Accessible, affordable, and free—these were the key themes championed by the Washington Community and Technical College Students Association (WACTSA) during the 2025 Legislative Advocacy Day in Olympia, Wash.

Working to address the needs and concerns of two-year college students, The Washington Community and Technical College Student Association, which includes Highline College as a member, is a coalition of student governments from across the state who work to advocate with a collective voice. 

On Jan. 30, students statewide participated in this annual event, seizing the opportunity to engage directly with the legislators they recently helped elect. 

The agenda focused on three key issues: textbook affordability and open educational resources, housing affordability and accessibility, and free two-year programs for community and technical colleges (CTCs). 

For the first time in Highline’s history of participation, non-student government students joined this momentous event.

One of the first-time attendees was Highline student Maria Velazquez, who described the experience as “fun but chaotic.” The state capitol was alive with activity, hosting events like the Billion Dollar Bake Sale, where K-12 educators rallied with the question, “Where’s the dough?” Meanwhile, immigration advocates marched for birthright citizenship amidst fears of deportation.

“At first, I was intimidated, but then my Mexican power came out, and I started speaking,” Velazquez said. Assigned to Group A, she was scheduled to meet with one senator and six legislators. Of these, two representatives sent interns in their place, the others were busy. However, Senator Emily Alvarado personally attended the meeting with Velazquez’s group, leaving a favorable impression.

During her meetings, Velazquez shared her struggles with textbook affordability. She explained how she and another student had to share a single textbook, alternating days of use. When it was her turn, Velazquez would copy as much of the text as she could afford to print.

At the end of their meeting, Velazquez said Alvarez assured her that she would “put tears and power into this agenda.”

Ian Porter, a librarian at Highline, explained that “some textbooks are available as course reserves,” but acknowledged that the waiting list for these resources can be long. He also highlighted that tuition fees include a printing credit of $10 to $20. With printing costs ranging from 10 to 15 cents per page, expenses add up quickly. 

One student, Jackie Crisp, shared her experience of printing seven reams of paper—about 3,500 sheets—for just one class during half of the winter quarter. At 10 cents per sheet, this totaled nearly $350 in printing costs. 

The WACTCSA’s agenda states that textbook prices have increased by almost 190% since 2006.

Textbook costs are not students’ only financial challenge; the 2024 Washington Student Experience Survey Executive Summary reveals that over half of Washington’s college students experience basic needs insecurity.

The report highlights that housing insecurity and homelessness remain prevalent among students, while food insecurity has risen by 14% since 2022. It notes a 6% increase compared to the previous year’s findings, emphasizing that issues of food insecurity, housing instability, and homelessness continue to affect students at both two-year and four-year colleges statewide.

In addition to textbook struggles, representatives also heard students voice their challenges in finding housing. Students reported facing high deposits, extensive background checks, and co-signer requirements, which, combined with low-paying student jobs, create significant barriers to completing their degrees. 

Vice President of the Associated Students of Highline Council, Hussein Al-Badri said he met with district’s representatives Tina Orwell, Steve Burquist, and Bob Hasegawa personally and it was like speaking with old friends. Al-Bari praised the personal communication style of these legislators, describing it as friendly and conversational, but acknowledged some other student groups felt rushed during their meetings.

Overall, he felt the day was productive and expressed excitement about HB 1657, the “Washington 13 Free Guarantee,” which aims to provide 45 credits of tuition-free college education. Currently, the bill proposes offering students one year of free college. 

Representative Steve Burquist is championing the bill, working to demonstrate that the one-year program is not as costly as critics suggest, with the hope of eventually expanding it to cover two years. If the program proves to be cost-effective, the ultimate goal is to extend tuition-free education to a full two years. 

Similar programs already exist in states like California, where the California Community Colleges Promise Grant offers tuition-free education to qualifying students. Although there are no textbook-specific bills currently before Congress, several legislative efforts are in the works that could significantly impact students.

HB 1587 is meant to encourage a partnership between the local government partner promise and the opportunity scholarship program, while HB 1010 focuses on authorizing additional detached housing units in rural areas to address critical housing affordability challenges. Finally, HB1217 seeks to improve housing stability for tenants. 

These bills address major barriers that students face, from housing insecurity to financial burdens, but their success depends on active student participation. Advocacy is essential to ensure lawmakers understand the urgency of these issues and take action.

As Geomar Panelo, Director of the Center for Leadership and Service at Highline College, reflected, “This was the first time we brought students outside of student government to Olympia, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.” 

Events like Legislative Advocacy Day highlight the power of student voices and their ability to drive meaningful change. Now more than ever, students must stay informed, engaged, and ready to advocate for policies that promote affordable, accessible, and free pathways to higher education. 

The fight for a better future begins with collective action—and with each student, like Velazquez, remembering and embracing their own power.