The legislature convened for the 2023 legislative session on January 9. During the session, legislators will convene for 105 days and do the hard work of writing the two-year (biennial) operating, capital, and transportation budgets. They also can consider policy bills that are put forward for consideration. This session, which will be a marathon year rather than the sprint of short session, is scheduled to end on April 23, 2023.
For the first time since 2020, the legislature will be convening in-person and they are taking important measures to protect public health and safety. One of the most exciting carry-forwards that began from COVID is virtual testimony for committee hearings, remote sign-ins, and virtual meetings for most offices; this ensures more people who are directly impacted by the decisions made in Olympia have access to the legislative process.
Specific to WithinReach’s priorities, we are seeing a lot of important efforts in our key focus areas for this session:
- Requesting funding to build capacity for Help Me Grow at the state and local level
- Dismantling systemic racism and advancing diversity, equity & inclusion
- Investing in physical health, behavioral health, food security, and other basic needs so families can thrive
For more details about WithinReach’s 2023 legislative agenda, please visit our Advocacy page.
