Author Archives: Erik Smith

Seven of my bills still alive; join me for a telephone town hall tonight!

Later this evening, I’ll be hosting a telephone town hall from the House Republican radio studio here at the Capitol. Please join me if you can by calling (360) 226-5415 any time from 6-7 p.m. During the hourlong call, I’ll be taking your questions on legislative issues and asking a number of survey questions. If you’re unable to participate tonight, please know you can always call me at (360) 786-7902 or send me an email with your comments, questions or concerns. I value and appreciate your feedback, as it helps me better serve you in the Legislature.

House of Origin cutoff and the status of my bills

Last Wednesday marked House of Origin cutoff, which means all bills that did not advance out of the chamber in which they were introduced are now considered dead for the year. The only exception to this are bills deemed necessary to implement the budget, though we don’t yet know which ones will receive that designation.

As for my bills, seven survived House of Origin cutoff and are still making their way through the legislative process.

  • House Bill 1089 would delink standardized tests from high school graduation requirements, beginning retroactively with the graduating class of 2015. Under the bill, both the Certificate of Academic Achievement and the Certificate of Individual Achievement would be discontinued. HB 1089 was approved 84-13 in the House, and is now in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.
  • House Bill 1146 would extend the state’s Christmas tree grower licensure program. The program, which was created by legislation signed into law in 2007, requires businesses that grow Christmas trees to obtain a grower license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). The annual fee for a license is $40, plus an acreage assessment of $3 per acre. However, the total annual license fee for a business may not exceed $5,000. Fees are deposited into a dedicated Christmas tree subaccount within WSDA, which are then allocated for a number of ongoing research and preservation efforts. Washington ranks fourth in the nation when it comes to Christmas tree production, and Mason and Thurston counties are two of the state’s top suppliers. Extending this licensure program will help ensure Christmas trees, and the businesses that sell them across our state, remain vibrant and healthy. HB 1146, which was approved 91-0 in the House, is now in the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee.
  • House Bill 1304 would establish the Vocational Alternative Learning Experience Pilot Program. The intent of the program would be to show the value of providing state funding for the expansion of career and technical education instruction in alternative learning experience courses. As many as 10 school districts would be chosen by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to participate in the pilot program, including two that have multidistrict online school programs. Each district would participate for four complete school years, starting in the 2019-20 school year. HB 1304, which was approved 92-4 in the House, is scheduled to receive a public hearing this afternoon in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.
  • House Bills 1430, 1557 and 1676 are designed to transform the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board into a more business-friendly agency that’s focused on excellent customer service. The small, but important adjustments in these bills would be a good first step in that effort. All three bills received unanimous approval in the House, and are scheduled to receive or have already received a public hearing in the Senate.
  • House Bill 2040 would provide financial relief to non-high school districts by changing the calculation of how much they’re required to reimburse neighboring high school districts for educating their students. Under the bill, non-high school districts would only be required to pay whichever per-pupil levy rate is lower between the two districts. Providing this financial relief would result in more funds being available for local educational needs. That would be a big win for students and families across the state, especially in our more rural areas. HB 2040 was approved 97-0, and is now in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Two minutes with TVW

Earlier this month, I sat down with TVW to record a short video for their “Legislator Profiles” series. In the video, I discuss our district, my political heroes and mentors, and my legislative priorities. Take a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riDndWx8u2w

Sponsoring local student Wyatt Curl as a House page

I recently had the opportunity to sponsor 14-year-old home-school student Wyatt Curl as a page here in the state House. Wyatt is active in Boy Scouts, and has achieved Life rank—the second-highest rank attainable. He is also on the swim team at North Thurston High School, and loves to write stories in his free time.

During his week at the Capitol, Wyatt attended page school every day to learn about the three branches of state government, the lawmaking process, and the importance of civil discourse. He also carried out a number of duties critical to the efficient operation of the Legislature.

