Staff issue areas
Staff contact information organized by committee and issue area.
Elena Becker - Research Analyst
360-786-7493
- Agriculture
- Agricultural pests and diseases
- Commodity commissions
- Conservation districts
- Food labeling, processing, and safety
- Livestock
John Kim - Staff Counsel
360-786-7453
- Economic development and incentives grants
- Banking
- Public depositories
- Securities regulation
- Credit unions
- Insurance property and casualty
- Life insurance
- International trade and export assistance
- Regulatory assistance
- Technical assistance to businesses
- Small business assistance
Early Learning & K-12 Education
Ailey Kato - Staff Coordinator/Counsel
360-786-7434
- Early learning and child care
- Student discipline
- Equity and civil rights
- Attendance and truancy
- Parental and family involvement
Elena Becker - Research Analyst
360-786-7493
- Learning standards and curricula
- High school graduation requirements, including statewide assessments
- Post-secondary planning and related casework
- Competency-based education and alternative learning experiences
- Charter schools
- Native education issues and state-tribal education compact schools
- Educator preparation, certification, and evaluation
Alex Fairfortune - Staff Counsel
360-786-7416
- Special education, highly capable instruction, bilingual instruction, and the Learning Assistance Program
- Institutional education
- Education funding, including levy and bond authority
- Staff salaries, ratios, and collective bargaining
- Student transportation
- School district governance and finance
- Homeschooling and school choice
Environment, Energy & Technology
Alicia Kinne-Clawson - Staff Coordinator/Analyst
360-786-7407
- Technology
- Broadband
- Product stewardship
- Hazardous waste and toxics
- Environment
- SEPA
Matt Shepard-Koningsor - Staff Counsel
360-786-7627
- Solid waste and recycling
- Oil spills and prevention
- Climate Commitment Act (lead)
- Air quality
- Clean fuel standard
- Alternative fuels
Kim Cushing - Staff Counsel
360-786-7421
- Energy generation and transmission
- Energy siting
- Electric vehicles
- Electric utilities
- Climate Commitment Act
Ben Omdal - Staff Counsel
360-786-7442
- For-profit colleges
- Workforce training
- Private career schools
- Student loans
- Faculty (except collective bargaining)
- Dual credit
Ben Omdal - Staff Counsel
360-786-7442
- Growth Management Act (housing related)
- Comprehensive plans (housing related)
- Development regulations
- Local impact development
- Building codes (residential)
Kelsey-anne Fung - Staff Counsel
360-786-7479
- Adult corrections/reentry
- Crime victims
- Children's mental health
- Juvenile rehabilitation
Labor & Commerce
Susan Jones - Staff Coordinator/Counsel
360-786-7404
- Workers' compensation
- Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Unemployment insurance
- Worker retraining
- Worker safety and health, except construction
Marlon Llanes - Staff Counsel
360-786-7423
- Cannabis
- Liquor
- Employment standards and personnel practices
Jarrett Sacks - Staff Counsel
360-786-7448
- Apprenticeships
- Collective bargaining
- Commerce
- Construction licensing and standards
- Consumer protection
- Prevailing wage
- Workplace safety, construction
Law & Justice
William Bridges - Staff Coordinator/Counsel
360-786-7312
- Animal control
- Business law
- Family law
- General criminal and civil issues
- Guardianship and probate issues
- Tort law
- Real property
Ryan Giannini - Staff Counsel
360-786-7285
- Domestic violence
- General criminal and civil issues
- Human trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation
- Missing and murdered indigenous women and people
- New crimes and sentencing changes
- Sexual assault
- Uniform laws
- Involuntary Treatment Act
- Forensic mental health (competency to stand trial, criminal insanity)
Joe McKittrick - Staff Counsel
360-786-7287
- Business law
- Cyber harassment
- Driving under the influence
- Firearms
- General criminal and civil issues
- Issues related to State v. Blake
- Law enforcement use of force
- New crimes and sentencing changes
- Public defense/prosecution
Local Government
Karen Epps - Staff Coordinator/Counsel
360-786-7424
- City and county governance
- Growth Management Act (except housing)
- Comprehensive plans (except housing)
- Local Areas of More Intense Rural Development
- Local permitting
- Local solid waste and recycling
- Municipal utilities
- Parks and recreation
- Shoreline Management Act
- Special purpose districts
John Kim, Staff Counsel
360-786-7453
- City and county governance
- Fire protection
- Growth Management Act (except housing)
- Municipal utilities
- Local government taxes and fees
- Property taxes
- Special purpose districts
State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections
Greg Vogel - Staff Coordinator/Counsel
360-786-7413
- Veterans' affairs
- Military affairs
- Ethics and conflict of interest
- Public records and disclosure
- Open public meetings
- Elections
- Campaign finance
- Initiatives and referendums
- Signature gathering
- Tribal affairs
Danielle Creech - Research Analyst
360-786-7412
- Audits of state government programs and agencies
