News Releases

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 ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Feb. 7, 2024   More transportation options could come to Point Roberts with passage of Shewmake bill   OLYMPIA — Legislation allowing certain border-area fuel tax proceeds to fund more types of transportation improvements passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday.   The border-area fuel tax is a local transportation tax that localities within ten miles of an international border crossing may impose with ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Jan. 17, 2024 Shewmake legislation to support ranchers passes Senate OLYMPIA – In one of its first actions of the session, the Washington State Senate passed legislation today to support ranchers and Washington’s beef industry. SB 5150, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), would provide additional funding for the Washington State Beef Commission and its promotional efforts on ...

State legislators representing the 40th and 42nd legislative districts released a letter today to the Whatcom County Executive and Council with information on available state resources to support the county’s Justice Implementation Plan. The legislators thanked the county for its work on the draft plan and expressed a commitment to partnership with the county from the state level. The policies ...

With the passage of the state’s capital construction and transportation budgets, significant investment will be coming to 42^nd Legislative District projects, announced Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham). Legislators in the 40th and the 42nd Legislative Districts worked together to bring money home to Whatcom County. The state’s capital budget makes investment in construction projects and public buildings. The statewide budget set new ...

Legislation to expand options for local governments to use money from impact fees to build bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure was signed into law today. The bill, SB 5452, was sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham). “Places for people to walk and bike are such an important part of a livable and vibrant ...