Rep. Adam Smith from Washington State’s 9^th Congressional District has served in the US House of Representatives since 1996. He is now the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Smith is also the Dean of the Washington State delegation to the House, serving as the most senior member from the state to that body. This keynote session will hear from Rep. Smith about the transition to a Biden administration, and what he thinks the change will mean for Washington State. The discussion will also include a look ahead to policy making in the new Congress with historically narrow majorities in both chambers.

Hon. Adam Smith: Chairman, US House Armed Services Committee 

Some of Washington State’s most well connected government relations professionals will talk through the next legislative session. They’ll talk through the issues, personalities and changing nature of advocacy during this time of COVID. Bring your questions to what is always a popular panel.

Patrick Connor: Executive Director, NFIB

Isaac Kastama: Principal, Water Street Public Affairs

Brian Bonlender: Principal, Lodestar Strategic

Katie Kolan: Partner, Leonard & Kolan 

While COVID kept us at home this summer, wildfires burned across the northwest. As the economy changes as a result of the pandemic, is that also changing the politics of climate change? This session will discuss the impacts from the pandemic and how it might shift the politics of climate.

Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon: Chair, House Environment and Energy Committee 

Rep. Matt Boehnke: Member, House Environment and Energy Committee 

Rep. Keith Goehner: Member, House Environment and Energy Committee 

Hon. Jeff Randall: Commissioner, Jefferson County PUD

This session will weave together the different threads of public health, economic data, and policy making. From health equity to struggling businesses, this panel will feature different perspectives working to put together a comprehensive conversation on COVID and how the data says it’s impacting us.

Sen. June Robinson: Member, Washington State Senate

Anthony Chen: Director of Health, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

Nick Streuli: Executive Director, External Affairs, Office of Gov. Jay Inslee

With an intense election, stress from the pandemic, and social unrest in our communities, 2020 had revealed and elevated the amount of work we still have to do to become an anti-racist society. This session will talk through how race and racism play out in Washington State and how policy making can both be informed by this experience and work to address it moving forward.

Rep. Jesse Johnson: Vice Chair, House Consumer Protection and Business Committee

Sen. Jamie Pedersen: Chair, Senate Law & Justice Committee 

Seferiana Day: Partner, Upper Left Strategies  

Sandy Williams: Executive Director, Carl Maxey Center

Monisha Harrell: Chair, Equal Rights Washington

This panel will foster a discussion among legislative Republicans about their vision and plans for policy in the 2021 session. The conversation will range from logistics to legislation, politics and policy. So, come with your thoughts and questions to what is always a popular session.

Rep. JT Wilcox: Leader, House Republican Caucus

Sen. Lynda Wilson: Ranking Member, Senate Ways and Means Committee 

Rep. Jenny Graham: Assistant Whip, Republican Caucus

Between the tensions of economic insecurity and rising home equity lies a wide gulf in housing policy. Meanwhile, our collective inability to address chronic homelessness remains a moral stain on Washington State. This session will explore whether it is time to re-think how we plan for growth and how we meet the housing needs of our residents during a rapidly changing economy.

Sen. Rebecca Saldana: Deputy Majority Leader, Washington State Senate 

Nathan Gorton: Director, Government Relations, Washington Realtors 

Rachel Myers: Executive Director, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

Jessica Bateman: Member-Elect, 22nd LD, House of Representatives 

The last recession left a deep scar on policy makers. The cuts that were levied in the budget cycles between 2009-2013 were difficult to backfill for years. So, what can we learn from those lean years and the approach the state took to addressing those solutions? This panel will reflect on those years and how we might take an informed approach to the challenges of the next session.

Sen. Karen Keiser: President Pro Tem, Washington State Senate

Marty Brown: Former Director, Office of Financial Management

Sen. Tim Sheldon: Member, Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee 

The divides that roil our national politics play out in Washington State as well. Rural and urban divisions create red counties and blue counties, with demographics like age and race playing a significant role. So, how do we work to address these divisions? What path can our state take to heal after a divisive 2020? This session will discuss the options ahead.

Rep. Sharon Shewmake: Vice Chair, House Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Sen. Ron Muzzall: Assistant Ranking Member, State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections

Rep. Vicki Kraft: Ranking Member, House Local Government Committee

Hon. Jaime Herrera Beutler: Member, US House of Representatives 

This session features a panel of Democratic legislators who will bring their plans and policy visions for the next legislative session. This is always a well attended and thoughtful conversation. Bring your questions and your comments on policy making in the next session.

