On April 18, Start Early along with our partners at Child Care For All, COFI, Illinois Action for Children, Raising Illinois, SEIU, and We, the Village brought over 300 advocates down to Springfield to advocate for Illinois’ youngest learners. Advocates shared policy briefs outlining the impact that Governor Pritzker’s Smart Start Illinois initiative would have on our early childhood systems as well as Raising Illinois’ Babies Can’t Wait postcards highlighting the struggles & successes Illinois families have had with Early Intervention. We were honored to be joined by Governor Pritzker himself, as well as Lieutenant Governor Stratton, who both addressed advocates in the Rotunda as part of the day’s events.
Early Childhood Advocacy Day 2023
With about a month left in this legislative session, we aren’t easing up our advocacy efforts! Here’s how you can still participate:
- Contact your legislators
- Use our social toolkit to share more about the impact of Smart Start with your personal networks
- Share your Early Intervention story
- To keep up with the work of the Illinois Policy Team you can also follow along on Twitter: @EarlyEdIL
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The Washington State Legislature adjourned “Sine Die” just after 10 p.m. Sunday, April 23.
Following is a recap of key actions since our Friday morning release of “Notes From Olympia.”
Release and Passage of 2023-25 Budgets
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the Operating, Capital and Transportation budgets over the weekend. The Capital and Transportation budgets passed with broad bipartisan support, while the Operating budget passed on a party-line vote in the House and saw 8 Republicans joining Democrats to vote for passage in the Senate.
Of particular interest to loyal “Notes from Olympia” trivia readers, the final Capital budget does include funding to restore the skylights above the Senate and House chambers in time for the Legislative Building’s centennial celebration in 2028.
Start Early Washington updated its budget comparison document on our resources page to reflect the final early learning related budget items. Despite concern of a potential economic downturn as well as multiple competing demands, the adopted budgets contain significant investments for a number of early learning programs.
Lawmakers worked incredibly long hours to craft this budget and would no doubt appreciate hearing a “thank you” for prioritizing early learning investments. Legislative email addresses all share the format of firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov. Specific emails can be found on the legislative website.
Updates on Outstanding Bills
We’ve updated our bill tracker on our resource page to include this weekend’s bill activity. Remember, bills that did not advance in 2023 can be revisited in 2024.
In what turned out to be the final bill vote for the 2023 legislative session, the House voted to concur in Senate amendments to 2SHB 1550 on a 60-37 vote, sending the legislation relating to Transitional Kindergarten to the Governor’s desk. Earlier in the evening, the Senate adopted a striker to 2SHB 1550 on a 39-10 vote.
As passed by the Legislature, the bill:
- Codifies Transitional Kindergarten and reconstitutes it as Transition to Kindergarten (TTK).
- Directs the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop rules for the administration of and standards for TTK. Initial rules must be adopted prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year with permanent rules by the 2024-25 school year.
- Provides that only school-district authorized charter schools may immediately offer TTK and the charter commission authorized charter schools may offer TTK beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
- Defines eligibility for TTK as those children who have been determined to benefit from additional preparation for kindergarten and who are at least four-years old by 8/31 of each year.
- Requires, as practicable, TTK programs prioritize children from lowest income families and those most in need of additional preparation.
- TTK is not considered a child-level entitlement.
- Unless excused by parents or caregivers, requires administration of WaKIDS at the start and end of the school year.
- Calls for a local child care and early learning needs assessment prior to beginning or expanding a TTK program. Also directs OSPI and DCYF to develop statewide coordinated eligibility, recruitment, enrollment and selection best practices.
- Provides that TTK programs must follow OSPI developed guidelines related to best practices for site readiness, developmentally appropriate curricula and professional development. OSPI must also develop a process for site visits to provide feedback on these guidelines.
- Prohibits charging of tuition as well as excluding children due to the presence of a disability.
- Allows TTK programs to blend and co-locate with other early learning programs.
- Provides that TTK students will be counted as a kindergarten student for funding purposes, but reported separately (to be able to get an accurate count of the number of TTK students). Funding is equivalent to the prototypical school funding model (including transportation), but is not considered part of basic education.
- Directs DCYF to make administrative changes to better align early learning programs.
- Finally, directs the caseload forecast council to forecast for TTK.
You can track the scheduling of bill signings on the Governor’s webpage. The Governor must act upon all bills that reach his desk by May 15.
Legislative Leadership Change Announced
On Sine Die, House Minority Leader JT Wilcox shared his plans to step down as the House Republican leader. The leadership change will occur when the House Republican Caucus selects a new leader. During an interview on TVW, Representative Wilcox stated he does plan to continue in the House.
Thank you for your partnership with us through the 2023 legislative session. We look forward to continuing our shared work to build more equitable systems for children and families in Washington state.
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(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)
This edition of “Notes From Olympia” will serve as our final weekly newsletter, signaling the end of the 2023 legislative session.
What Is Next?
- Look for an email early next week, which will include final budget details, bill status updates and a recap of the last days of the legislative session.
- We will share an update covering Gov. Inslee’s actions mid-May.
- Our “Notes From Olympia” will continue periodically during the interim to keep you abreast of early learning policy developments.
Trivia!
Which Governor was associated with “The Kick” incident in 1913?
Budget Details
Conference reports for the2023-25 biennial budgets will be released by Saturday of this week and voted upon prior to legislative adjournment. Specifically, the Operating budget details will be released Saturday, April 22, at noon. Because these actions will occur after this week’s newsletter publication, we plan to send out an email early next week including the final budget details as well as a recap of the last days of the legislative session. When completed, the budget summary will be available on Start Early Washington’s resource page.
Legislative Updates
With the Legislature poised to adjourn “Sine Die” Sunday, April 23, this week focused on finalizing actions on outstanding bills while budget writers and the amazing staff worked to put together the Operating, Capital and Transportation budgets.
As of this writing, only one active early learning related bill has not advanced to the Governor’s desk – 2SHB 1550, related to Transitional Kindergarten. We will include a status update in a post-session email. You can also check the status of specific legislation on the legislative website or via Start Early Washington’s bill tracker on our resource page.
As a reminder, you can track the status of gubernatorial bill signings on this webpage. The final day for Governor Inslee to act on bills that reach his desk is May 16.
After gubernatorial action, attention turns to state agencies as they start implementing the policies and related funding included in the enacted bills. Implementation planning can take weeks to months, depending on the issue or program and the extent external parties are involved in development. Additionally, state agencies are beginning to develop decision packages outlining their policy and funding priorities for the 2024 legislative session. The legislative cycle is always in motion!
Trivia Answer
“The Kick” incident involved Governor Ernest Lister and First Lady Mary Alma Lister. This is the same Governor Lister mentioned in last week’s newsletter who moved his family out of the Governor’s mansion due to the home’s frigid temperatures.
