In 2025, the Levin Center conducted a study of all 50 states to examine how legislatures ensure government programs work effectively for citizens. Factors such as legislative oversight committees, routine engagement with executive agencies, collection of casework data, digital transparency tools, and user-centered policy evaluation were of particular importance. The full report can be found here.
State Summary #
The state of Washington has several highlights when it comes to a sufficient infrastructure for people-centered oversight. On the main Legislature home page, there is a section of links titled “Let Your Voice Be Heard.” Here, users find three links, “Contact your Legislators,” “Comment on a Bill,” and “Participate in Committee Hearings.” Each of these links provides users with valuable information and resources to help them participate in the legislative process and submit their input or feedback.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee has sufficient infrastructure for people-centered oversight as well and frequently makes time to receive public comments. Where the agendas are listed, there is also a link for testifying information that takes users to a search box where they can easily search and view any testimony provided. This committee also provides several reports that are easily accessible and are written in a way that is understandable to a general audience.
Legislators, executive agencies, and the public in Washington also enjoy particularly excellent data and engagement from the Results Washington program, which was established by executive order in 2013. Comprehensive online datasets track performance metrics on a wide variety of people-centered criteria ranging from specific (trends in opioid overdose EMS responses) to very broad (state ranking in patents issued per capita). Results Washington also includes “Public Performance Reviews,” which they describe as “monthly, televised meetings where state agency leaders, agency experts, partners, individuals with lived experience, and customers gather to discuss the status and progress of various state goals, initiatives, and improvement projects.”
