Community Safety Archives

Law & Justice

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: Senate Law & Justice Committee The Law and Justice Committee considers issues relating to:

Gun Rights & Effective Background Checks (2026)

Anshu Kopparapu asks Senator Manka Dhingra and Senator Phil Fortunato about the effectiveness of background checks for firearm purchases. The Senators appreciated the thoughtfulness of her question and responded with elucidative information.

ICE Enforcement & Face Coverings (2026)

Senate Page, Meiling Hou, asks Senators from the Senate Law and Justice Committee about the recent piece of legislation that passed off the Senate Floor, a bill that would require law enforcement officers to not wear face masks. Senators Manka Dhingra and Phil Fortunato respond to her question with their thoughts.

Community Safety

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 community safety. Essential Questions: House Community Safety Committee (2025) Overview: The House Community Safety Committee considers a broad array of issues relating to the criminal legal system, including policing; crisis response; crime prevention; criminal penalties and sentencing; impaired driving; adult correctional programs; rehabilitation and reentry; and adult correctional institutions. The committee also considers issues relating to the registration and civil commitment of sex offenders.

Monitoring Online Threats (2025)

Senate Page, Sanjana Lingamallu, asks House Community Safety Committee Chair, Roger Goodman (D), and Ranking Member, Jenny Graham (R), how the legislature is doing to address misinformation and public threats on social media. The House Community Safety Committee considers a broad array of issues relating to the criminal legal system, including policing; crisis response; crime prevention; criminal penalties and sentencing; impaired driving; adult correctional programs; rehabilitation and reentry; and adult correctional institutions. The committee also considers issues relating to the registration and civil commitment of sex offenders. 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 community safety. Essential Questions:

On The Issues – Q&A

Help students explore real policy questions facing Washington State through timely, issue-based conversations with lawmakers. This series features student-led questions on topics such as health care, transportation, public safety, the environment, education, and economic policy, while highlighting both Democratic and Republican committee leadership perspectives on each issue. Students will learn how legislators analyze complex problems, weigh competing priorities, and consider impacts on communities across the state. Ideal for connecting classroom civics to current debates in Olympia and understanding how policy is shaped through differing viewpoints.