Washington State Legislative Update – 2025 Session – “Week Zero”

We are mere days out from the start of the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session. Bills have been prefiled, the governor-elect has been busy making appointments and hiring policy staff, newly appointed legislators are racing to get situated in Olympia, and the preliminary schedules for next week have been released.

The schedule the first week of session is atypical, given the state of state address and opening ceremonies. Schedules can be found here.  The weekly schedule of hearings is released mid-week the week prior and updated over the course of the weekend. One thing we do know will be on the agenda for many the first week will be the hearings on the governor’s budget. Governor-Elect Ferguson recently gave a Seattle Times Interview where he discussed his own plans and released a budget priorities document (See Governor-elect Bob Ferguson’s Budget Priorities). Ferguson’s staff also emailed all state legislators with a request that each legislator “identify at least one program that is not achieving its intended objectives or delivering meaningful results for the people of Washington.”

Redesigned Legislative Website

The legislative website has a brand-new design this year and this is a good time to familiarize yourself with it and be sure you are signed up for all of the important session updates. If you are having trouble locating something, please just reach out to us for assistance.

Vacancy Appointments

In the 26th, Senator Emily Randall (D-26) won her bid for Congress, defeating fellow-Senator Drew MacEwen (R-35) in November. Deb Krishnadasan (D) was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy. Krishnadasan served 6 years on the Peninsula School Board of Directors. According to her Senate biography, Krishnadasan grew up on a Puyallup farm in a union household. After graduating from Western Washington University, she worked in communications and human resources for nonprofit organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Washington-based corporations like Microsoft. In 2023, the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce recognized Krishnadasan as its Citizen of the Year. Rep. Michelle Caldier (R-26) has announced she will run for the seat in 2025 as well.

Representative Tina Orwall (D-33) was appointed to the Senate by the King County Council to replace retiring Sen. Karen Keiser in the 33rd. Edwin Obras (D) was subsequently appointed to fill Orwall’s House seat. According to his House biography, Edwin immigrated as a child from the Philippines and is the first person in his family to graduate from college. He received his BA from the University of Washington and a MPA from Northeastern University. Edwin has worked in the human services field for over 25 years both in non-profits and for the City of Seattle in areas of homelessness, anti-hunger, capacity building, youth development, community safety and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. He also volunteered his time as the Chair of the SeaTac Human Services Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2018. Edwin sits on the Board of Directors at the Filipino Community of Seattle having served 5 years as Board President. He is also co-chair of their capital campaign to build affordable housing units for families. Edwin is also the father of a young adult son who is also a graduate of UW.

In the 48th, the King County Council has appointed Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-48) to fill the seat left by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48) who won her bid for Insurance Commissioner in November. Slatter beat out moderate Democrat Rep. Amy Walen (D-48), who has announced she will campaign for the seat in 2025. To fill Rep. Slatter’s House seat, the council appointed Osman Salahuddin (D), a 28-year-old staffer in county councilmember Sarah Perry’s office. According to his King County Council bio, Osman’s educational background is in neurobiology. Before this role, he was a manager on a medical devices and diagnostics research team. He also worked as a research assistant at the UW Medical Center. Osman brings experience in the public and non-profit sectors. This experience includes serving as Student Body President at the University of Washington. He grew up in Redmond. He enjoys fitness, photography, reading, and playing Legos with his younger brothers.

Representative Tana Senn (D-41) has been appointed to lead the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and as of today, an appointment to her vacant seat has not been made. The same goes for seat appointments resulting from Senator Joe Nguyen’s (D-34) appointment to lead the Department of Commerce. It appears a Senate appointment to that seat will not be made until later this month.

