Friends, neighbors —
There are only 23 days left in the 2023 session! Our team continues to spend every moment we can championing our communities’ priorities. Scroll down to see what we’ve been up to. ⬇️
#1: I’m so happy to report my ✨FIRST✨ bill of the session has been signed into law!
👉🏽 SB 5394 supports physicians trained at international medical schools in providing care in Washington by helping grow practice opportunities.
Here’s where our other bills stand right now:
👉🏽 SB 5555 is scheduled for a vote in House Appropriations Tuesday. It helps address the behavioral health crisis by creating certified peer specialists to ensure our neighbors who are struggling find support when they need it most.
👉🏽 SB 5534 is scheduled for a vote in House Appropriations Tuesday. It supports Washington’s nation-leading financial aid by moving staffing of the WEIA Oversight Board to the Washington Student Achievement Council — it just makes sense!
👉🏽 SB 5732 is waiting for a hearing in House Finance. It ensures seniors who qualify for the property tax exemption program remain eligible when they receive a nominal social security increase.
We’ve got another important deadline coming up TOMORROW: opposite house fiscal cutoff. This is the deadline to move revenue-bills out of our budget committees (Ways & Means and Transportation). Then, we’ll spend much of our remaining time on the floor voting on bills.
#2: Earlier this week, the Senate unveiled its 2023-25 transportation budget — a $12.9 billion proposal focused on traffic safety, workforce expansion in the state patrol and ferry system, electrification, transit and other green investments, and keeps work on schedule for transportation projects big and small throughout Washington.
Safety is at the center of every transportation decision, and I believe this budget doubles down on that promise and hits all our priorities. A few investments I’m excited to share:
👉🏽 $16 million – Moving up the Move Ahead Washington commitment to fix Gorst!
👉🏽 $1.68 million – Key safety improvements at the Wollochet on/off ramps on SR 16
👉🏽 $6.5 million – So Kitsap Transit can continue closing the gap in Bremerton ferry services
👉🏽 $5 million – ADA accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists
👉🏽 $25 million – Connecting Communities Grants
👉🏽 $572,000 – Supports for maximizing clean fuel credits to pay for new electric ferries
👉🏽 $1.1 million – Fund driver’s license and ID cards for foster youth
👉🏽 $188 million – Kids Ride Free program
#3: Want to get an inside scoop what’s happening in the Legislature? Watch our most recent Leadership Media Availability! I joined Transportation Chair Marko Liias and our House colleagues — Speaker Laurie Jinkins and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon — for a 30-minute overview of the session and what you can expect to see in our last weeks. Click here to watch on TVW!