I’m always impressed by the quality of students who apply to serve as pages, and Wyatt is no exception. He’s motivated and confident, and I have no doubt he’ll continue to be successful at whatever he chooses to pursue in life.

Contacting me

As I mentioned above, please feel free to call or email me any time. My number is (360) 786-7902, and my email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov.

It is an honor to serve you.

Radio interview: MacEwen discusses the operating budget

Rep. Drew MacEwen joins iFiberOne NewsRadio to discuss factors that will influence the operating budget, including mental health funding, education, and tax increases. He also discusses his bill that would provide financial relief to K-8 school districts across Washington.

MacEwen to host telephone town hall Wednesday, March 20

Rep. Drew MacEwen invites 35th District residents to join him for an hourlong telephone town hall on Wednesday, March 20, from 6-7 p.m.

During the interactive town hall, MacEwen will provide a short update on the 2019 legislative session and take questions from constituents. Listeners will also have the opportunity to answer survey questions throughout the hour.

“These telephone town halls are always a highlight for me during session,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “I’m looking forward to having some great conversations with my constituents and diving into some important issues for our district. I hope a lot of people will pencil this in on their calendars.”

To participate in the telephone town hall, 35th District residents can call (360) 226-5415. For more information, contact MacEwen’s office at (360) 786-7902.

Radio interview: MacEwen discusses a low carbon fuel standard proposal

Rep. Drew MacEwen joined iFiberOne NewsRadio on Wednesday to discuss the Democrats’ low carbon fuel standard bill that passed the House yesterday. The bill, HB 1110, would increase the price of gas and goods for everyone, and hurt those who can least afford to take on additional financial burdens.

House approves two more education reform bills sponsored by MacEwen

Following on the passage of his bill last week to delink standardized tests from high school graduation requirements, the state House has approved two more education reform bills sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union.

House Bill 2040 would provide financial relief to non-high school districts by changing the calculation of how much they’re required to reimburse neighboring high school districts for educating their students.

In order to reimburse high school districts for educating transferred students, non-high school districts can raise funds locally through enrichment levies. However, since current law requires them to pay the per-pupil levy rate of the high school district, they may not be able to collect enough revenue to make the full payment. As a result, non-high school districts could be forced to tap into other resources.

House Bill 2040 would change the law to stipulate that non-high school districts are only required to pay whichever per-pupil levy rate is lower between the two districts.

“This bill would help balance out some of the inequity that exists between the two divisions of school districts in Washington state,” said MacEwen. “Providing this financial relief for our non-high school districts would result in more funds staying in the district for local educational needs. That would be a big win for students and families across the state, especially in our more rural areas.”

House Bill 2040, which received unanimous support, is now in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.

The other bill of MacEwen’s that received approval is House Bill 1304, which would establish the Vocational Alternative Learning Experience Pilot Program. The intent of the program is to show the value of providing state funding for the expansion of career and technical education instruction in alternative learning experience courses.

As many as 10 school districts would be chosen by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to participate in the pilot program, including two that have multidistrict online school programs. Each district would participate for four complete school years, starting in the 2019-20 school year.

By Jan. 1, 2025, OSPI would be required to submit a report on the following:

  • the number of students participating in the pilot program that received the vocational program funding enhancement;
  • the impact of the program to career and technical education programming;
  • the fiscal impact of the program;
  • recommendations for statewide implementation; and
  • any other information deemed relevant by the OSPI.

“Anything we can do to promote career and technical education is a good thing,” said MacEwen. “I’m confident this pilot program will give us the relevant information we need to secure the necessary funding for students who may choose to pursue a non-traditional educational path.”

House Bill 1304 was approved 92-4, and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

House passes MacEwen bill to delink standardized tests from graduation

The state House of Representatives took action Monday to delink standardized tests from high school graduation requirements. John Sattgast reports from the state Capitol.

 Radio Report Transcript

SATTGAST: Republican Representative Drew MacEwen wants to make sure students all the way back to the 2015 graduating class and going forward should not have to pass standardized tests as a condition of graduation.

