The House Postsecondary Education & Workforce (PEW) Committee has a new chair, Rep. Dave Paul, who takes over following the appointment of former chair, Rep. Vandana Slatter, to the Senate. Slatter’s appointment to the Senate fills the vacancy created by the election of Sen. Patty Kuderer to state insurance commissioner.
Rep. Paul assumed office in 2019 and represents the 10th legislative district, which encompasses all of Island County and parts of Snohomish and Skagit counties. He has taught in higher education for over 25 years, most recently at Skagit Valley College where he has served for 16 years. He currently works as the Director of Community Relations.
The PEW Committee also has a new vice chair, Rep. Greg Nance. The Committee’s Ranking Minority Member will remain Rep. Alex Ybarra.
In the Senate, Sen. T’wina Nobles will continue to serve as chair of the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, with Sen. Drew Hansen as the new vice chair and Sen. Judy Warnick as the new Ranking Minority Member.
More broadly, House and Senate leadership and committee assignments have also been formalized.
In the Senate, Jamie Pedersen will assume the role of Majority Leader, while Sen. John Braun will remain as Republican Leader. Sen. June Robinson will continue to chair the Ways & Means Committee, which will now have three new vice chairs and a new Ranking Minority Member: Sen. Derek Stanford (Operating Budget), Yasmin Trudeau (Capital Budget), Noel Frame (Finance), and Chris Gildon (Ranking Minority Member). Notably, the vice chair of Finance is a newly created position.
In the House, Laurie Jinkins will remain Speaker and Rep. Drew Stokesbary will continue as Minority Leader. The chairs of the Appropriations and Capital Budget Committees will stay the same, but the ranking minority members have changed. Rep. Timm Ormsby will chair Appropriations, with Rep. Travis Couture as the new Ranking Minority Member. For the Capital Budget Committee, Rep. Steve Tharinger will stay chair, and Rep. Mike Steele will now serve as Ranking Minority Member.
The 2025 legislative session will begin this upcoming Monday, Jan. 13 and run for 105 consecutive days, ending on April 27. For updates on the UW’s advocacy efforts, visit the News & Updates section of this website.