Governor Ernest Lister (1870-1949)
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Lister, a Democrat from Tacoma, was elected in 1912 by fewer than 1,000 votes. At the time of his election, the State Senate comprised 25 Republicans, 8 Democrats, 8 Progressives and one Independent. The House held 48 Republicans, 30 Progressives, 18 Democrats and one Socialist. In the House, the 18 Democrats joined with the 48 Republicans to elect a Republican speaker as the Democrats felt they shared more in common with the Republicans than the Progressives. From the start of his term, Governor Lister faced a rocky relationship with the Legislature, identifying more with the Progressives’ agenda than his fellow Democrats. (Note for future trivia – it would be interesting to look at when our state stopped electing candidates from the Progressive Party).
So, what was “The Kick?” First, some backstory. In the early 1910s, the funding and building of highways became a prominent issue as more Washingtonians purchased automobiles. During the 1913 legislative session, the Legislature and Governor could not reach agreement on the level of funding needed to address the growing demand for roads (sound familiar?).
In late February 1913, the Legislature passed a $1.5 million levy for road construction which the Governor promptly vetoed. An effort to override the Governor’s veto failed. At this point, it was Day 54 of the legislative session and legislative leadership wanted to deliver a highway funding bill to the Governor as soon as possible so the Governor would be forced to act on the bill before the Legislature left town. (Annual legislative sessions did not begin until 1980; in 1913, sessions were only 60 days long).
This is where it gets interesting. Remember, this was the time of actual paper delivery. After both chambers passed a new road funding bill between 5 – 6 p.m., an attempt to deliver it to the Governor’s office was thwarted as his office door was locked. That evening, a legislative ball was scheduled and legislative leadership hatched a plan to deliver the bill during the event. The Governor attended the ball – briefly – but dodged the delivery. (By now, you may have an image of someone avoiding a subpoena).
Next, the House Speaker directed the Chief Clerk of the House and the Chair of the Highway Committee to attempt delivery at the Governor’s mansion that same evening. When they arrived at the home, First Lady Mary Alma Lister answered the door and said the Governor was unavailable. The Chief Clerk and Committee Chair made a few more attempts, finally dropping the bill inside the mansion when Mrs. Lister answered the door. Mrs. Lister promptly responded by kicking the bill out of the house and it landed on the front porch. Hence “The Kick,” which spawned an editorial cartoon by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
(Photo Credit: Washington State Archives)
Governor Lister did consider the bill delivered, and he took to the Senate Floor the following day to issue a veto and to chastise the Chief Clerk and Committee Chair for their rude demeanor toward his wife, using some choice words for the time. However, after the Speaker retorted with criticism of the Governor, the parties settled down to negotiate a compromise resulting in a $1.25 million highway appropriations bill. It is important to note that this package included funding for the Snoqualmie Pass (!), but Governor Lister did veto money for the Columbia River Bridge in Vancouver, an ongoing topic of discussion to this day.
I specifically included this “end-of-session” related trivia because it encapsulates many themes discussed in the past few newsletters — leveraging legislative rules to one’s advantage, heated tempers and ultimate compromise. Happy Sine Die!
(Photo Credit: Washington State Archives)
Sources: History of the Washington Legislature 1856-1963 by Don Brazier, Wikipedia and Washington State Archives.
A Parting Construction Update …
It was both fitting and symbolic that workers made significant progress in demolishing the Irv Newhouse Building this week. The new, larger building should be open at the end of 2024.
From this …
To this!
We want to hear from you!
Thank you for reading “Notes from Olympia.” We welcome your feedback and suggestions of what you would like to see more or less of. And we always welcome your trivia suggestions!
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Legislators burning the midnight oil during the final days of legislative session
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)
Trivia!
What was the cost of constructing and designing the Washington State Governor’s Mansion in 1909?
Legislative Updates
Wednesday of this week was the final cutoff for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber. However, there is an exception to the cutoff deadlines for bills deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB). Both bodies put in long hours this week, with the House of Representatives working well into the early morning hours Tuesday and Wednesday. For a recap of the final steps of the legislative process, check out last week’s “Notes From Olympia.”
What to expect in the final 10 days. On Sunday, April 23 the 2023 legislative session comes to a close, also known as Sine Die (a Latin term meaning without a fixed day for future meeting). During the last few weeks of session, many bills will be amended to get them over the final hump. Some of the amendments will be done to reduce the cost of implementing the proposed policy or result from negotiations over policy approaches between the Senate and the House. It is a good idea to continue to check for amendments on bills you care about. You can do so by accessing the most recent bill reports or scrolling down to the bottom of the bill page to see if amendments have been adopted.
For example, House Bill 1525, which would provide child care subsidy eligibility to parents in state approved apprenticeship programs, was amended in the Senate Ways and Means Committee April 8. The amendment is toward the bottom of the page on the left and the adopted action (amended onto the bill) is at the bottom right of the table. An “Effect” section at the end of the amendment describes what the amendment would do.
In addition to wrapping up bills, the Legislature must finish, publish and pass the 2023-25 biennial Operating, Capital and Transportation budgets. Typically, the budget details and bills are released and voted on in the last few days of session. Now is the time to advocate for any additions or changes to the budget, as the Legislature will take an up-or-down vote (no amendments) once it is public and ready for action next week.
Bill Tracker: Key Early Learning Bills
As the legislative session progresses, our resource page will be updated with a weekly bill tracker. Please note that legislation changes quickly, so the version on our website may not represent a bill’s latest version as it is published the Thursday of each week.
Trivia Answer
The Legislature allocated $35,000 to design and construct the 19 room, Georgian style Governor’s Mansion. Built in 1909, it is currently the oldest building on the Capitol Campus.
Washington State Governor’s Mansion
(Photo Credit: Historylink.org)
Washington was one of the first 20 states to offer housing to its executive leader. Prior to the construction of the mansion, Governors were expected to move their families to Olympia and secure private housing within their salary (which was $333.33/month at the time of the building’s construction). Governors were also expected to extensively entertain and host public events, which made finding the right house even more complicated.
The Governor’s residence was designed in 1908 by Tacoma-based architects Russell & Babcock and built using Washington contractors and materials, including sandstone from Tenino and lime from the San Juan Islands. The original budget did not include funding for furnishings, which proved problematic as its grand opening coincided with the 1909 inauguration of Governor Albert Mead. To ensure a festive party, local Olympians lent their furniture and glassware. Ultimately, the Legislature allocated $15,000 to furnish the residence. A number of the original pieces remain in the home today, including the grandfather clock on the stairway landing and 18 chairs in the State Dining Room.