Rep. Jake Fey: Chair, House Transportation Committee

Sen. Claire Wilson: Assistant Majority Whip, House Democratic Caucus

Rep. Roger Goodman: Chair, House Public Safety Committee 

Sen. David Frockt: Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee

From the gig economy to the public sector, this pandemic experience has fundamentally altered the nature of the Washington State economy. So, how will this pandemic have changed us once we work our way through it? What should we expect in the labor market when we come out on the other side? This session will explore that future and look ahead to what’s to come.

Rep. Mari Leavitt: Vice Chair,  House College and Workforce Development Committee 

Hon. Brandon Lee: Consul General, Government of Canada

Marcus Courtney: Principal, Courtney Public Affairs

With road miles down considerably and public transit facing steeply reduced ridership, the transportation system is shifting markedly. The nature of transportation policy and funding also impacts climate policy and even extending broadband into rural communities. This session will explore the way policy makers are re-considering the direction of transportation policy in Washington and will discuss some of the more innovative subjects in the state.

Rep. Andrew Barkis: Ranking Member, House Transportation Committee 

Reema Griffith: Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Committee

Sen. Steve Hobbs: Chair, Senate Transportation Committee 

With the new administration, a new federal/state relationship is likely to take shape. So, what could that new relationship look like, and what would that mean for the federal policies in which Washington State is so interested in? This session will discuss those matters and take your questions on the future of federal policy.

Chris Miller: Executive Vice President, Crossroads Strategies

Dale Learn: Managing Partner, Federal Affairs, Gordon Thomas Honeywell

Scott Nelson: Partner, KL Gates 

In what is always a great opportunity to connect with soon-to-be legislators, this session will introduce you to some of the members of the legislature’s incoming freshmen class. Come and get to know some of the state’s newest policy makers from across the state of Washington.

Joel McEntire: Member-Elect, 19th LD, House of Representatives

David Hackney: Member-Elect, 11th LD, House of Representatives 

T’wina Nobles: Member-Elect, 28th LD, Senate 

Peter Abbarno: Member-Elect, 20th LD, House of Representatives

April Berg: Member-Elect, 44th LD, House of Representatives

Greg Gilday: Member-Elect, 10th LD, House of Representatives

Alicia Rule: Member-Elect, 42nd LD, House of Representatives

Emily Wicks: Representative, 38th LD, House of Representatives

Mark Klicker: Member-Elect, 16th LD, House of Representatives

Parents will tell you: distance learning is tough. And, for families who may have fewer resources and less opportunity to succeed, the path to quality educational outcomes can be narrow. This session will discuss some of the most pressing topics in Washington State education, and review the lessons learned in addressing digital equity during a time of COVID.

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos : Chair, House Education Committee 

Sen. Lisa Wellman : Chair, Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee

Angela Jones: Chief Executive Officer, Washington STEM 

JoLynn Berge: Chief Financial Officer, Seattle Public Schools

The fragility of the Washington State economy can vary by sector and by region. But, it’s clear that as a whole, our economy is on a precarious ledge with retail, aerospace, and health care sectors all facing challenges. So, what should economic and fiscal policy look like in the next session to keep Washington State from going over this cliff? This panel will discuss the options on the table, and where the conversation may go in Olympia next year.

Jessyn Farrell: Senior Vice President, Civic Ventures

Lisa Brown: Director, Washington State Dept. of Commerce 

Treasure Mackley: Executive Director, Invest WA Now

Kevin Wallace: President, Wallace Properties 

The nature of the national and local media ecosystem continues to be buffeted by social, financial and political pressures. From social media eroding revenue to claims of “fake news” from the White House, this is a unique time for the media landscape. So, where does this all lead? What should we expect from our news and information outlets, and what role do policy makers have in this? This smart group of media professionals will discuss the topic and take your questions during the event.

DJ Wilson: Publisher, Washington State Wire

Frank Blethen: Publisher, Seattle Times

Mark Baumgarten: Managing Editor, Crosscut

Betsy Cowles: Chairman, Cowles Company

Ross Reynolds: Executive Producer for Community Engagement, KUOW

This panel convenes the top budget writers from each of the four caucuses in the legislature. They will talk through their plans and visions for what looks to be the most challenging budget in a decade. Come with your questions and your insights to share as we will incorporate audience questions into the conversation.

Rep. Timm Ormsby: Chair, House Appropriations Committee

Sen. Christine Rolfes: Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee

Sen. John Braun: Leader, Senate Republican Caucus 

Rep. Drew Stokesbary: Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee