The Office of State Relations serves as the principal liaison between the University of Washington and state government. Through strong relationships with state elected officials, their offices and state agencies, we work to advance the university’s mission and legislative priorities. We collaborate closely with the state’s five other public baccalaureate institutions as well as community and technical colleges, to identify shared interests and influence related public policy.
2023 Legislative Agenda
State support is essential to the University’s pursuit of our shared goals: to provide an excellent and accessible education for all Washingtonians, improve the health and sustainability of our state, and promote a prosperous economy.
State Lobbying Guidelines
We ask UW employees to coordinate advocacy with our office so that we can be clear, consistent, and comply with state requirements.
Partners and Resources
Explore the many organizations the Office of State Relations partners with both internally and externally.
Latest News and Updates
Session news: President Cauce advocates in Olympia; Regent Lee testifies in confirmation hearing
January 20, 2023
President Cauce champions the UW’s legislative agenda in Olympia Yesterday, President Ana Mari Cauce traveled to Olympia to champion the UW’s legislative priorities. In her meetings with legislators, she highlighted the importance of competitive compensation for the University’s faculty and staff, as well as the need to expand high demand programs and students support services.…
Session news: Legislative session begins with testimony on the Governor's budget proposals
January 13, 2023
The 2023 legislative session began on Monday and for the first time in two years, it is being held in-person. This session is unique because 29 new legislators have joined the ranks of the House and Senate and most of the sophomore legislators have never worked an in-person session. During this long 105-day session, legislators…
Governor releases 2023-25 biennial budget proposals with substantial UW investments
December 16, 2022
The 2023 legislative session begins Jan. 9 and for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, legislators will meet in person in Olympia to decide the state’s biennial budget and policy. This week, Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled his 2023-25 operating and capital budget proposals, as the first step in the state budget…