Unfortunately, the Governor at the time of the mansion’s completion, Governor Albert Mead, never had the opportunity to live in the residence. He was present in Olympia on his inauguration day, fell ill and moved to California to convalesce. He died two months later. Mead’s Lt. Governor Marion E. Hay and his family became the first gubernatorial family to live in the home and Hay’s wife oversaw the furnishing project.
The residence did not receive funding for upkeep and needed maintenance after the initial investments, resulting in disrepair. Finally, in 1915, Governor Ernest Lister and his family moved out of the home because it cost too much to keep it heated in the winter. A few years later, the Legislature made multiple attempts to sell the property entirely or demolish the mansion and erect a legislative office building in its place.
It was not until 1963, when Governor Dan Evans and family moved in, that a long-term plan was developed to address needed costs for maintaining the home. First Lady Nancy Bell Evans took up the mantle of preserving and renovating the residence, creating the Foundation for the Preservation of the Governor’s Mansion, a group that continues today. In 1972, the initial board of 47 women and five men began implementing a master plan developed pro bono by Seattle-based interior decorator Jean Jongeword. To this day, the Foundation plays a key role, undertaking private fundraising efforts to maintain the furnishings and art in the public rooms as well as providing education about the mansion and its history.
In 2022, the Foundation published a timeline highlighting significant events during its 50-year history.
(Photo Credit: Washington State Governor’s Mansion Foundation)
Some interesting tidbits I learned during my research:
In 1997, Governor Gary Locke and his family experienced a bat infiltration in the residence. After Governor Locke chased a bat out of the primary bedroom, the entire Locke family was vaccinated against rabies and temporarily moved to a private residence to allow experts to properly rid their home of the bat problem. (This spawned a number of “punny” newspaper headlines about the Governor being driven “batty”).
On Aug. 9, 2008 the first wedding involving a member of the gubernatorial family was held at the residence when Governor Christine Gregoire’s daughter Michelle married Scott Lindsay.
Each Halloween during his tenure, Governor Jay Inslee and his wife Trudi don themed costumes to distribute Halloween goodies to trick-or-treaters. Halloween 2019, Governor Inslee invited costumed Washingtonians to come by the residence for Washington state chocolate and apples. He shared the picture below on his official Twitter page.
Governor “Batman” Inslee and First Lady “Robin” Inslee pose with some of their super-hero grandchildren
(Photo Credit: Governor Jay Inslee’s official Twitter page)
Finally, public tours are available with pre-registration. Visit the tour portion of the Governor’s Mansion Foundation for tour times and registration.
Sources: Wikipedia, Olympia Historical Society and Washington State Governor’s Mansion Foundation
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Start Early believes that the early years of a child’s development are critical to their ability to thrive in life, and that all children have the right to environments that support their healthy development. The impacts of climate change undermine the development and physical safety of young children and threaten the relationships and environments that shape their earliest years. If those who care for young children are key partners in designing for the future, we can mitigate these effects, while simultaneously strengthening and investing in our early childhood systems and communities.
THE CHALLENGE
As climate change progresses, frequent extreme heat, weather events and humanitarian emergencies will create the kind of toxic stress that impedes family wellness and children’s growth, development, learning and physical and mental health.
For infants, young children and pregnant people, their physical characteristics and particular circumstances make them more susceptible to the health effects of climate change, including illness and disease, injury and premature death and threats to mental health (according to the Centers for Disease Control). That vulnerability is also more severe for groups that have historically been under-served and those who are more vulnerable to heat and severe weather, including frontline and fenceline communities, BIPOC communities, refugees, people with lower incomes, people living with disabilities, and those at the intersections of these groups.
The changing climate will create new demands on both mental health resilience in the face of adverse childhood experiences brought on or worsened by extreme weather and physical infrastructure resilience in the neighborhoods, homes, centers and health care settings where children are cared for.
These challenges – and the need to respond to them – place additional burden on already-overworked and under-resourced caregivers and early childhood systems.
THE OPPORTUNITY
As the impacts of climate change expand and worsen, we must look to the strengths and protective factors offered by our early childhood system to support young children and their families in the context of a changing climate. Start Early is a champion for quality early learning and care, focused on closing the opportunity gap for our youngest learners. It is increasingly clear that we must expand our idea of what it means to care for young children to address the new and increased mental and physical health challenges that many of them are experiencing or will experience in the years ahead.
The challenge of climate change is daunting, but well-resourced, accessible early childhood systems are key in helping young children and their caregivers prepare and adapt.
Early childhood providers, health care providers, home visitors, doulas and others who support families are often the first stop and most trusted resource for young parents seeking information and help. Parents and providers also have valuable expertise on what young children need and how our support systems can help (or hinder) their development. These partnerships and insights will be critical to supporting the safety and resiliency of young children in the years ahead as programs and systems plan for the future.
In order to center the needs of young children and their families in climate adaptation and resiliency planning, Start Early President Diana Rauner is co-chairing the Early Years Climate Action Task Force, a group of cross-sector partners co-convened by Capita and This is Planet Ed (the Aspen Institute). The Task Force is in the process of developing the first-ever U.S. Early Years Climate Action Plan, which will include recommendations for how the country can help young children, birth-to-age 8, flourish in the face of climate change. Be the first to know when we share the final plan this fall.
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Gorgeous cherry blossoms brighten the Capitol campus
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)
Trivia!
Washington state was admitted to the Union in 1889. How many years did it take for the state to adopt an official state flag?
The Homestretch: What to Expect at the End of the Legislative Session
Monday was budget day in the House of Representatives with debate, consideration of amendments and ultimate passage of the Operating and Transportation budgets. As a reminder, the Washington Fiscal Information website contains links to the budget bills and their details. And Start Early Washington’s resource page includes a comparison of the various early learning budget-related proposals released to date.
As we near the final weeks of the legislative session, the Legislature faces deadline after deadline in rapid succession. After the April 4 fiscal committee cutoff earlier this week, attention quickly pivoted back to Floor activity as lawmakers worked to debate and pass bills that originated in the opposite chamber in advance of the April 12 deadline. At the same time, budget writers continue negotiations to reconcile differences between the two bodies’ approaches prior to the scheduled April 23 adjournment. Legislators, staff and lobbyists are all fatigued, but an end is in sight and the beautiful cherry blossoms throughout the campus are inspiring.
Legislative Lowdown
I have seen a lot of questions recently about the process for a bill to become a law during these frenetic final days. As we all know, this process is far more complex than Schoolhouse Rock led us to believe. The legislative website contains a full description of this process.
Here’s a quick synopsis:
Bills not amended in the opposite chamber. Bills that pass out of the opposite chamber without any amendments move directly to the Governor. For example, if the Senate approves a bill exactly as it left the House, the bill moves straight to the Governor’s desk.
