Senate Page, EmbryAnna Schluter, asks House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee Chair: Sharlett Mena (D) 29th District, and Ranking Committee Member, Kevin Waters (R) 17th District, about how the state is ensuring the tribal treaty rights are being upheld. The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee considers a broad array of issues relating 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.
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House Page, Henry Ormson, asks House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee Chair: Sharlett Mena (D) 29th District, and Ranking Committee Member, Kevin Waters (R) 17th District, about how tribal fishing rights are allocated. The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee considers a broad array of issues relating 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.
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What exactly is “the law”? Most people think of criminal law because that’s what they see in movies and TV shows. But in reality, laws shape nearly every part of daily life — from speed limits and school curriculum to food safety, transportation, business regulations, and much more. In this episode of Civics 101 in 120 Seconds (ish), Mike Hoover explains what laws really are, where they are found in Washington state government, and how new laws begin as ideas that can eventually become bills. Along the way, viewers learn why bills are written the way they are, how lawmakers propose changes to existing laws, and why most proposed legislation never actually becomes law.
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Senate Page, Andy Sinha, asks House Housing Committee Chair Strom Peterson (D), and Republican House Floor Leader, and House Housing Committee member, April Connors (R), what the legislature is doing to assist veterans and first responders with access to housing. The House Housing Committee considers 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.
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House Page, Andrew Rousselle, asks House Housing Committee Chair Strom Peterson (D), and Republican House Floor Leader, and House Housing Committee member, April Connors (R), what effects rent stabilization legislation might have. The House Housing Committee considers 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.
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House Page, Lilah McCulloch, asks House Education Committee Assistant Ranking Member, Micheal Keaton (R), and Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee Chair, Lisa Wellman (D), what the legislature is doing to increase access to early learning. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee considers issues relating to:
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Meet Mike Hoover — your guide to Civics 101 in 120 Seconds (ish). With decades of experience working in government and legislative procedure, Mike Hoover knows how laws are made, how legislatures operate, and why civic understanding matters more than ever. In this series, he breaks down the often-confusing world of government into short, engaging, and easy-to-follow lessons for students, educators, and curious citizens alike. In this introductory episode, Mike explains what a parliamentarian actually does and why legislative process is not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. From bills and committees to the step-by-step process of lawmaking, this series focuses on the key ideas that help people better understand how government functions behind the scenes.
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We are fortunate to have one of the most transparent legislatures in the USThe leg.wa.gov website lets us peek behind the scenes and access all sorts of documents, videos, meeting agendas and ways for the public to engage in the legislative process. This short Legislative Navigator video gives you a quick tour of what you’ll find from the home page:• Where to look up a bill• The daily calendar• How the legislature is structured• How to visit the capitol
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Do you know what district you are in? And who represents you? Well, it’s easy to find out on leg.wa.gov! This short video will walk you through the steps to find this information and more, including:• How to contact your legislators and their legislative assistants• Their background info• Committees they sit on• Bills they have sponsored• Their voting records
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Researching legislation? The leg.wa.gov website offers easy ways to find bills, past and present. Learn how to find bills by:• Bill number• Topics• Pre-filed bills• Bill sponsor
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