators are working on and prepare questions to be brought to legislative leadership. Each topical collection below is bundled with a 20 minute lesson plan. Perfect for kick starting discussion in the classroom, and providing insight into the policymaking process. If you have 1 to 2 class periods, check out the comprehensive Legislative Committees lesson plan for a deeper dive, and facilitate class discussion and research across multiple committee topics. 2026 SERIES WITH 20 MIN LESSON PLANS Senate Transportation Committee Senate Transportation Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2026 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding Transportation. Essential Questions: House Health Care Committee House Health Care Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2026 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding Health Care. Essential Questions: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2026 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding Higher Education and Workforce Development Essential Questions: House Early Learning & Human Services Committee The House Early Learning and Human Services Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2026 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding State Human Services. Essential Questions: Law & Justice Committee The Law and Justice Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2026 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding Law and Justice. Essential Questions: House Housing Committee The House Housing Committee considers issues relating to:…
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Washington state’s Legislative cycle (and budget runs on a 2 year cycle, also known as a biennium. A new ‘biennium’ starts each odd year with a 105 day long session, followed by a short 60 day session the following (even) year. The current biennium started on January 13th, 2025. For the following four months, the 98 House members and 49 Senators grappled with climate and energy concerns, rising housing costs, the budget, and the paramount duty of the state, K-12 education, amongst many other important issues. Teach with TVW stayed in step with the action, creating short explainer videos showcasing how policymaking works in Washington state, from bill filing, to public testimonies and final passage on the House and Senate Floors. You can also sign up for our Newsletter and get updates on all of our latest civics videos and other classroom resources. THE SERIES 2026 Wk 8: NTIB – Necessary To Implement the Budget The Washington State Legislature runs on a series of self imposed cutoff dates. By 5pm on Friday, all bills must be passed through the Opposite House: House bills must pass through the Senate and Senate bills must pass through the House. If they do not get brought up for a vote, or they do not have the votes to pass, they are considered dead for the year. Except! Not all bills are subject to these cutoffs. Bills that deal with the budget (Operating, Capital, and Transportation) and bills that are deemed NTIB (Necessary to Implement the Budget) do not need to follow these cutoff calendars. But what does the acronym NTIB actually mean in practice? Hear from Civics Teacher for All, Ms. Paulson, and former Director of the Office of Financial Management Victor Moore, as they explains the ins and outs of NTIB bills. Discussion Questions: 2026 Wk 7: Time Management Tech For Teens Legislative priorities become progressively clearer as it gets closer and closer to Sine Die (the day the legislative session is over). Even bills that have support must be pulled from the Rules Committee to even be eligible for a vote, and even if they are, they then must be called to the floor by the majority party. Both the majority and the minority party have strategies they employ during these last few weeks of session, and they all involve how to manage the clock. This week in Tech for Teens, we speak with Democratic Senator Lisa Wellman, the prime sponsor of the AI Companion Chatbot bill, and Republican Representative Travis Couture, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, about the importance of definitions in legislation, how time management works on the floor, and the differing opinions on the enforcement mechanism used in the AI Chatbot bill. Discussion Questions: 2026 Wk 6: Floor Debate Tech For Teens It is officially the second half of the legislative session! On Tuesday February 17th, all bills needed to be voted off the floor in their House of Origin to stay alive. This self-imposed deadline means…
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Senate Housing Committee The Senate Housing Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2025 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies addressed by the House Education Committee. Essential Questions: 20 min Lesson Plan: Housing
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What do you really know about Washington’s courts? This fall, Teach with TVW brings you The Judicial Branch EXPLAINED — a brand-new video series that tackles the most common misconceptions about the courts.From “What does the judicial branch do?” to “How does bail work?”, our short 5–7 minute episodes break down key concepts with real judges and courtroom insights. You’ll also find stand-alone videos explaining each level of Washington’s courts — from District Courts to the State Supreme Court. QUESTIONS TO THE COURT Washington State has a tripartite system of government; our three branches of government check and balance one another. Theoretically no branch of government is more powerful than the others, however it can be a delicate balance. Check out how people answer the question “What is the most powerful branch?” Essential Question: Discussion Questions: Lesson Plan: Coming Soon! “What does the judicial branch do” seems like an easy question to answer. But, because the judicial branch has many responsibilities, it can be challenging to sum up with a single answer. Check out how some of Washington’s judges clarify the public’s perception of their jobs. Essential Question: Discussion Questions: Courts of Limited Jurisdiction and Superior Courts hear both criminal and civil cases. Various people on the street had a clear understanding of the differences between the two. Scholars, however, add to the narrative by explaining the reasoning why some offenses are part of the criminal code and why some are civil matters. Essential Question: Discussion Questions: Most people can describe the basic differences between a