Bills amended in the opposite chamber. Bills amended in the second body must return to its original chamber so that entity can decide if it will “concur” with the other body’s changes. Bills amended in the opposite chamber are placed on the Concurrence Calendar in the House and the Concurring Calendar in the Senate (it would be interesting to learn why the slight difference in the naming of these calendars).
What happens if the first body disagrees (or fails to concur) with amendments made in the opposite body? When the original body does not concur with the amendments made in the opposite chamber, the originating body can request that the opposite chamber “recede” from its amendments. If the second body agrees to recede, the bill proceeds to the Governor.
If the second body does not agree to recede from its amendments, one of the bodies can ask for a “conference committee” representing members from both the Senate and House to work to resolve differences. (In legislative lingo, you may hear the statement that a “bill has gone to conference.”). If the conference committee is able to agree, it will produce a conference report that would then go before both chambers. Importantly, conference committee reports cannot be amended after adoption. If both bodies approve the conference committee report, the bill moves to the Governor. If one of the bodies does not approve the conference committee report (or does not take a vote), the bill fails.
After the votes are taken, do bills go to the Governor? Not quite. After bills pass third reading in both chambers, they must first be signed by the Speaker of the House, the Chief Clerk of the House, the President of the Senate and the Secretary of the Senate prior to transmittal to the Governor. This process is called enrollment. Prior to recent advancements in technology, the signed, paper bills were physically submitted to the Governor’s office. It is, of course, now done electronically, but there can still be a lag before it reaches the Governor.
Does the Governor have a time limit for acting on bills? Engrossed bills must be acted on by the Governor within five days of receipt unless the bill passes the Legislature with fewer than five days before adjournment. In that case, the Governor has 20 days to act on the bill (excluding Sundays). For the 2023 legislative session, the five-day cutoff is April 17. This means that bills that reach Governor Inslee’s desk by April 17 must be acted upon within five days.
The Governor may sign, veto or line-item veto parts of bills and usually executes at least a few vetoes every year for various reasons. It is possible for the legislature to override a Governor’s veto, but it does not happen often, particularly when the Governor and the legislative chambers are led by the same party.
The Governor’s website includes schedules of expected bill actions. Note that bill signings are no longer open to the general public but can be view on TVW.org.
Bill Tracker: Key Early Learning Bills
As the legislative session progresses, our resource page will be updated with a weekly bill tracker. Please note that legislation changes quickly, so the version on our website may not represent a bill’s latest version as it is published the Thursday of each week.
Trivia Answer
It took the state 34 years to adopt an official state flag.
Washington state was admitted to the Union in 1889 but did not adopt an official design for the Washington state flag until 1923 after a yearslong effort led by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
During the 1800s, as a number of states were admitted to the Union, state flags were not seen as critical, and many veteran groups believed that only the American flag should be flown. As a result, many state flags were a common, basic design with a blue background and the state seal in the middle. Several states continue to use that basic design today. The Washington state seal itself was co-designed and created by brothers Charles, Grant and George Talcott, who owned and operated several businesses in Olympia, including Talcott Jewelers, the location of the original printing of the first state seal.
The Talcott Brothers – Charles, Grant, and George circa 1960
(Photo Credit: Olympia Historical Society)
Many Washingtonians wanted a more unique flag for the state and, after years of prototypes and lobbying, the Legislature approved the flag design we have today on March 5, 1923. That flag became official on June 7, 1923 – almost 100 years ago. The Washington state flag is the only U.S. state flag with a green background, representing the Evergreen State moniker, as well as the only state flag with the image of a president. The flag has seen minor updates including the modernization of the flag’s colors in 1955 and a slight update to the seal in 1967.
Many flag aficionados and the North American Vexillological Association have criticized the Washington flag for its lack of originality, inclusion of words and use of an image of an individual who never stepped foot in the state. There have been calls to create a new flag to better represent Washington, much like Utah did this year after a public design competition. What would you include if you could create a new flag for Washington?
Current Washington State Flag
Original State Seal, 1889
(Photo Credit: University of South Florida)
Bonus Trivia: Construction Update
Work continues on the demolition of the Newhouse Building as workers remove the upper portion of the building piece-by-piece (the white concrete blocks in the forefront of the picture represent the portions removed so far). I will be curious to see how far they get in the next 16 days.
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed Smart Start Illinois initiative calls for a historic investment of $40 million for the Early Intervention (EI) program in FY 24 to increase provider reimbursement rates, address service coordination challenges and accommodate growing caseloads.
Illinois’ EI program provides a range of critical family-centered developmental and social-emotional services, including speech and language, occupational and physical therapies and social work services to nearly 27,000 infants and toddlers with developmental delays, disabilities or certain medical conditions across the state to ensure they have the best chance for healthy development. EI services have been shown to improve developmental outcomes for young children, support families to better meet their child’s developmental needs from an early age and reduce future educational costs to our communities and the state by minimizing the need for special education services. Nearly half of children who participated in Early Intervention are functioning within age expectations by pre-K, and of those who exit functioning below age expected levels, 75% substantially increased their rate of growth by pre-K.
Research shows that the first three years are a critical time to intervene because it is when a child’s developing brain is most capable of change, and we know that EI services are most effective when provided earlier in life. Despite this, infants and toddlers with delays and disabilities and their families are currently experiencing historically high service delays and barriers to accessing the Early Intervention system at every step of the process. This includes thousands of families waiting to complete the intake/evaluation and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) development process, and many more waiting to receive services after their IFSPs are created as waitlists for services have nearly doubled from FY 22 to FY 23.
Without access to the EI services they are legally entitled to, infants and toddlers with delays and disabilities are falling through the cracks each day and many age out of EI while still waiting for services to be initiated. There has been a historic groundswell of advocacy among families and the EI provider community through grassroots organizing, with thousands of petition signatures collected and letters sent to legislators, and over a hundred postcards from families sharing their experiences. As one parent shared, “My son is currently waiting for services to start. He isn’t able to communicate with us. He isn’t able to tell us when he is hungry, thirsty or in pain. It’s very frustrating for him.”
The challenges families are experiencing with accessing services are primarily due to the ongoing EI workforce crisis. Most Illinois providers, who largely work as fee-for-service independent contractors, must cover their own health insurance and travel costs—both of which are increasing—and are not compensated for missed or canceled appointments, leading to inconsistent income for providers. As a result, EI providers, many of whom have advanced degrees, are choosing to leave EI and work instead in hospitals, schools, private practice or other settings with better benefits and higher pay. Severely lagging reimbursement rates make it difficult to keep up with cost-of-living increases, and EI providers have only received three nominal reimbursement rate increases in nearly two decades. In addition to the provider shortage, high caseloads and low compensation for service coordinators at the 25 Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices across the state have led to high turnover and vacancies, having a substantial impact on families trying to get into the EI system.
