Dear friends and neighbors,

Traffic fatalities and accidents are on the rise, with 745 people in Washington killed in crashes in 2022[1], the most we’ve had since 1990. That’s about a 20% increase over 2021 – a trend we can’t allow to continue. Alcohol or drug impairment was a factor in more than half of those deadly crashes, and speeding was a factor in about a third of them.

Legislators have pledged to make traffic safety our top priority on transportation this year, and later this week, state transportation leaders will be holding a press conference about the policies we’re considering.

Before the press conference, I’d love to have your feedback on the policies we’re looking it – please click here to take my survey on some of the bills before the legislature this year. I’d love to be able to share the feedback I get from my constituents, and to get a sense of what ideas you’re most enthusiastic about. The survey should take about two or three minutes to complete.

If you’d like to watch the press conference, it will be on Thursday, Jan. 26 (tomorrow) at 12:30 p.m. You can watch it on TVW here – it’ll be there live and stay accessible at that link in case you want to watch it later.

Bills In Motion

Several of the bills I’ve introduced this session are already moving through the process – we put together a quick cut of some of the testimony I’ve given on a few of them that are already being heard – you can watch it here or click below!

Two of these are good agriculture bills – helping our cottage food producers expand and supporting the beef industry and our ranchers. Another is a housing bill that makes it easier to build condominium housing that’s more affordable than the luxury condos that are too often the norm these days. I’ve got some more bills I’m expecting to see action on soon on issues like cleaner fuels for our transit services, helping fund law enforcement, and more.

I really appreciate your input and ideas, on this and every other issue. As always, you can reach me at any time at Sharon.Shewmake@leg.wa.gov if you have questions or feedback.

Stay well,

Sen. Sharon Shewmake

 

[1] Data from the Washington State Traffic Commission