Mar 29, 2024

Washington becomes first state to ban lead in cookware

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46), officially bans any manufacturing or sales of cookware or related components that contain more than five parts per million (ppm) of lead by 2026...

Feb 15, 2024

Washington lawmakers again look to increase special education funding

Democratic Rep. Gerry Pollet of Seattle, chief sponsor of HB 2180, said “it’s unconscionable and probably unconstitutional” that Washington does not fund special education for every child who needs it...

Jan 27, 2024

Pair of proposed bills would offer free community college to eligible Washington students

Pollet and a group of his fellow lawmakers hope to turn those bleak numbers around with a pair of bills aiming to increase the number of Washingtonians who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WAFSA)...

Dec 19, 2023

Producers of Toxic Chemicals in Schools Owe Hundreds of Millions in Damages, Jury Says

Pollet said he hopes the latest verdict will spur his lawmaker colleagues to support overturning a longstanding but obscure budget item that prevents the state board of health from revising its guidance on measures schools should take to protect community health...

Nov 10, 2023

‘Rent-to-own’ programs will be audited after WA lawmakers raise concerns

Reps. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, and Chris Stearns, D-Auburn, asked McCarthy to probe the housing finance commission’s oversight of tax-credit programs that are supposed to guarantee homeownership after 15 years and that have been used to develop low-income housing by a number of Native American tribes...