While we applaud the Governor’s promise of historic funds and particular attention to Early Intervention, we know that this is only the start of the critical long-term investment needed to maintain the system and to truly recruit and retain the EI workforce. Without immediate action to address the workforce challenges, more personnel will leave the system entirely, causing further harm to children and families. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to approve a FY 24 budget this spring that includes, at a minimum, the funding proposals laid out by the Governor and to advocate for additional improvements to the system. We couldn’t agree more that the time to act is now—babies cannot wait.
This blog post is the first in a series outlining the Early Childhood components of Governor Pritzker’s Smart Start Illinois initiative, a proposed multi-year investment in our state’s Early Intervention, Child Care, Home Visiting, and Pre-K systems.
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This blog series outlines the Early Childhood components of Governor Pritzker’s Smart Start Illinois initiative, a proposed multi-year investment in our state’s Early Intervention, Child Care, Home Visiting, and Pre-K systems.
As parents and caregivers grapple with climate anxiety (their own and their children’s) and how to discuss climate change with their families, one thing remains certain: we all want a safe, healthy and joyful future for the children in our lives.
Although only about half of parents have had the climate change conversation with their little ones, 3 out of 4 Americans (74%) feel they have a “moral obligation” to make the world a better place by addressing climate change not only for their own children and grandchildren, but for all children to come.1 This starts with understanding the latest information about how our world is changing and what those impacts will look like for different communities, populations and systems.
Enter > the AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 (AR6), the latest report from the United Nations’ body on climate change (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC), released this past March. The report summarizes what we know about the status of climate change worldwide, the trends that are emerging, what impacts are taking hold and for whom, and what policies and actions are likely to slow down foreseeable effects.
From my standpoint as a parent and early childhood and climate justice advocate, here are my five big takeaways from this landmark report:
1. “The extent to which current and future generations will experience a hotter and different world depends on choices now and in the near term.”
The IPCC has “high confidence” that – unless we quickly make drastic cuts to emissions – global temperature change will exceed 2.7°F (1.5°C) during the 21st Century, a threshold that would trigger more severe climate events, humanitarian impacts and systems disruptions. The report indicates that if current emissions trends continue, climate change will progress rapidly, and we will not be on a path to creating a safe and just world for our children.
Frighteningly, it adds that children born in 2020 could see a global temperature change of up to 4°C in their lifetime if global emissions reach “very high” levels, but emphasizes that “future experiences depend on how we address climate change,” and that “the choices and actions implemented in this decade will have impacts now and for thousands of years”— important reminders to those who care about the future of young children.
2. Climate change is inclusive of more than just the weather.
When you think of climate change, it’s hurricanes, floods and droughts that most often come to mind. But the AR6 reminds us that the actual climate event is just one piece, as they also have significant widespread and long-term impacts on the systems we rely on to support ourselves and our children, like food and health care. It also emphasizes that successful climate change adaptation must include “increasing health systems resilience” and “improving access to mental health care,” both of which are likely to see increased demand as climate change progresses.
Ensuring that our food, health care and other systems meet the distinct needs of infants and young children – even amidst increased overall demand – will take us together making the case that climate change is an early childhood issue, and advocating for our youngest children where climate change adaptation and mitigation is discussed.
3. We must place the needs of climate-vulnerable and historically marginalized groups at the center of climate adaptation.
Though young children and pregnant people are mentioned only sparingly in the version of the AR6 that is currently available (and we hope to see that change in future reports), the authors frequently point out that the needs of climate-vulnerable and historically marginalized groups must be at the center of climate adaptation efforts.
The AR6 points out that some of the best climate change adaptation efforts are inclusive of “carefully designed and implemented laws, policies, participatory processes and interventions” that address the specific contexts and inequities experienced by these groups. The authors also remind us that what is good for the climate is often mutually reinforcing to human health and well-being, citing the example that “improved access to clean energy sources and technologies generate health benefits, especially for women and children.” They also share the importance of integrating climate resiliency into social protection programs that are supported by strong “basic services and infrastructure.” As far as we’re concerned, that includes strong early childhood systems and greater access to child care, home visiting, and doula services.
4. Grassroots movements have likely made a difference.
The AR6 indicates that public awareness campaigns and social movements have likely pushed governments and other decision-makers to set more ambitious targets to address climate change. These movements have “helped accelerate political commitment and global efforts,” have served as “catalyzing agents,” and, in some cases, have “influenced the outcome and ambition of climate governance” in various regions across the globe. If you have been part of those campaigns, take this section of the AR6 as a sign of encouragement that the movement you were a part of contributed to change.
5. Continued engagement and advocacy around climate change is essential to reducing emissions and creating a brighter future for our children.
The AR6 emphasizes that active participation in inclusive planning processes in our communities is key to slowing climate change and ensuring that we are resilient to climate events in the years ahead. The authors state that “inclusive governance processes facilitate effective climate action” and “climate resilient development benefits from drawing on diverse knowledge.”
If we want climate-adapted communities that are safe and supportive of our youngest children, the “diverse knowledge” that informs climate planning must include the expertise you have developed as a caregiver about what infants and children in your community need and what resources are available to families. Get involved in local planning efforts and encourage organizations in your community to make use of the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice grants, including the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program.
For more big take aways from the AR6 report, check out summaries from NPR and climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe.
Start Early is a proud member of the Early Years Climate Action Task Force, a group cross-sector group of early childhood and climate change leaders who are writing the first U.S. Early Years Climate Action Plan. Be the first to know when we share the final plan this fall.
1 Anya Kamenetz. (2022). “This of the Children: The Young–And Future Generations–Drive US Climate Concern.” The Aspen Institute & Capita Social, Inc.: Washington, DC.
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Let the blooming begin!
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)
Trivia!
The Senate Capital Budget contains funding to restore skylights in the Legislative Building that were part of the original building design. What year were the skylights removed and what were two reasons for their removal?
State Supreme Court Upholds Capital Gains Tax
On March 24, the state Supreme Court issued its long-awaited ruling on the capital gains tax, declaring that the tax is constitutional. Capital gains constitute profits made by individuals from the sales of stocks, bonds and other capital assets (with most real estate holdings exempt). The tax rate is 7%, which will be applied to capital gains profits exceeding $250,000. It is slated to fund several early learning and child care programs.
When the tax passed in 2021, Washington became the 42nd state to enact this tax estimated to impact 0.2% of Washingtonians. The tax was challenged in court on the basis that it is considered “income,” which, per a 1933 State Supreme Court ruling, would violate the state constitution’s provisions against state income taxes. In its 7-2 ruling, the state Supreme Court found capital gains to be an excise tax related to the sale of the assets and not on the assets themselves. In other words, it is not an income tax and therefore is constitutional.