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in state programs
- Emergency management
- Public contracting procedures
- Public works
- Administrative Procedure Act
- Civil service
- Regulatory reform
- Historic preservation
- Building Code Council
- Tribal affairs
Transportation
Kelly Simpson - Fiscal Committee Staff Coordinator
360-786-7403
- Utilities and Transportation Commission (passenger/property transportation)
- State and regional transportation governance
- State and regional transportation planning
- Growth Management Act (transportation)
- Special purpose districts
Budget assignments
- Washington State Transportation Commission
Jenna Forty - Fiscal Analyst
360-786-7755
- Washington State Ferries
- Rail
- Local transit agencies, including Sound Transit
- Utilities and Transportation Commission (marine pilotage and rail)
Budget assignments
- Department of Transportation (DOT) - aviation
- DOT - public transportation
- DOT - Washington State Ferries
- DOT - rail
- DOT - local programs
- Board of Pilotage Commissioners
- Utilities and Transportation Commission
Bryon Moore - Fiscal Analyst
360-786-7726
- State and local transportation taxes and fees
- State transportation revenue forecast
- Department of Licensing
- Washington State Patrol
Budget assignments
- Department of Licensing
- Department of Agriculture
- Washington State Patrol
- DOT - facilities
- DOT - equipment fund
- DOT - charges from other agencies
- Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board
- Transportation Improvement Board
- County Road Administration Board
Hayley Gamble - Fiscal Coordinator
360-786-7452
- Financial plans/fund balances
- Bond issuance and retirement
Budget assignments
- Office of the State Treasurer
- Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP)
- Office of Financial Management
- Joint Transportation Committee
- Budget bill development and coordination
Daniel Masterson - Fiscal Analyst
360-786-7454
- Tolls
- Highways
- Environmental issues
Budget Assignments
- DOT - toll operations
- DOT - highway improvements
- DOT - management
- DOT - highway maintenance
- DOT - highway preservation
- DOT - traffic operations
- DOT - program management and support
- DOT - planning, data, and research
- Archeology and historic preservation
- State Parks and recreation
- DOT - information technology
Brandon Popovac - Fiscal Counsel
360-786-7465
- Traffic safety and rules of the road
- Bicycles
- Motorcycles and motor scooters
- Valid identification and legal presence
- Transportation security issues
- Initiative and referendum issues
- Tribal issues
- Tolls
Budget assignments
- DOT - public/private partnerships
- Traffic Safety Commission
- Budget bill development and drafting
Ways & Means
Susan Brooks - Fiscal Committee Staff Coordinator
360-786-7273
James Kettel - Fiscal Coordinator
Operating Budget
360-786-7459
Michael Bezanson - Fiscal Coordinator
Capital Budget
360-786-7449
- Climate Commitment Act
- Bonds and bond model
- Climate Commitment Act account
- Commerce - broadband, energy, local community project
- Central Washington University
- Community and technical colleges
- Eastern Washington University
- The Evergreen State College
- University of Washington
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University
- Workforce training and education
- Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth
- Public schools
- School for the Blind
Jeff Mitchell - Fiscal Coordinator
Revenue
360-786-7438
- Revenue policy issues
Sam Brown - Budget Counsel
Operating Budget
360-786-7470
- Committee Counsel
- Attorney General
- Sundry claims
- Secretary of State
Michele Alishahi - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7433
- Central Washington University
- Community and technical colleges
- Eastern Washington University
- The Evergreen State College
- Student Achievement Council
- University of Washington
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University
- Workforce training and education board
Shani Bauer - Fiscal Counsel
Capital Budget
360-786-7468
- Archaeology and historic preservation
- Commerce - community competitive grant programs, ports
- Criminal Justice Training Commission
- Department of Enterprise Services
- Department of Labor & Industries
- Employment Security Department
- Military Department
- Office of Financial Management
- Secretary of State
- Utilities and Transportation Commission
- Washington State Patrol
- Department of Transportation
- Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
- Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
- Department of Health
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS)
- Veterans' Affairs
- Washington State Arts Commission
- Eastern Washington Historical Society
- Washington State Historical Society
Wendy Brown - Fiscal Analyst
Capital Budget
360-786-7359
- Model Toxics Control Act
- Public Works Assistance Account
- Commerce - behavioral health, early learning, dental
- Commerce - Community Economic Revitalization Board, public works, economic development
- Commerce - housing, home efficiency and weatherization
- Department of Enterprise Services (Capitol Lake)
