Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, testified in favor of Senate Bill 5589 and Senate Joint Resolution 8208, which would ease the ability of school districts to raise money for school construction and upkeep through school bonds.

“This bill would give local school districts the flexibility to propose bonds and levies for building schools with a majority of voters in support of the measure instead of the 60 percent that is currently required,” Sen. Mullet said in a statement. “We are in a unique situation with low interest rates and low construction costs. If we wait, interest rates and construction costs will begin to go back up. In the future, we may not be able to create as many construction jobs or build as many schools for our kids. In my district, with the approval of voters, this bill and amendment would have allowed funding for new schools and infrastructure within our already crowded school system. I look forward to advocating the need for a simple majority to pass school district bonds in the future.”