Check out the Washington Department of Revenue and this Crosscut article for more information about the capital gains tax and the Court’s ruling.
Budget Proposals Released
The budget process continues to move forward with budget writers and staff devoting many sleepless nights to running cost models, drafting amendments and doing their best to ensure all the numbers add up.
This week, the House of Representatives released its proposed 2023-25 Operating, Capital and Transportation budgets. The Washington State Financial Information website contains updated links to budget bills and summaries.
The budgets are massive and complex. I like to equate them to an onion as they have many layers and can make you cry. Start Early Washington updated our budget comparison document on our resource page to reflect the status as of March 30, including the House proposals. Note, this is an evolving process, and we will do our best to keep the resource document updated.
As of this writing, the Senate passed its operating budget on a 40-9 vote and its capital budget on a 44-0 vote with 5 Senators excused. In the very early morning hours on March 30, the House Appropriations Committee voted out its proposed budget after considering scores of amendments. Next, the full House of Representatives will consider the House budget. Then, budget writers will work to resolve differences in approaches prior to April 23 Sine Die (adjournment).
Legislative Updates
House Committee holds Early Achievers work session. The House Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee held a work session on Early Achievers (EA) March 28, which can be seen on TVW at the 35 minute mark. Early Achievers is the state’s early learning quality system for ECEAP and child care programs and is funded by state and federal dollars. Committee materials provide a solid overview of the program and its impacts.
Nicole Rose, Assistant Secretary Early Learning at the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) presented on behalf of DCYF and provided an overview of related state and federal policies, funding mechanisms and the functions of the system, including the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and professional development. Assistant Secretary Rose also provided an overview of the child care and ECEAP workforce and education requirements.
Early learning bills continue to make progress. A number of early learning bills continued to move through the legislative process after the March 29 policy committee cutoff, when all bills had to be passed out of policy committees in the opposite chamber. Fiscal committee cutoff is rapidly approaching on April 4. Both the Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations Committees are scheduled for marathon public hearings and executive sessions (votes) to meet this deadline. This is a very fluid time in the process, with bills coming on and off committee schedules and rumors tend to fly! It is important to remember that no concept is truly “dead” until Sine Die.
After the fiscal committee cutoff, legislators will go back to voting bills off the floor, reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of bills and sending them to the Governor for consideration.
Bill updates as of March 30:
House Bill 1199, which prohibits “common interest communities” such as a homeowners association from banning or limiting a licensed child care center or family home, is waiting to be pulled from the Senate Rules Committee to the Senate floor. If the bill passes with no amendments on the Senate floor, it will head straight to Governor Inslee for signature.
House Bill 1525, which provides qualifying applicants and consumers of state registered apprenticeship programs eligibility for child care subsidies, had a public hearing and awaits a vote in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
Senate Bill 5225, which increases access to child care by providing subsidy eligibility to families involved in therapeutic court, bans immigration status discrimination for child care subsidies and authorizes child care subsidy eligibility for dependents of child care employees, has a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee Saturday, April 1.
Senate Bill 5252, which updates state regulations regarding background checks to meet federal regulations, passed the House Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee and is headed to the House Rules Committee, where it awaits placement on the floor calendar.
Senate Bill 5316, which eliminates the requirement for applicants of child care and foster care entities to pay state and federal background check fees and licensing fees, awaits a hearing date and a vote in the House Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 5580, which authorizes a post-delivery and transitional care program and updates the Maternity Support Services (MSS) program, was voted out of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee with an amendment that adjusts the timelines for increasing the income eligibility thresholds for pregnant and postpartum Apple Health coverage to both go into effect Nov. 1, 2023. SB 5580 will need a hearing and a vote in the House Appropriations Committee by April 4.
Finally, a new striking amendment (or striker) for Second Substitute House Bill 1550 (2SHB 1550), which converts the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program to a Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) program, was passed out of the Senate Early Learning and K12 Committee on March 27 and can be seen on TVW starting at the 3:30 minute mark.
A striker replaces all previous content with a new bill on the same subject matter. The 2SHB 1550 striker had modifications presented during the March 27 executive session that were different from the version that received a hearing on March 22. The new striker that passed committee would:
- Change the name “Transitional Kindergarten” to “Transition to Kindergarten” (TTK), place the program in statute (law), and clarify that TTK is not a K12 basic education program.
- Require the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to administer and adopt rules as well as a state site visit process for TTK. Initial rules would need to be adopted in time for the 2023-24 school year and permanent rules would need to be adopted by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
- Create TTK eligibility for children determined to benefit from an additional year of preparation before entry into kindergarten, and children must be at least 4-years-old by Aug. 31 in the year of entry into the program. The striker would ban discrimination against students with disabilities, bar tuition and provide school districts with the option to prioritize children from lowest-income families and those needing additional preparation prior to kindergarten entry.
- Require enrolled TTK students to receive a student identifier number for data tracking and require districts to administer WaKIDS twice a year unless parents ask for an exemption.
- Require participating school districts to conduct a local child care and early learning needs assessment before starting or expanding TTK. This assessment would need to consider existing availability and affordability of other early learning programs in the service area.
- Require OSPI and DCYF to develop statewide coordinated eligibility, recruitment, enrollment and selection best practices and adds a requirement that school districts and public schools adhere to OSPI guidelines related to TTK. The bill also directs DCYF to make administrative changes to better align ECEAP implementation with state-funded early learning programs serving 3 through 5-year-old children offered by school districts and requires a report by July 1, 2024.
- Provide a funding formula for the program based on the reported full-time equivalent of eligible children in the program and calculated under certain portions of the prototypical school funding model. The striker also directs the Caseload Forecast Council to forecast eligible children participating in TTK at regular intervals for state budgetary purposes.
- Clarify that school districts and OSPI cannot develop a state-funded program specifically for children that do meet standard K12 entry requirements without legislative approval.
HB 1550 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee March 31.
Bill Tracker: Key Early Learning Bills
As the legislative session progresses, our resource page will update with a weekly bill tracker. Please note that legislation changes quickly, so the version on our website may not represent a bill’s latest version as it is published the Thursday of each week.
Trivia Answer
East and west skylights visible during Legislative Building construction in 1925
(Photo Credit: Washington State Archives)
Skylights were an original part of Washington’s Legislative Building. In 1971, the skylight over the Senate Floor was removed, followed by the removal of the skylight over the House Floor in 1975. Both skylights were eventually roofed over. The primary reasons for removal were safety and acoustic concerns.
In advance of the 100-year anniversary of the opening of the Legislative Building in 2028, the Senate Capital budget contains a commitment of $7.3 million over three biennia to restore skylights over the Senate and House Floors. The Senate Capital Budget bill includes language noting that this “invaluable architectural treasure should be preserved and maintained in line with the original design.” Reinstitution of the skylights would “literally and symbolically contribute to more open and transparent legislative proceedings.” (Note this funding is not currently included in the House Capital Budget).