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Ecology
- Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Department of Natural Resources
- Parks & Recreation Commission
- Pollution Liability Insurance Program
- Puget Sound Partnership
- Recreation and Conservation Office
- State Conservation Commission
Amanda Cecil - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7460
- Board of Volunteer Firefighters
- Collective bargaining
- Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials
- Department of Retirement Systems
- Employee compensation and health benefits
- House of Representatives
- Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
- Joint Legislative Systems
- LEAP Committee
- Legislative Support Services
- Public Employees Benefits Board benefits
- Pensions
- Public Employment Relations Commission
- School Employees Benefits Board benefits
- Senate
- State Actuary
- State Investment Board
- Statue Law Committee
Kimmy Eide - Budget Fellow
Operating Budget
360-786-7471
- Archaeology and historic preservation
- Arts Commission
- Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors
- Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals
- Board of Accountancy
- Commission on African-American Affairs
- Commission on Asian-American Affairs
- Commission on Hispanic Affairs
- Department of Licensing
- Eastern Washington Historical Society
- Financial Institutions
- Forensics Investigation Council
- Gambling Commission
- Horse Racing Commission
- Human Rights Commission
- Labor & Industries
- Minority & Women's Business Enterprises
- Military Department
- Office of Administrative Hearings
- Office of Indian Affairs
- Office of the Governor
- Office of the Lieutenant Governor
- Public Disclosure Commission
- State Auditor
- State Lottery Commission
- State Treasurer
- Washington State Historical Society
- Washington State Leadership Board
- Washington State Patrol
Monica Fontaine - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7341
- Department of Health
- DSHS - administrative and support services
- DSHS - information system services
- DSHS - payments to other agencies
- DSHS - Special Commitment Center
- DSHS - state hospitals
- DSHS - vocational rehabilitation
Kayla Hammer - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7305
- Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth
- Charter schools
- K-12 education
- K-12 local levies
- K-12 institutional education
- School for the Blind
Jed Herman - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7346
- Columbia River Gorge Commission
- Commerce - energy
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Ecology
- Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Department of Natural Resources
- Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
- Environmental and Land Use Hearing Office
- Parks and Recreation Commission
- Pollution Liability Insurance Agency
- Recreation and Conservation Office
- State Conservation Commission
- Utilities and Transportation Commission
Josh Hinman - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7281
- Commission on Judicial Conduct
- Court of Appeals
- DCYF - child welfare
- DCYF - early learning
- DCYF - program support
- DSHS - child support services
- DSHS - economic services
- DSHS - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Employment Security Department
- Law library
- Office of Civil Legal Aid
- Office of Public Defense
- Supreme Court
Maria Hovde - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7474
- Department of Services for the Blind
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- DSHS - developmental disabilities
- DSHS - long-term care
Alia Kennedy - Fiscal Counsel
Revenue
360-786-7405
- Revenue policy issues
Tianyi Lan - Fiscal Analyst
Revenue/Operating Budget
360-786-7432
- Revenue policy issues
- Administrative Office of the Courts
- Board of Tax Appeals
- Caseload Forecast Council
- Department of Revenue
- Economic & Revenue Forecast Council
Corban Nemeth - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7736
- Four-year budget outlook
- Behavioral health (Health Care Authority)
- Liquor & Cannabis Board
- Special appropriations to the Governor
Trevor Press - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7446
- Interagency billing model (central services)
- Commerce - community services, housing
- Commerce - local government
- Commerce - program support
- Commerce - economic development
- Department of Enterprise Services
- K-12 - education reform
- K-12 - Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and statewide programs
Sarian Scott - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7729
- Capital budget support
- Consolidated technology services
- Criminal Justice Training Commission
- DCYF - juvenile rehabilitation
- Department of Corrections
- Lease facilities - statewide
- IT - statewide
- Office of the Chief Information Officer
- Office of Financial Management
- Office of Independent Investigations
- Legislative campus modernization
Sandy Stith - Fiscal Analyst
Operating Budget
360-786-7710
- Health Care Authority - low-income health care
- Health Benefit Exchange
- Insurance Commissioner