Governor-Elect Ferguson Appointments

  • Cheryl Strange
    • Position: Acting Secretary, Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
    • Background: Strange previously served as Secretary of DSHS from 2017 to 2021 and brings over 40 years of public service experience. Source
  •  Derek Sandison
    • Position: Director, Department of Agriculture
    • Background: Serving as Director since June 2015, Sandison has focused on strengthening Washington’s food and agriculture systems. Source
  • Cami Feek
    • Position: Commissioner, Employment Security Department
    • Background: Appointed in June 2021, Feek has overseen initiatives like the launch of Paid Family and Medical Leave. Source
  • Major General Gent Welsh
    • Position: Adjutant General, Washington Military Department
    • Background: Oversees the state’s National Guard and Emergency Management Division. Source
  • John Batiste
    • Position: Chief, Washington State Patrol (WSP)
    • Background: Serving as Chief since 2005, Batiste has led Washington’s law enforcement initiatives with a focus on ethical policing and public safety.
  • Dr. Allyson Brooks
    • Position: Director, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP)
    • Background: Serving as State Historic Preservation Officer for over two decades, Brooks has shaped policies preserving Washington’s cultural heritage.
  • Joel Sacks
    • Position: Director, Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)
    • Background: Appointed in 2013, Sacks has led efforts to improve workplace safety and workers’ compensation systems.
  • Bill Kehoe
    • Position: Director, Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech)
    • Background: Serving as Director since August 2021, Kehoe has focused on innovation and resident engagement in state technology services.
  • Shauna Bilyeu
    • Position: Executive Director, Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY)
    • Background: Bilyeu has worked in Deaf Education for over 28 years and has held various leadership roles at CDHY since 2005.
  • Scott McCallum
    • Position: Superintendent, Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB)
    • Background: With 25 years of experience, McCallum has developed and implemented adaptive educational technology for blind and low-vision students.
  • Drew Shirk
    • Position: Director, Department of Revenue (DOR)
    • Background: Appointed in 2023, Shirk has extensive policy and stakeholder engagement experience, particularly in fiscal management and taxation.
  • Marcus Glasper
    • Position: Director, Department of Licensing
    • Background: Serving as Director since April 2023, Glasper brings over 30 years of public sector experience. Source
  • David Puente Jr.
    • Position: Director, Department of Veterans Affairs
    • Background: An Army veteran, Puente has been with the department since February 2023, previously serving as Deputy Director. Source
  • Casey Sixkiller
    • Position: Director, Department of Ecology
    • Background: Currently serving as Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Sixkiller is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
  • Rep. Tana Senn
    • Position: Secretary, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
    • Background: Served as the Chair of the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee and has been very engaged in the DCYF work from this role for years. Her career spans the private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Source
  • Senator Joe Nguyen
    • Position: Director, Department of Commerce
    • Background: Nguyen was the chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, where he’s worked on implementing major climate policies, including the Climate Commitment Act, and artificial intelligence legislation. He also served as a vice chair of the Ways & Means Committee. Source
  • Charlie Clark
    • Position: Director of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
    • Background: Clark was appointed Director of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions on April 1, 2019. He first joined DFI in 2012 and served in the roles of Division of Consumer Services Enforcement Program Manager and Division Director before serving as Deputy Director beginning in November 2016.
  • Michael MacKillop
    • Position: Executive Director for the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind
    • Background: MacKillop has been in the role of Executive Director for the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind since January 2020 and has served in other executive and direct service positions within the agency over the past 24 years.
  • Julie Meredith
    • Position: Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
    • Background: Julie Meredith has been a public servant contributing to Washington state’s transportation infrastructure since 1989. In the last two decades, she has been instrumental in delivering each of the Puget Sound region’s most complex, high-profile transportation projects. She has been involved in improving the SR 520 corridor across Lake Washington including the world’s longest floating bridge, replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and improvements along the I-405, SR 167 and SR 509 corridors.
  • Jessica Todorovich (Temporary Appointment while a national search is conducted)
    • Position: Acting Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH)
    • Background: Jessica Todorovich has served as the Chief of Staff for the Washington State Department of Health for the past 12 years. She has been with the agency since 2012 and worked in Washington State government for over 25 years. A native of Washington and second-generation Washington State government employee, Jessica received her bachelor’s degree from Whitman College and master’s in human resources and organizational leadership from Chapman University.
  • MaryAnne Lindeblad (Temporary Appointment while a national search is conducted)
    • Position: Acting Director of the Health Care Authority (HCA)
    • Background: MaryAnne Lindeblad, BSN, retired from a career working in various health-related positions for the Department of Social and Health Services and the Washington State Health Care Authority. She served in a variety of positions culminating as the State Medicaid Director for 9 years.

Important Dates:

  • Monday, January 13 – First Day of Session
  • Friday, February 21 – Policy Committee Cutoff, House of Origin
  • Friday, February 28 – Fiscal Committee Cutoff, House of Origin
  • Wednesday, March 12 – House of Origin Floor Cutoff
  • Wednesday, April 2 – Policy Committee Cutoff, Opposite House
  • Tuesday, April 8 – Fiscal Committee Cutoff, Opposite House
  • Wednesday, April 16 – Opposite House Floor Cutoff
  • Sunday, April 27 – Sine Die

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Brynn Brady

Ceiba Consulting, Inc. | ceibaconsulting.com

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