MacEWEN: “These tests were never designed to measure students’ success. They are federal tests that were designed to measure on a broad spectrum across the nation how our teachers and our administrators are doing. And it doesn’t necessarily reflect the curriculum that is being taught to our students. It adds confusion. It’s not necessary. And these tests really do not demonstrate what the true ability of the students are.”

SATTGAST: House Bill 1089 would also discontinue the Certificate of Academic Achievement and the Certificate of Individual Achievement.

In 2017, MacEwen introduced legislation that passed the House three times, but was never brought to the floor for a vote in the Senate. This year, the representative from Union is hopeful the measure makes it to the governor’s desk. But first, it’s heading to the Senate.

John Sattgast, Olympia

House passes MacEwen bill to delink standardized tests from graduation

In an 84-13 vote Monday morning, the Washington State House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen to delink standardized tests from high school graduation requirements.

It’s a proposal MacEwen has championed before. In 2017, he introduced similar legislation that was approved three separate times in the House, but was never brought to the floor for a vote in the Senate.

This year, MacEwen hopes House Bill 1089 will be the vehicle that makes it all the way to the governor’s desk. His bill, which would be retroactive to the 2015 graduating class and apply to subsequent graduating classes, would discontinue both the Certificate of Academic Achievement and the Certificate of Individual Achievement.

“Our priority as lawmakers should be passing legislation that helps students succeed in the classroom and in life,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Tying their graduation prospects to a standardized test that isn’t itself tied to the curriculum that’s been taught is an unnecessary burden. It’s time we acknowledge that and get this bill to the governor’s desk.”

House Bill 1089 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

MacEwen sponsors home-school student as House page

Fourteen-year-old home-school student Wyatt Curl traveled to Olympia last month to serve as a page in the Washington State House of Representatives. He was sponsored by 35th District Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union.

Wyatt is active in Boy Scouts, and has achieved Life rank—the second-highest rank attainable. He is also on the swim team at North Thurston High School, and loves to write stories in his free time.

During his week at the Capitol, Wyatt attended page school every day to learn about the three branches of state government, the lawmaking process, and the importance of civil discourse. He also carried out a number of duties critical to the efficient operation of the Legislature.

“I’m always impressed by the quality of students who apply to serve as pages, and Wyatt is no exception,” said MacEwen. “He’s motivated, confident, and has a great head on his shoulders. I have no doubt he’ll continue to be successful at whatever he chooses to pursue in life. I’m grateful for his service, and wish him the best going forward.”

To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor, be between the ages of 14 and 16, and obtain written permission from their parents and school. Pages earn $35 per day while serving in the program. For more information about the House Page Program, click here.

House passes MacEwen bill to extend Christmas tree grower licensure program

In a unanimous vote Friday morning, the Washington State House of Representatives approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen to extend the state’s Christmas tree grower licensure program.

The program, which was created by legislation signed into law in 2007, requires businesses that grow Christmas trees to obtain a grower license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). The annual fee for a license is $40, plus an acreage assessment of $3 per acre. However, the total annual license fee for a business may not exceed $5,000. Fees are deposited into a dedicated Christmas tree subaccount within WSDA, which are then allocated for a number of ongoing research and preservation efforts.

MacEwen’s House Bill 1146 would extend the licensure program by 10 years to July 1, 2030.

“Washington ranks fourth in the nation when it comes to Christmas tree production, and Mason and Thurston counties are two of the state’s top suppliers,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Extending this licensure program will help ensure Christmas trees, and the businesses that sell them across our state, remain vibrant and healthy.”

According to WSDA, there are nearly 400 Christmas tree farms in Washington state. The top counties for cut trees are Lewis, Mason, Clark, Pierce and Thurston.

HB 1146 now advances to the Senate for further consideration. The 2019 legislative session is scheduled to run through April 28, 2019.