prosecutor and a public defender, but do people know how they work together to protect the rule of law? In this video, hear the Office of Public Defense and the King County Prosecutor’s office explain how their offices are bound by the Revised Code of Washington and the Constitution to protect Washingtonian’s rights and their safety. Essential Question: Discussion Questions: Lesson Plan: Coming Soon! There are many steps that one must go through if they are arrested for breaking a law. In this video, Deputy Prosecutor Kelly Harris walks you through those steps from arraignment to sentencing. Essential Question: Discussion Questions: Hiring an attorney can be an expensive endeavor, so where does one go to get legal advice? Hear from judges at both the Superior Court and Municipal Court level explain the differences between your Constitutional right to an attorney in a criminal case vs. a civil case. Judge Logan explains why having an attorney in a criminal case is important, and why the public defender’s office is so important. Judge Tutsch reviews some of the different organizations that exist to help those making their way through the legal system, especially in civil cases. Washington Courts has made a considerable investment in making the legal system more accessible to all. Visit https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org for more information on how to get legal advice. Family Court is a division of Superior Court in Washington State. The main types of cases in family court are minor guardianships and parenting plans. Learn from two Superior Court…
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Legislative Actions of Washington State Lesson Plan for Civics and Government: Middle and High School – 2 to 3 class periods The State Government writes laws that affect the daily lives of all Washingtonians. Yet, most people do not understand how the laws are made, what goes into the legislation, or how that legislation is enacted. In this lesson, students will discover what the state legislature is doing in regards to issues they care about. Organizing Concepts: Legislative process, exploration of social issues and perspectives, citizen action, lobbying, transparency. Objectives: Compelling Questions: More About This Curriculum Kit In two to three class periods, students will first identify an issue that they are concerned with, then they will discover which legislators are working on that issue, what those legislators are doing about this issue, and how students can have their voice heard. This lesson can be teacher led as a whole class, or assigned as an independent supplementary project. By using this curriculum, students learn not only how legislation is passed in Washington State but also how they can become involved and engage in issues they care about. There are suggested discussion questions, classroom activities, and options for summative assessments that engage students in their local community by examining the effects of new legislation. Education Standards
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The 105 day long session began on January 13, 2025. For the following four months, the 98 House members and 49 Senators grappled with climate and energy concerns, rising housing costs, the budget, and the paramount duty of the state, K-12 education, amongst many other important issues. Teach with TVW stayed in step with the action, creating short explainer videos showcasing how policymaking works in Washington state, from bill filing, to public testimonies and final passage on the House and Senate Floors. You can also sign up for our Newsletter and get updates on CC+ and other classroom resources. THE SERIES Final Act – The Governor’s Desk What power does the governor have in the Legislative Process? In the United States and in Washington State, we pride ourselves on our system of representative democracy and the checks and balances that help keep this system in place. With Sine Die, the bulk of the legislative branch’s work is finished for the year, and now the Executive Branch’s role in the legislative process begins in earnest. Legislation that passed both the House and the Senate is sent to the Governor for approval. The Governor’s signature acts as a check on the legislature; the governor will have 20 days after Sine Die to either sign or veto the proposed legislation. If they choose to do neither, the bills will become law without a signature. Of course the Legislature can override vetos with a 2/3 vote of both the House and Senate, but this check on the Executive Branch can be hard to achieve in a divided Legislative Body. Hear from former Governor Gregoire and former Governor Inslee explain how the governor is involved during the session, how they come to the decisions they do, as well as the bill signing powers they have. Class Resources: Essential Questions: WK14 April 21st-25th – Conference Committees There are many steps that a bill must go through to reach final passage. In order to reach the governor’s desk, a bill must be voted out of the House and Senate in the exact same language. If the Senate changes a House bill, the House can either vote to concur (agree) to those changes, dispute (send the bill back to its House of Origin), or ask for a conference committee. It is during this step of the legislative process that the House and the Senate collaborate to pass legislation. The majority party will have the most members on the conference committees, and they also have the majority of votes on the Floor. Currently, Democrats have the majority in both chambers, giving them legislative control over which bills make it through the legislative process. Learn more about conferences committees in this 5 minute video which features interviews with Democratic Senator Noel Frame and Republican Senator Drew MacEwen. Class Resources: Essential Questions: WK13 April 14th-18th – The Rules Committee There are many procedures and protocols that the Legislature follows to ensure that everything happens in a timely fashion. We have told…
