On The Issues is a civics program 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 will research issues the legislators are working on and prepare questions to be brought to legislative leadership.
Stay tuned for fresh content each Friday when we’ll be posting new episodes, along with 20 minute lesson plans throughout the 2025 Legislative Session. Perfect for kick starting discussion in the classroom, and providing insight into the policymaking process.
THE SERIES
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
The House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee considers a wide variety of legal issues, including constitutional law; privacy rights; anti-discrimination measures; commercial law; torts; probate; guardianships; civil commitment; forensic mental health; firearms; common interest community issues involving liability and uniform laws; and eminent domain. The committee also considers issues relating to courts and judicial administration; and family law issues such as marriage, marriage dissolution, child support and adoption
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 civil rights in Washington State.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- How does Washington State address issues of civil rights through the policymaking process?
20 min Lesson Plan: Civil Rights
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee
The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee considers issues relating to:
- Air quality
- The Puget Sound Partnership
- The State Environmental Policy Act
- Oil spill prevention
- Recycling and solid waste
- Toxic substances
- Hazardous and toxic waste
- Telecommunications including broadband
- Energy
- Climate change
- Stormwater management
- Nuclear waste
- Technology
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 the Environment and Energy..
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- How does Washington State’s energy policies benefit Washingtonians?
- What are the drawbacks of Washington State’s energy policies?
20 min Lesson Plan: Environment & Energy
House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee
House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee considers issues related to:
State government, including state agency structure; rulemaking; procurement standards; performance audits; and public employment. The committee also considers issues relating to elections; campaign finance; state government open meeting and public records obligations; ethics in government; the regulation and oversight of gaming, including tribal compacts; and the government-to-government relationship of the state and Indian tribes.
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 Tribal Relations.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- How does the Washington State government promote government-to-government relationships with the 29 federally recognized tribes of Washington State?
20 min Lesson Plan: Tribal Relations
House Health Care & Wellness Committee
House Health Care & Wellness Committee considers issues relating to:
The provision of physical and behavioral health care services and strategies to promote better health. Health care service issues include the licensing and regulation of health care facilities, the credentialing of new health care professions, and the scope of practice for all healthcare professions. The committee regulates pharmacies and pharmaceutical drugs and has oversight and regulatory responsibility for state public health programs. The committee also considers issues relating to the accessibility and affordability of health care in both the private health insurance market and public health programs such as Medicaid and the state health exchange.
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 two important policies regarding Health Care.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- What is Washington State doing to ensure that there is affordable health care?
20 min Lesson Plan: Healthcare
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee considers issues relating to:
- Agricultural land and products
- Regulation of water and water rights
- Fish and wildlife
- Mining
- Forest practices and forest fire protection
- Management of certain state-owned lands including forest, farm, and aquatic lands
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 important policies regarding sustainable agriculture, and balancing housing and forest conservation.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- What are some of the positives and negatives of organic farming in Washington State?
- What is Washington State doing to ensure that our Natural Resources are protected while also being available to utilize by Washingtonians?
20 min Lesson Plan: Natural Resources
House Housing Committee
The House Housing Committee considers issues relating to:
A broad array of issues relating to housing, including accessibility, affordability, assistance, and supply; land use and zoning primarily related to residential uses; landlord-tenant law; homelessness; homeownership; farmworker housing; manufactured housing; housing authorities; and the Housing Finance Commission.
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 Housing.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- What is Washington State doing to ensure that there is affordable housing for all Washingtonians?
20 min Lesson Plan: House Housing Committee
Senate and House Education Committees
The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee considers issues relating to:
- Early learning programs, including the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program and the Working Connections Child Care Program
- Kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) education, including K-12 related funding formulas and school district levy policy
- K-12 student health and safety
- K-12 teacher certification and employment issues
House Education Committee considers issues relating to:
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 two important policies regarding Early Learning and K-12 Education.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- To what extent is there bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature?
- What is Washington State doing to ensure that we are fulfilling the paramount duty of the state?
20 min Lesson Plan: Senate and House Education Committees
House Community Safety Committee
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:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- What is Washington State doing to ensure that we are safeguarding the safety of Washingtonians?
20 min Lesson Plan: House Community Safety Committee
House Environment & Energy Committee
The House Environment & Energy Committee considers issues relating to air quality; aquatic lands; oil spill prevention; solid waste; hazardous waste; toxics; climate change; energy; Puget Sound; the State Environmental Policy Act and the Shoreline Management Act; state parks; and outdoor recreation.
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 the environment and energy.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- To what extent is there bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature?
- What is Washington State doing to protect our environment and access to energy?
20 min Lesson Plan: House Environment & Energy Committee
Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs, and Elections Committee
The 2024 Election was historic with Washington surpassing 5 million registered voters for the first time. In order for this to happen, there needed to be a lot of organization at the state level. The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs, and Elections Committee is in charge of passing laws to ensure that the state government runs smoothly, ethically, and efficiently.
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 two important policies regarding partisanship and elections.
Essential Questions:
- How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
- To what extent is there bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature?
- What is Washington State doing to improve our electoral system?
20 min Lesson Plan: Elections & Governance
TOPICS FOR 2025
| Week | Issue | Committee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Friday 1/17 | Election | Senate Government and Elections |
| 2 – Friday 1/24 | Environment | House Environment and Energy |
| 3 – Friday 1/31 | Education | Senate Early Leaning and K-12 Education |
| 4 – Friday 2/7 | Community Safety | House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry |
| 5 – Friday 2/14 | Housing | House Housing |
| 6 – Friday 2/21 | Natural Resources | Senate AG, Water, Natural Resources and Parks |
| 7 – Friday 2/28 | Health Care | House Health Care ad Wellness |
| 8 – Friday 3/7 | Tribes and Tribal Members | House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee |
| 9 – Friday 3/14 | Green Technology | Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology |
| 10 – Friday 3/21 | Civil Rights | House Civil Rights and Judiciary |
| 11 – Friday 3/28 | Transportation | Senate Transportation |
| 12 – Friday 4/4 | Care for Youth | House Human Services, Youth,, and Early Learning |
| 13 – Friday 4/11 | Higher Education | Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development |
| 14 – Friday 4/18 | Education | House Education |
| 15 – Friday 4/25 | TBD | TBD |
Last year’s On The Issues 2024 Series:
20 min lesson plans linked in the slider below:
Have a full class period? Give your students a deeper understanding of the legislative committee process with the Legislative Committees Lesson Plan.