Audio news and views from Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla.

Rep. Skyler Rude

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, talks about his bills, House Bill 1744 and House Bill 1418, that would address challenges facing charter schools.

02-24-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Bills supporting charter schools

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses a bill he is concerned about that would limit teachers’ ability to restrain violent students. He also discusses a couple charter school bills he is supporting and a special guest he brought to the House Appropriations Committee.

03-03-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Updates on important legislation

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, talks about three of his sponsored bills that passed the House unanimously.

03-10-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Three sponsored bills headed to the Senate

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses two bills of concern that would essentially ban so-called “assault weapons” in Washington.

03-17-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Discussion of so-called “assault weapons” ban

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, joins host Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio to discuss student learning loss brought on by the school closures caused by the pandemic. He speaks on his House Bill 1710 which would allocate excess federal pandemic dollars toward tutoring programs to try and catch students up from the learning loss they've experienced. He also talks about school transparency (his House Bill 1210) and parental choice for students.

03-20-23 - RADIO: Rep. Skyler Rude talks about educational learning loss and potential solutions

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, gives an update on transportation projects and education programs he would like to see funded when 2023-25 budget proposals are released in the coming days.

03-24-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: 2023-25 budget priorities

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses SB 5179 and its companion bill, HB 1281, that would increase access to the provisions of the Washington Death with Dignity Act. He also shares what inspired him to sponsor the House bill.

03-31-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Increasing access to the Death with Dignity Act

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses the state operating budget recently passed by the House, including both good and bad aspects of the spending plan.

04-07-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: House version of the state operating budget

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, gives an update on his bills and where they are in the legislative process. He also shares his thoughts on the 2023 legislative session.

04-14-23 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: His bills and thoughts on the legislative session

SUGGESTED LEAD: A state lawmaker has introduced legislation to include financial education as a high school graduation requirement. Kelley Payne reports from the state Capitol.

PAYNE: (:60) Taking out a home mortgage, understanding credit and debt, are among essential financial life skills. But Walla Walla Representative Skyler Rude says many Washington students don’t learn these skills before graduating.

RUDE: (:09) “I’ve seen many people that have acquired a lot of debt and – I just think that at least having that conversation considering making a conscious choice to go down a path is important.”
 
PAYNE: Rude has introduced House Bill 1915. The measure would require financial education courses for elementary and middle school students starting in the 2026-27 school year. 

RUDE: (:11) “Right now, schools are required to provide financial education opportunities to students. I don’t think providing an opportunity and then allowing students to bypass it is the right path.” 

PAYNE: Starting in 2029, at least a half-credit of financial education instruction would be required to graduate. 

Rude’s bill has attracted multiple Republican and Democratic co-sponsors, which indicates it may have strong bipartisan support during the 2024 session to make it to the governor’s desk. Kelley Payne, the state Capitol.

01-05-24 - RADIO REPORT: Rep. Rude files bill to make financial education a graduation requirement

SUGGESTED LEAD: Declining math and reading scores among Washington school students have prompted a Republican lawmaker to propose an ambitious solution. Nic Scott reports from the state Capitol.

SCOTT: (:60) The idea is to hire more paraeducators to deliver personalized instruction to students and temporary tutors for students who have fallen furthest behind. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction reports that 60-percent of students are not meeting math standards and 50-percent are failing reading. Representative Skyler Rude of Walla Walla is the ranking Republican on the House Education Committee.

RUDE: (:07) “There’s absolutely bipartisan support for increasing paraeducator pay and directing additional dollars toward that, as well as the tutoring piece.”

SCOTT: House Bill 2387 attempts to correct learning loss, due in part to decisions made during the pandemic to keep students out of their classroom.

RUDE: (:14) “We, as a state have definitely disadvantaged students. It would be nice to hear some reflection from those who shut down schools admitting that has contributed to learning loss that is going to impact children as they enter college – as they exit the K-12 system into a career.”