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On The Issues is produced by Teach with TVW, the education wing of TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs network, in partnership with the Legislative Page Program. Each week throughout the 2025 Legislative Session Legislative Pages researched issues the legislators are working on and prepared questions to be brought to legislative leadership. Each topical collection below is bundled with a 20 minute lesson plan. Perfect for kick starting discussion in the classroom, and providing insight into the policymaking process. If you have 1 to 2 class periods, check out the comprehensive Legislative Committees lesson plan for a deeper dive, and facilitate class discussion and research across multiple committee topics. 1-2 PERIOD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES LESSON PLAN In 1 to 2 class periods, this lesson plan introduces students to the issues that Legislative Committees address in a typical Legislative session. Students will have the choice of 11 different issues to examine, learning which committees address these important topics. Additionally, students will assess their own opinions and ideas that relate to the topics presented in the videos. Slide deck and documents can be customized for sharing, and distribution to your students. Objectives: Resources: FULL SERIES WITH 20 MIN LESSON PLANS Senate Housing Committee The Senate Housing Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2025 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies addressed by the House Education Committee. Essential Questions: 20 min Lesson Plan: Housing House Education Committee The House Education Committee considers issues relating to kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) education. Overview: During the 2025 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies addressed by the House Education Committee. Essential Questions: 20 min Lesson Plan: K12 Education Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee The Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee considers issues relating to: Overview: During the 2025 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest. In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on three important policies regarding college affordability in Washington State. Essential Questions: 20 min Lesson Plan: Higher Education House Early Learning & Human Services Committee The Early Learning & Human Services Committee considers a broad array of issues and services affecting children and families, including early learning; child care; child and youth development; child welfare services; children’s mental health; at-risk and homeless youth; juvenile justice; economic assistance programs; developmental disabilities; and long-term…
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The ELECTIONS EXPLAINED is a short explainer series showcasing all aspects of how elections work in Washington State, from the floors of the state conventions to the final counting of votes in November. Each video can stand alone, or they can be viewed as a series. Additionally, all come with lesson plans for easy implementation in the classroom. THE SERIES A hallmark of the Progressive Era, the initiative and referendum processes were amended into Washington’s State Constitution in 1912. The initiative process allows Washingtonians to directly propose new legislation that will go on the ballot for voters to support or reject, while the referendum process allows voters to directly reject laws already enacted by the legislature. University of Washington Law scholar, Professor Hugh Spitzer, describes the benefits and potential pitfalls of the initiative process. Essential Questions: Lesson Plan: The Initiative Process Debates between candidates have become an integral part of the election cycle. While millions of people tune in for the Presidential debates, the same cannot be said for the Statewide races, despite the fact that these debates are occurring and are televised or streamed so the electorate can be more informed. Viewers will learn about State Debates, the purpose of debates, what the electorate can learn from a debate, and how the media prepares to moderate a debate. Essential Questions: Lesson Plan: Debates Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. In the United States, elections are decentralized, and each state conducts their elections slightly differently. In Washington State, the State Legislature has passed laws that expand access to the elected franchise. Simultaneously, concerns over the security of the United States’ voting system have continued to grow over the last 10 years. One of the jobs of the Secretary of State’s office is to educate voters about the Electoral Process. Essential Questions: Lesson Plan: Election Integrity While the presidential election will dominate the media coverage, mainstream and social, and conversations in the classroom, who wins the Statewide Elections will directly affect your day to day life. This video will provide background information about the state of Washington races post the August Primary Election and pre the November Election. Essential Questions: Lesson Plan: 2024 Elections: What’s at Stake The August 2024 Primary Election resulted in Washington State’s closest statewide race in history! The race for who will be in the General Election for our Commissioner of Public Lands came down to just 51 votes, which triggered a mandatory hand recount. So, what do the County Auditors and their election staff, who count the ballots, do during a hand recount? How does the recount work? Essential Questions: Secretary of State’s Office: Recount Rules Article: 2004 Governor’s ElectionStatewide Standards on What is a Vote: Manual Every year, Washington residents receive a Voters’ Pamphlet in their mailbox prior to the election. Along with the Video Voters Guide produced by TVW, the Voters’ Pamphlet is a powerful tool for Washingtonians, allowing them to hear from the candidates in their own words,…
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In this lesson plan, students will examine The Role of the State Auditor in Washington State, focusing on the responsibilities this position has in state government. By examining the oversight role the Auditor has over all funds the State spends, students will understand the importance that the Constitution of Washington puts on the transparency and accountability of our state government. Essential Questions: Curriculum: All Nine Lesson Plans:
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In this lesson plan, students will examine The Role of the Insurance Commissioner in Washington State, focusing on the responsibilities this position has in state government. By examining issues that the Insurance Commissioner deals with, students will understand the importance that the Constitution of Washington State puts on the transparency and accountability of our state government. Essential Questions: Curriculum: All Nine Lesson Plans:
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