News Releases

OLYMPIA – Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) and Reps. Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) and Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham) will host a 42nd District Town Hall on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ferndale High School Gymnasium. The 42nd District encompasses most of Whatcom County. Community members from Bellingham, Point Roberts, Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine and surrounding areas are encouraged to attend.  The town hall will include an overview of the 2026 legislative ...

Bill protecting ratepayers, ensuring electrical grid reliability, guiding responsible data center development heard in committee OLYMPIA – A bill protecting ratepayers from potential new costs associated with large energy use facilities (ELEUFs), such as data centers, in Washington state was heard Friday in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee. Senate Bill 6171, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), is the ...

OLYMPIA, WA – Community members are invited to join State Representatives Joe Timmons, Alicia Rule, and State Senator Sharon Shewmake for an in-person town hall on Saturday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m. at Ferndale High School. Timmons, Rule, and Shewmake represent the 42nd Legislative District, which encompasses most of Whatcom County. Community members from the Bellingham, Point Roberts, Lynden, ...

OLYMPIA – The expansion of mobile markets could see seniors and other food benefit recipients with new ways to access fresh fruits and vegetables. A bill to expand nutrition access by establishing a mobile farmers market program in Washington passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday. Senate Bill 5214, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), would direct the Department of Health (DOH) ...

Please join 42^nd Legislative District lawmakers Sen. Sharon Shewmake and Rep. Joe Timmons at one of their upcoming community chats. This is your opportunity to hear a post-session update, ask questions, and share your thoughts on what they should focus on during interim. Read below to find a community chat near you! The 42^nd district represents most of Whatcom County, including ...

OLYMPIA—Whatcom County is preparing for an adjudication case in the Nooksack watershed and will need additional resources. That’s why Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, and Rep. Joe Timmons, D-Bellingham, introduced bills to support Whatcom County Superior during the 2024 legislative session.   Today, House Bill 1992, sponsored by Rep. Timmons, passed the Senate unanimously. This piece of legislation will ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Feb. 14, 2024 Shewmake Bill to Support Self-Help Housing Passes Senate OLYMPIA – More self-help housing could be coming to rural areas. Legislation to support low-income home ownership opportunities in rural areas passed the Senate yesterday. SB 6013 would expand the housing development nonprofit property tax exemption, an exemption used by groups that build low-income housing such ...

OLYMPIA—Water rights adjudication is a legal process to resolve water rights conflicts and create opportunities for water to be used more efficiently. Adjudication also creates opportunities for conservation, essential for salmon restoration. Whatcom County is preparing for an adjudication case in the Nooksack watershed and will need additional resources. That’s why Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) and Rep. Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham) ...

Please join your lawmakers from the 42nd Legislative District for a town hall meeting from 1-2:30 PM on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Horizon Middle School in Ferndale. This is their chance to hear from you as well as update you on their work in Olympia on your behalf. The 42^nd district represents most of Whatcom County, including Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Sumas, and ...