SCOTT: The proposed legislation has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee where it awaits further consideration.
Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

01-23-24 - RADIO REPORT: Republicans support bill improving academic achievement of K-12 students

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, joins Ari Hoffman on KVI Radio to talk about his efforts to tackle learning loss. House Bill 2387 would provide funding for paraeducators and tutors in classrooms.

01-23-24 - RADIO: Rep. Rude joins Ari Hoffman on KVI to talk about tackling learning loss

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, joins Capitol Reports to discuss his efforts to include financial literacy in high school curriculum.

01-26-24 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Financial Literacy in Schools

SUGGESTED LEAD: The state House has adopted legislation making money management a high school graduation requirement. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: (:60) Representative Skyler Rude of Walla Walla, ranking Republican on the House Education Committee, gained bipartisan support for the legislation to include financial education as a graduation requirement for high school students. Rude shared on the House floor what a required course in money management may look like. 

RUDE: (:13) “Methods of interest calculation, effect borrowing costs, decide the most effective loan options for paying for a car, illustrate the total cost of reducing a credit card balance to zero with minimum payments versus above minimum payments.”

SCOTT: Rude said development of curriculum and the new graduation requirement was a team effort involving education professionals and community members.

RUDE: (:08) “It is my belief that this is a really great way for us to equip our graduating students to be successful in their personal lives and their careers.”

Rude’s bill requires school districts to provide high school students with access to financial education instruction beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year.

The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

02-08-24 - RADIO REPORT: House adopts financial ed as new graduation requirement

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, joins Capitol Report to discuss House Bill 2387, which increases funding for tutors and paraeducators.

02-09-24 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Addressing learning loss with House Bill 2387

Representative Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, joins Capitol Report to offer his unique perspective on the pitfalls of the Democrats’ rent control bill and to celebrate the unanimous passage of his financial education legislation.

02-23-24 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Late-session update on housing and education policy

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses House Bill 1285, which aims to require student participation in financial education courses. While opportunities for these courses exist, this bill represents the next step in ensuring students receive at least some essential financial literacy skills as part of their graduation requirements. Rude also highlights efforts to address concerns about universities mandating dormitory living for freshmen, emphasizing the need for flexibility and fairness in higher education policies.

01-30-25 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Requiring K-12 financial education

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses House Bill 1296, which attempts to roll back parental rights included in last year's initiative to the Legislature, I-2081. Republicans offered more than 20 amendments, which Rude argues were a strong pushback against the bill. He emphasizes the importance of public input and hopes that debate on the House floor will ultimately stop the bill.

02-14-25 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Fighting for parents' rights

Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, discusses House Bill 1876, which seeks to further adjust the waiting period under the Death with Dignity Act. After working to reduce the wait time from 15 to seven days, Rude is co-sponsoring a bill that would allow those unable to reach the seven-day mark an easier path. Rude shares how the story of a 16th District constituent deepened his understanding and empathy for those facing end-of-life decisions.

02-28-25 - RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Rude: Refining the Death with Dignity Act

SUGGESTED LEAD:  A bill to make financial education a graduation requirement for public high school students has passed the state House of Representatives. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: House Bill 1285 by Walla Walla Republican Representative Skyler Rude would require all public high schools in Washington to provide financial education instruction aligned with state standards by the 2027 school year. 

RUDE: “Young people that are exiting high school, some of their first decisions may include renting, understanding a lease, the renter’s insurance and the liability that is included in that; how to purchase, maybe, their first car.”

The measure would also make completing financial education courses a graduation requirement, starting with the class of 2031.

RUDE: “It’s really a great step for a person exiting high school to start off their life and their career on the right foot.”

SATTGAST: The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

John Sattgast, the state Capitol.


03-06-25 - RADIO REPORT: Rep. Skyler Rude’s financial education bill clears state House

This is the official SoundCloud account of the Washington State House Republicans in Olympia, Washington. (www.houserepublicans.wa.gov)

Rep. Skyler Rude

Wash. House Republicans