This opening session will kick off the day with comments framing the conference agenda and the role that the Washington State Wire hopes to play in a new era of policy and politics.

DJ Wilson: Host, Washington State Wire

Lt. Gov. Denny Heck was elected last November after representing the 10th Congressional District since 2012. No stranger to Olympia, he previously served five terms representing the 17th Legislative District in the state House. Heck also co-founded TVW, Washington’s public access television network. This keynote session will hear from Lt. Gov. Heck about navigating the reopening during the pandemic and his policy priorities for the coming legislative session.

Hon. Denny Heck: Lt. Governor, State of Washington

Some of Washington’s most important and impactful Republican legislators share their vision and plans for the 2022 session. This conversation will range from logistics to legislation, politics and policy. Bring your questions to what is always a highly attended and dynamic discussion.

Rep. Ed Orcutt: Ranking Member, House Finance Committee

Rep. Chris Corry: Assistant Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee

Rep. Greg Gilday: Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee

Washington has been a frontrunner in addressing climate change with significant policy passing in recent legislative sessions. But, what comes next? And what role do states play in the international conversation on a warming world? This session will discuss those questions and more with legislators and experts.

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

Becky Kelley: Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Gov. Jay Inslee

Todd Myers: Director, Center for the Environment, Washington Policy Center

With road miles down considerably and public transit facing steeply reduced ridership, the transportation system is shifting markedly. The nature of the transportation policy and funding impacts a broad range of related topics, from climate policy to rural broadband. This session will update attendees on negotiations for a comprehensive budget under discussion this session.

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña: Deputy Majority Leader, Senate Democratic Caucus

Sen. Curtis King: Ranking Member, Senate Transportation Committee 

Hon. Jennifer Robertson: Councilmember, City of Bellevue

After nearly two years of the pandemic, our understanding of COVID and its impact on society and our systems continues to evolve. This session will discuss lessons from this moment and what we might expect in the post-COVID world, from market activity to policy making.

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

Ross Hunter: Secretary, Washington State Dept. of Children, Youth & Families

Lisa Brown: Director, Washington State Dept. of Commerce

This session features a panel of Democratic legislators who will bring their plans and policy visions for the next legislative session. Bring your questions to what is always an interactive and wide-ranging conversation with some of Washington’s most thoughtful Democratic policy makers.

Sen. Emily Randall: Chair, Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee

Rep. Roger Goodman: Chair, House Public Safety Committee

Rep. Timm Ormsby: Chair, House Appropriations Committee 

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and historic protests last year, the legislature passed a number of police reform bills in the 2021 session. How effective have they been at achieving their goals, and what can be improved in 2022? This session will explore those questions with a thoughtful and informative panel.

Rep. Jesse Johnson: Vice Chair, House Public Safety Committee

Hon. Lisa Herbold: Member, Seattle City Council

Steve Strachan: Executive Director, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs 

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 rethink how we plan for growth and how we meet the housing needs of our residents during a rapidly changing economy.

Rep. Andrew Barkis: Member, House Housing, Human Services & Veterans Committee 

Gerrit Nyland: Director of Operations, Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness

Paul Query: Publisher, The Washington Observer

Last January, Americans watched as an angry mob descended upon the Capitol. How did we get to this point as a country, and more importantly, where do we go from here? Join us with your observations as we grapple with the future of our country and the reforms necessary to keep it.

Nicholas Brown: US District Attorney, Western District of Washington

Andrew Villeneuve: Executive Director, NW Progressive Institute

Dann Mead Smith: Founder, Project 42

Brandi Kruse: Host, |un|Divided

This keynote convenes some of the top legislators in Olympia. They will talk through the challenges and opportunities facing the state in 2022, and share their legislative priorities. Come with your questions and insights to share as we will incorporate audience questions into the conversation.

Sen. Andy Billig: Majority Leader, Washington State Senate

Sen. John Braun: Minority Leader, Washington State Senate

Rep. Laurie Jinkins: Speaker, Washington State House of Representatives

Rep. JT Wilcox: Minority Leader, Washington State House of Representatives

Some of Washington State’s most well connected government relations professionals will talk through the next legislative session. They’ll discuss the issues, personalities and changing nature of advocacy during the pandemic, and what the future could look like. This is always a popular panel, so come ready for a great discussion.

Candice Bock: Director, Government Relations, Association of Washington Cities

Becky Bogard: Partner, Bogard Johnson

Amber Carter: Partner, Amber Carter Government Relations

The pandemic brought the digital divide front and center, showcasing just how big the gaps are between the haves and have nots. This session will address how we can innovate on current technology and highlight key challenges and opportunities as we look to bridge the digital divide.

Rep. Drew Hansen: Chair, House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee

George Caan: Executive Director, Washington PUD Association

Vicky Yuki: Senior Programs Manager, National Digital Inclusion Alliance

David Keyes: Digital Equity Manager, City of Seattle

Whether it’s the long-term care tax, the capital gains tax, or a potential income tax, you’d be hard pressed to find someone in state government who isn’t thinking about taxes in 2022. This session will bring together legislators and tax policy experts for a robust discussion on the state of taxation in Washington, with ideas for 2022 and beyond.

Rep. Noel Frame: Chair, House Finance Committee

Emily Makings: Senior Research Analyst, Washington Research Council

Dean Carlson: Senior Tax Policy Coordinator, Washington State Dept. of Revenue

Washington is becoming a more diverse state. What implications does that have for our politics, and how do we ensure that everyone has a seat at the table? This session will feature different perspectives on how to ensure our state is becoming more equitable. Bring your own experience and thoughtful contribution to the conversation.

Rep. My-Linh Thai: Vice Chair, House Democratic Caucus

Bill Lyne: Co-Director, College Promise Coalition

Sarah Augustine: Chair, Washington State Redistricting Commission

Karen Johnson, PhD: Director, Office of Equity

Redistricting is one of the most important processes in our democracy. Washington State has a bipartisan commission tasked with drafting and approving maps. In this session, we’ll hear from redistricting commissioners and equity advocates about the implications of the legislative and Congressional maps for the next decade of elections.

April Sims: Commissioner, Redistricting Commission

Paul Graves: Commissioner, Redistricting Commission

George Cheung: Executive Director, More Equitable Democracy

Washington State has a shortage of child care workers, something the pandemic has exacerbated. Child care affects everything from the economy and mental health, to generational mobility and equity. This session will discuss challenges facing the child care system, and how to create a better system for all Washington families.

Sen. Claire Wilson: Vice Chair, Early Learning, Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee

Rep. Bob McCaslin: Assistant Ranking Minority Member, House Children, Youth & Families Committee

Valisa Smith: Executive Director, Washington State Office, Start Early

Ryan Pricco: Director of Policy and Advocacy, Child Care Aware of Washington

The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way our economy works. Employers are paying more to entice workers back, unions are flexing their muscles again, and supply chain issues are drawing headlines across the country. In this session, we’ll hear from business, labor and academia about how the changing economy is changing our society.

Zach Silk: President, Civic Ventures

Danielle Alvorado: Executive Director, Fair Work Center

Hart Hodges, PhD: Director, Center for Economic and Business Research, Western Washington University

Our afternoon keynote session will feature one-on-one conversations with some of the most influential names in Washington State and Washington D.C. Hosted by DJ Wilson, this panel is one to mark down on your schedule.

Sen. Mark Mullet: Chair, Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee 

Rep. Joe Schmick: Ranking Member, House Health and Wellness Committee