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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we finish up the third week of the 2026 legislative session, I want to share a quick update on several important issues I’ve been working on for our district – from protecting parents’ rights, to strengthening rural health care, to standing up for our farmers and communities.
Protecting parents’ rights and transparency in schools
The Parents’ Bill of Rights initiative, IL-26001, is about restoring basic transparency and trust between families and schools. Parents deserve to know what their children are learning, when they are receiving medical or mental health services, and when serious issues arise.
This principle once earned overwhelming bipartisan support in the Legislature. It passed nearly unanimously. Then, after courts upheld it, the majority party quietly rewrote it and weakened those protections.
Parents noticed. They organized again. And now they are back. Despite the majority party refusing to hold a public hearing on this initiative to the Legislature, I continue to support this effort to make sure families are respected and kept informed.
Improving rural medical transport and emergency care
My bill, House Bill 2110, recently passed out of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. This legislation addresses a real problem facing rural hospitals and patients.
Too often, smaller hospitals struggle to find enough EMT-certified nurses to staff critical interfacility transports. When that happens, patients can face dangerous delays or be forced to wait for help from far away.
HB 2110 allows a qualified registered nurse to assist during these transports when no EMT-certified nurse or paramedic is available, while keeping strong safety standards in place. An EMT is still required, physicians remain in charge, and nurses must stay within their scope of practice.
This is about making sure rural patients get timely, safe care when they need it most.
Strengthening critical access hospitals
One of my highest priorities is working to keep our rural and critical access hospitals open and serving the health care needs of our local communities. They are the backbone of health care in many rural areas. They provide emergency services, inpatient care, and essential treatment close to home.
Many of these hospitals are under serious financial pressure because of rising costs, workforce shortages, and reimbursement challenges. When a rural hospital struggles, patients are forced to travel farther and wait longer for care.
I continue working with hospital leaders, providers, and my legislative colleagues to improve reimbursement policies, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and support long-term stability. Keeping these hospitals strong and fiscally viable is essential for our families, seniors, and first responders.
Standing up for the Snake River dams and our agricultural economy
The Draft 2026 Fish and Wildlife Program is now open for public comment through March 2, 2026. This process matters, and rural voices need to be heard.
Public hearings will be held across the region, including in Spokane, Yakima, Lewiston, Seattle, and online. I strongly encourage you to attend or submit written comments.
The four Lower Snake River dams are critical to our farms, our economy, and our energy supply. They move millions of tons of crops to market, provide clean and reliable hydropower, support irrigation, and reduce congestion and emissions by keeping freight on the river.
There is no realistic, affordable replacement plan if these dams are removed. Breaching them would raise transportation costs, increase energy prices, and hurt rural communities the most.
If you care about agriculture, jobs, and affordable power – and I know you do! – now is the time to speak up. Please make your voice heard.
Thank you for taking the time to stay engaged and informed. Serving you in Olympia is an honor, and I will continue working every day to protect our rural way of life, strengthen our communities, and use taxpayer dollars wisely.
As always, please feel free to reach out if I can be of help.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmick
