All legislators serve on committees. New members of a committee have to learn the issues quickly, because they only have four months to pass laws each year. They don’t have a lot of time to do research on the issues, so they rely on lobbyists and advocates to help them. This year the Health/Human Services and Education Committees and Budget Subcommittees have a lot of new members. This is both a challenge (because of the learning curve) and an opportunity. Advocates can help educate them during this learning curve.
If you are represented by one of these new committee members, now is a good time to reach out to them and offer yourself as a resource. Remember, you are the expert because your story is uniquely yours. Your story can help legislators understand the real world impact of the laws they are debating.
Health & Human Services Committee: One in three members are new to the committee.
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New Chairs: Sen. Mike Klimesh & Rep. Carter Nordman (new to the committee)
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New Vice Chair: Rep. Brett Barker (new legislator)
- Other New Members:
- Sen. Doug Campbell (new legislator)
- Sen. Claire Celsi
- Sen. Mark Lofgren
- Sen. Mike Pike (new legislator)
- Sen. Kara Warme (new legislator)
- Rep. Traci Ehlert
- Rep. Dan Gehlbach
- Rep. Chad Ingels
- Rep. Rob Johnson (new legislator)
Education Committee: Nearly half of the Education Committee is new this year.
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New Chair: Sen. Lynn Evans
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New Vice Chair: Rep. Samantha Fett (new legislator)
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New Ranking Member: Rep. Heather Matson
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Other New Members:
- Sen. Doug Campbell (new legislator)
- Sen. Mike Pike (new legislator)
- Sen. Tom Shipley
- Sen. Cindy Winckler
- Rep. Chad Behn (new legislator)
- Rep. Eric Gjerde
- Rep. Robert Henderson
- Rep. Craig Johnson
- Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla
- Rep. Elinor Levin
- Rep. Jeff Shipley
- Rep. Ryan Weldon (a new legislator)
- Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Health & Human Services Budget Subcommittee:
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New House Chair: Rep. Ann Meyer
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New Senate and House Vice Chairs: Sen. Mike Klimesh & Rep. Tom Moore
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New House Ranking Member: Rep. Josh Turek
- Other new members:
- Sen. Kara Warme (new legislator)
- Rep. Brett Barker (new legislator)
- Rep. Austin Baeth
- Rep. Kenan Judge
- Rep. Matthew Rinker
Education Budget Subcommittee:
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New House & Senate Chairs: Sen. Jesse Green & Rep. Austin Harris (new to committee)
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New Senate Vice Chair: Sen. Lynn Evans
- Other new members:
- Sen. Sandy Salmon
- Sen. Zach Wahls
- Rep. Brooke Boden
- Rep. Samantha Fett
- Rep. Heather Hora
- Rep. Monica Kurth
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