By Kathleen Jensen
Each January, the King County Bar Association’s (KCBA) Public Policy Committee hosts its highly anticipated Lawyer Legislator Forum. This event serves as an opportunity for our lawyer-legislators to provide valuable insights into the upcoming legislative session and discuss the critical policy issues and bills on the horizon. This year’s forum was no exception, featuring thoughtful and engaging discussions from some of our state’s most dedicated public servants.
This year the forum was held in person at the KCBA offices with an online component for those who could not attend in person. We were privileged to have the following lawyer-legislators participate in the forum:
Senator Jamie Pedersen, 43rd Legislative District – Seattle
Senator Manka Dhingra, 45th Legislative District – Redmond
Representative Roger Goodman, 45th Legislative District – Redmond
Representative Jamila Taylor, 30th Legislative District – South King County
Representative-Elect Adison Richards, 26th Legislative District – Kitsap
These respected legislators offered an in-depth overview of the legislative landscape, highlighting key priorities for 2025. Among the topics discussed were criminal sentencing reforms, firearm access policies, efforts to address the behavioral health system, and the impact of hospital mergers on affordable healthcare. Perhaps most urgently, they addressed funding and policy measures to tackle the region’s housing crisis. This year’s overarching challenge was very clear: how to meet critical community needs while contending with shrinking revenues. The forum underscored the importance of innovative solutions and collaboration to ensure vital services are maintained and expanded, even in the face of financial constraints.
As part of the forum, KCBA shared its 2025 Legislative Priorities with the attending lawmakers. These priorities reflect the organization’s mission to champion justice, support vulnerable populations, and strengthen the legal system. These policies were approved at the December 18th Board of Trustees meeting and will guide KCBA’s advocacy strategy throughout the year. These approved 2025 Legislative Policies are:
- The King County Bar Association supports legislation to remove barriers to reentry which impacts employment, housing, public benefits, and citizenship.
- The King County Bar Association supports legislation that embraces technology to expand voter access and increase voter participation in our democracy.
- The King County Bar Association supports legislation and programs that provide assistance in order to prevent evictions. Further, our region’s population continues to outgrow its housing supply. Given the urgency of the situation and the relationship between housing supply and affordable rents, we support legislation that induces the creation of housing supply, including affordable housing.
- The King County Bar Association supports full funding of the judicial system.
Beyond our annual priorities, KCBA remains steadfast in its support for policies that support our mission to promote and support a diverse and collegial membership; work with the judiciary to achieve excellence, equity, and accessibility in the administration of justice; and benefit the community through public service and engagement in public policy.
KCBA’s legacy of public policy advocacy dates back to KCBA’s founding in 1886, when lawyers stood up for Chinese immigrants being denied due process in Seattle. Over the decades, KCBA has played a pivotal role in shaping legal and social policy, from creating the legal aid system in 1938 to advocating for same-sex marriage in 2005 and supporting the abolition of the death penalty in 2013.
Our Public Policy Committee remains the heart of this work, and we encourage all KCBA members to join and participate in these efforts. If you are interested in joining the Public Policy Committee or learning more, please visit the committee page under “For Lawyers” on the KCBA website (www.kcba.org) or email Tom Lockyear, KCBA Membership Program Manager at toml@kcba.org.
Together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in our community by advocating for justice and equity for all.
