{ "id": "epa9pc6h7v", "slug": "jess-bateman", "title": "Jess Bateman", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators.alpha-a-to-c", "label": "Surnames A to C", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators.alpha-a-to-c" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Jess Bateman, also published as Jessica Bateman, is a Democratic Washington State Senator representing the 22nd district who chairs the Senate Housing Committee and previously served in the House and on the Olympia City Council.", "snippet": "Jess Bateman, also published as Jessica Bateman, is a Democratic Washington State Senator representing the 22nd district who chairs the Senate Housing Committee and previously served in the House and on the Olympia City Council.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators.alpha-a-to-c", "markdown": "# Jess Bateman\n\nJess Bateman (also published as Jessica Bateman) is an American politician, a Democratic member of the Washington State Senate representing the 22nd district.[1](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/) She previously served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives and the Olympia City Council, and she chairs the Senate Housing Committee.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Democratic[1](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/) |\n| Current office | Member, Washington State Senate, District 22; Chair, Senate Housing Committee[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) |\n| Previous offices | Member, Washington House of Representatives; Member, Olympia City Council[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) |\n| Education | Master's degree in public administration, The Evergreen State College; bachelor's degree in environmental studies; associate degree, Green River Community College[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nBateman is a Democrat.[1](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/) Her news releases identify her as Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia).[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBateman is a lifelong resident of the [Pacific Northwest](https://www.edgepedia.org/pacific-northwest) who grew up in a single-parent, working-class household. Her mother was a public service union member, and Bateman has said that watching her work to provide for their family shaped her worldview and motivated her career of advocacy for struggling families.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) She is a first-generation college student who earned an associate degree from Green River Community College, a bachelor's degree in environmental studies, and a master's degree in public administration from The Evergreen State College. She paid her way through school, working in customer service and as a housekeeper.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/)\n\n## Career\n\nBefore joining the [Legislature](https://www.edgepedia.org/legislature), Bateman served on the Olympia City Council, where she worked to pass a Sanctuary City Resolution, and worked as an organizer and coalition leader on affordable housing, assistance for struggling families, and programs for at-risk youth.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) • [4](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/district-team/) She then served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives before being elected to the Washington State Senate from the 22nd district.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) In the Senate, she was named chair of the Senate Housing Committee, which The Urbanist described as part of major changes to committee leadership and structure in the chamber.[1](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/) Outside of the Legislature, she works as a health care strategic advisor.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/)\n\nIn January 2026, before the legislative session began, Bateman wrote that she supported new state revenue, stating, \"I want new progressive revenue to be part of our budget plan.\"[5](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/01/09/2026-legislative-session-is-about-to-begin/) She hosted an online town hall on January 19, 2026, with her 22nd district seatmates, Reps. Beth Doglio and Lisa Parshley, and after the Legislature adjourned sine die in March 2026, she wrote that she expected to hold a town hall with them in the coming weeks.[5](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/01/09/2026-legislative-session-is-about-to-begin/) • [6](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/03/12/the-legislature-has-adjourned-sine-die/)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Housing\n\nBateman's official biography describes her as a champion for affordable housing and states that she sponsored the \"middle housing\" legislation HB 1110 in 2023.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) As chair of the Senate Housing Committee, she sponsored the Housing Accountability Act (SB 5148), which \"helps ensure cities and local governments comply with state laws that expand housing affordability options and require the reform and modernization of local land use regulations\"; the bill passed the Senate on a 46-2 vote.[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/) She also sponsored the Parking Reform Act (SB 5184), which \"would reform rigid parking mandates set by local governments across Washington, replacing them with flexible rules that allow local businesses and developers to determine the right amount of parking based on their community's needs.\"[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/) The two bills received a hearing in the Senate Housing Committee on January 24, 2025.[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/) Describing the 2025 session, Bateman said, \"We came into this session with a three-pronged housing strategy — expand our housing supply, support homeownership opportunities, and provide stability for renters. On all three, we delivered significant progress.\"[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/)\n\n### Renters and seniors\n\nBateman sponsored SB 6237, which requires landlords to disclose to tenants and potential tenants whether a property is in a flood hazard area or an area of potential flooding; the bill passed the Senate on a 46-3 vote.[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/) She also introduced a bill providing a new set of protections for seniors in independent living facilities, such as condominiums and apartments, which under existing law lack the legal protections that apply to licensed elder care facilities providing more complex care.[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/) Her news releases also describe legislation to support homeownership opportunities and provide stability to help keep people in their homes, noting that Washington needs to build more than a million new homes over the next 20 years, over half of which must be affordable for people with the lowest incomes.[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/)\n\n### Health care\n\nBateman's biography states that she is committed to ensuring all Washingtonians get the comprehensive health care they need, particularly behavioral health care.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) She has sponsored legislation eliminating copays for abortion care, ensuring access to mifepristone, and increasing the state's behavioral health workforce.[2](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/) Her official page describes her as a passionate advocate for accessible health care.[1](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/)\n\n### Labor and artificial intelligence\n\nBateman introduced legislation that would allow public sector unions to collectively bargain over the implementation of artificial intelligence in government workplaces. \"Workers deserve to have a voice at the table when their employers introduce new AI technologies in their workplace,\" she said.[3](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/)\n\n### Tax and revenue policy\n\nIn a January 2026 message to constituents, Bateman wrote that she wanted \"the state's largest corporations and ultra-wealthy individuals\" to pay \"their fair share, rather than relying on cuts to education, health care, or community programs, or placing the burden on the backs of state employees.\"[5](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/01/09/2026-legislative-session-is-about-to-begin/) She wrote that there was \"more momentum right now for progressive tax reform than we've seen in a long time,\" citing the capital gains tax being upheld by voters in 32 of 39 counties in 2024.[5](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/01/09/2026-legislative-session-is-about-to-begin/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Sen. Jessica Bateman](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/)\n2. [Biography - Sen. Jessica Bateman](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/biography/)\n3. [News Releases - Sen. Jessica Bateman](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/news-releases/)\n4. [22nd Legislative District Team](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/district-team/)\n5. [2026 legislative session is about to begin!](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/01/09/2026-legislative-session-is-about-to-begin/)\n6. [The Legislature has adjourned sine die!](https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/bateman/2026/03/12/the-legislature-has-adjourned-sine-die/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Western and Pacific state legislators › Surnames A to C*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Jess Bateman\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Jess Bateman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Jess Bateman\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/jess-bateman. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Jess Bateman, also published as Jessica Bateman, is a Democratic Washington State Senator representing the 22nd district who chairs the Senate Housing Committee and previously served in the House and on the Olympia City Council." }