The original Legislative Building architects, Walter Wilder and Harry White, included the skylights as a staple of the grand building. Today, all that remains of the skylights are bronze ceiling “laylights” which serve as decorative windows below the former skylights.
Original Legislative Building architectural designs
(Photo Credit: Architectural Resources Group, Inc.)
In 2017, the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services contracted with Architectural Resources Group, Inc. out of Portland, Oregon to conduct a Legislative Chamber Skylight Restoration Feasibility Study. The 97-page report went into depth about the history of the skylights and what steps would need to be taken to restore the original vision for the building.
The report highlights that the multiple building renovations over the years makes the restoration challenging as they have to consider impacts such as updated building codes and heating/cooling. I will save you from reading the full report and share the conclusion that restoration is indeed possible.
When I saw this item in the Capital Budget, I questioned why the skylights were removed in the first place. My first theory was that the step was taken during World War II as a number of buildings at that time removed or covered up skylights during wartime to minimize any light that could aid enemy aircraft. As I started to look into this issue, however, I learned the changes came decades after the war concluded.
I first learned that prior to the removal of the skylights, the glass in the skylights was removed and painted black. The skylights themselves were ultimately removed in the 1970s during roof repair work.
The two reasons for removal were safety and sound concerns. On April 29, 1965, an earthquake struck the Olympia area and the skylights came crashing down onto the legislative desks. The Legislature was in session when this occurred, but no one was hurt. Earlier, a 1939 earthquake caused plates of glass to fall, but the Legislature was not in session at that time. The restoration plan calls for installing safety glass, allowing as much natural light as possible.
I tried to understand the acoustic reasons for the change, but the contractor’s document is written for an architectural audience, so I think we will have to take their word for it that the original design proved problematic as the bodies began to rely on microphones.
We will see if this expenditure remains in the final adopted Capital Budget and, if it does, we will see the return of skylights in five short years!
Rendering of proposed restoration site for skylights
(Photo Credit: Architectural Resources Group, Inc.)
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Trees anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Cherry Blossoms
(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)
Trivia!
A shoutout to Julie Pederson, Executive Director of The Foundation for Healthy Generations, for this week’s trivia content.
Which former legislator from Spokane was known for leading sing-alongs on the House Floor to add levity to late night sessions?
Revenue Forecast
On Monday, the State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council met to receive an updated revenue forecast from the State’s Economist Dr. Steven Lerch. Dr. Lerch reported that the proposed revenue for the next two biennia is $1.024 billion below what was forecasted in November. This breaks down as $483 million lower than projected for 2023-25 and $541 million lower for 2025-27.
Total state revenues for the 2023-25 biennium are projected at $65.7 billion. In comparison, total state revenues for the 2021-23 biennium were $64.1 billion. Put another way, the state’s revenues are only expected to grow by 2.4% between the 2021-23 and 2023-25 biennia. In contrast, state revenue grew by 20.7% from the 2019-21 biennium to the 2021-23 biennium (largely aided by federal COVID-19 relief funds).
The forecast estimates the Capital Gains tax will generate $942 million in 2023–25 and $1.069 billion in 2025–27.
During press availability following the revenue forecast, Senate Ways and Means Chair Christine Rolfes acknowledged that fewer resources will be available than were expected when the Governor’s budget came out in December. She went on to say that this forecast was not unexpected, and while it makes budget writers cautious, it does not require a change in their game plan.
Major reasons for the slowing forecast include lower Real Estate Excise Tax collections than forecasted, slightly lower personal income growth and higher interest rates.
Senate Budget Detail and Next Steps
Earlier this week, the Senate released its proposed 2023-25 Capital Budget. After a public hearing on the proposed Capital Budget on Monday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee approved the proposal on Wednesday evening. It is expected to receive a vote by the full Senate on March 24.
On Thursday, the Senate released its proposed 2023-25 Operating Budget. The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed operating budget beginning at 2 p.m. on March 24. The operating budget will be voted on by the Ways and Means Committee on March 27 and by the full Senate likely later that week.
On March 27, the House is expected to release both its proposed operating and capital budgets with public hearings shortly thereafter, followed by votes by the full House. All current and proposed budget proposals can be found on the Washington State Fiscal Information webpage.
Start Early Washington has prepared a chart summarizing and comparing how the various budgets addressed early learning related issues. Be sure to bookmark our resource page to access the chart and the House version following its release on Monday.
The next step in the budget process following votes by the bodies on their respective proposals is conference committees. Legislators from each body will be appointed to work through areas of differences and arrive at a single budget proposal that will go before both bodies prior to Sine Die (adjournment) on April 23.
With One Month Left, Early Learning Bills Keep Moving
Several bills related to early learning continue to move through the legislative process ahead of the March 29 policy committee cutoff, when all bills must be passed out of the policy committees of the opposite chamber.
- House Bill 1199, which prohibits “common interest communities” such as a homeowners association from banning or limiting a licensed child care center or family home, passed the Senate Law and Justice Committee and is likely headed to the Senate Rules Committee next.
- House Bill 1525, which provides qualifying applicants and consumers of state registered apprenticeship programs eligibility for Working Connections Child Care subsidy, was amended to move up implementation to 90 days after session ends, awaits a vote in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
- Senate Bill 5225, which increases access to child care by providing subsidy eligibility to families involved in therapeutic court, bans limiting eligibility based on immigration status and authorizes child care subsidy eligibility for dependents of child care employees, awaits a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee.
- Senate Bill 5252, which updates state regulations regarding background checks to meet federal regulations, and Senate Bill 5316, which eliminates the requirement for applicants of child care and foster care entities to pay state and federal background check fees and licensing fees, are both scheduled for a vote in the House Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee on March 24.
- Senate Bill 5580, which authorizes a post-delivery and transitional care program and updates the Maternity Support Services (MSS) program, has a vote scheduled on March 24 in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee. The fiscal note is almost $8M, which could make the final passage challenging given the tight budget conditions.
A striking amendment (or striker) for House Bill 1550, which would convert the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program to a Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) program, was heard this week in the Senate Early Learning and K12 Committee starting at 29 minutes. As you may recall from the Feb. 19 “Notes From Olympia,” a “striker” amends everything previously included in the bill, replacing it with new content on the same subject matter. The HB 1550 striker heard on Wednesday would:
- Change the name “Transitional Kindergarten” to Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) and place the program in statute (law).
- Specify a funding formula for TTK using certain portions of the existing prototypical school funding model. Districts would consider TTK students as kindergarteners for funding purposes but would be required to report the TTK students separately.
- Focus eligibility for children determined to benefit from an additional year of preparation before entry into kindergarten and require children entering the program to be at least 4 years old by Aug. 31 in the year of entry into TTK.
- Ban school districts from charging tuition or excluding children with disabilities
- Provide enrolled TTK students with a student identifier number for data tracking, and districts would be required to administer WAKids unless parents ask for an exemption.
- Require the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to administer and adopt rules for TTK.
- Require OSPI to design a process for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to conduct site visits to provide feedback on early learning best practices and curriculum, as well as professional development opportunities. The striker language clarifies that these site visits do not provide DCYF with licensing or other regulatory or program authority.
- Require participating school districts to conduct a local child care and early learning needs assessment before starting or expanding TTK. This assessment must consider the existing availability and affordability of other early learning programs in the service area.
The striking amendment differed greatly from the bill that passed out of the House. The committee heard opposition to the striking amendment, mainly from early learning providers, who cited the lack of TTK program requirements, quality standards and the need for collaboration with school districts to keep existing early learning programs in operation. Supporters of the striking amendment, mainly school districts, spoke to the access of care children receive through TK and the positive student outcomes TK fosters in many areas.
The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee on March 27.
Bill Tracker: Key Early Learning Bills
As the legislative session progresses, our resource page will update with a weekly bill tracker. Please note that legislation changes quickly, so the version on our website may not represent a bill’s latest version as it is published the Thursday of each week.
Trivia Answer
Former Representative/Senator Margaret Hurley (1909-2015)
(Photo credit: Washington State Legislature)
Julie’s suggestion to look at this week’s trivia came from Capitol lore that the late Margaret Hurley would channel her Irish roots and play Irish music on an organ during St. Patrick’s Day. I was not able to verify this story, but I learned a lot about Hurley, including her propensity during late night legislative activity for directing security to roll out the piano kept in the Women’s Lounge onto the House Floor. She would then play music, urging lawmakers and folks in the gallery to sing along.
Hurley represented Spokane’s 3rd legislative district for 32 years, serving in the House of Representatives from 1953-1979 and in the Washington State Senate from 1979-1984. She succeeded her husband Joseph E. Hurley when he decided not to run for another term in the House (there’s a story there, too, which we will get to).
Hurley was the last of eight children born to Margaret and David Morse. Her family relocated from Minnesota to Spokane when Hurley was 2 after her father went to a fair in Spokane and fell in love with the city. The Morse family ended up moving to a farm in the Methow Valley. During her childhood, Hurley experienced severe poverty and lost a number of family members and close friends to illnesses. When she was 11, a kerosene lamp fell and the ensuing fire destroyed their family home and farm. The family ended up moving back to Spokane when Hurley was 13 where she attended the Catholic girl’s school Holy Names Academy (Hurley remained a devout Catholic throughout her life).
Hurley eventually became a teacher and married Joseph E. Hurley while he was attending law school. During this time, married women were not allowed to teach as conventional wisdom was husbands should financially support their families. (This was not noted in the article I read, but I believe this may have been during the Great Depression?) During the early years of their marriage, Hurley’s husband was in law school and they needed the money from her teaching salary, so they kept their marital status a secret and she went by her maiden name of Morse while she taught first and second grade in Mead, north of Spokane (Go Panthers!). Someone spilled the beans that she was married, and she was busted when she answered a phone call asking for Mrs. Hurley (rather than Miss Morse) and the caller turned out to be the Mead School Board President. Oops! The district let her finish out the school year.
Hurley’s husband initially ran for the Washington State House of Representatives in 1939. She took on the unofficial role of campaign manager and was known for creating detailed daily doorbelling routes on district maps. He won and continued to win but found it too challenging to manage both a law practice and legislative activities, deciding not to run again in 1952.
By this time, the Hurley’s had five children. Her husband suggested she run for his seat, noting that she knew the legislative work and thrived at campaigning. The problem was, he suggested to his sister, Loretta Little, that she ALSO run. (Awkward.)
Hurley kept with it and adopted a platform that displayed the fiscal conservatism that remained her tagline throughout her public service of “a balanced budget without additional taxation.” Unlike her sister-in-law, Hurley focused on doorbelling with a strategy to garner at least the female vote in every household. She also benefited by her identification on the ballot as “Mrs. Joseph E. Hurley” which helped with name recognition. In the end, she edged out her sister-in-law during the primary election and after a tough general election, eked out a win with a 600-vote margin. She learned of her victory at 3 a.m. while doing the dishes following the election night spaghetti feed she had hosted at her home.
When Hurley arrived at the House of Representatives, she was told freshman are to “sit still and keep your mouth shut.” (I’m guessing this instruction was amplified for female lawmakers.) Spoiler alert – Hurley did not sit still, nor did she keep her mouth shut.
During Hurley’s time in the House, she moved her family to Olympia during legislative sessions. On one of the moves in 1954, a car crossed over the median near Cle Elum, striking the car driven by her husband head on. Fortunately, no one in her family was killed, but they were injured and required hospitalization. Hurley broke her foot in the accident and while her family continued to recuperate, she was wheeled into the House chamber to cast a deciding vote to elect John L. O’Brien Speaker of the House. (O’Brien said he owed Hurley his “undying gratitude.”) Following that vote, Hurley returned to care for her family and became an early proponent of mandatory automobile insurance (an idea that would take years/decades(?) to come to fruition).
Hurley became not only a deciding vote for O’Brien ascending to the Speakership, but also for him being ousted. Frustrated by O’Brien’s refusal to bring one of her bills to a vote and his overall leadership style, Hurley joined with Spokane Democrat William S. Day and the House Republican Caucus for a secret meeting in Portland (away from prying eyes and ears in Olympia) to plan a coup. On the first day of the 1963 legislative session, O’Brien and a Republican were nominated for the role of Speaker. Hurley then rose and nominated Day for Speaker, confusing many in the body. Ultimately, the Republicans voted for Day and eight Democrats joined to remove O’Brien from his post. According to Hurley herself, O’ Brien looked at her and said “’For God’s sake, Maggie, what do you think you are doing?’ And I said very sweetly, ‘We’re voting you out, John O’Brien.’”
Hurley moved to the Washington State Senate in 1979, serving until 1984. She was passionate about a number of issues, but I want to note her particular ire with the proposed North-South Freeway in Spokane that remains under construction these many years later. In another area where Hurley may have been ahead of her time, she was vehemently opposed to the freeway, expressing concern that the freeway would ruin neighborhoods, particularly by splitting the Black community in East Central. Many would argue she was not wrong.
When Hurley decided not to run again in 1984, a Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran a headline “Good Old Boys Can Relax Now, Maggie’s Leaving.” She lived to be two weeks shy of 106 years of age.
Thank you for the suggestion, Julie.
Sources: HistoryLink.org and Washington State Legislature