Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In June we honor the lives of people affected by gun violence and elevate the voices of advocates who are demanding change.
While elected officials in the other Washington dither about addressing gun violence – and in some cases, reverse course – Washington State is taking action. This session we passed my bill to implement a permit-to-purchase law (HB 1163) to ensure firearms don’t end up in the wrong hands. It’s a data-driven, common-sense approach that will save lives.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in America. Almost every person will know at least one victim of gun violence in their lifetime. This isn’t abstract – it touches nearly every family. Before a play date, parents ask if firearms are safely locked up. Every time we drop off our kids at school, we hope they come home. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Last month, the King County Prosecuting Attorney released updated crime statistics showing a decline in gun violence in our county. The results are a 35% decline in firearm homicide victims, 36% decline in nonfatal shooting victims, and 32% decline in total shots fired incidents. This downward trend is the first we have seen since 2018 and is the result of hard work by community members, activists, lawmakers and law enforcement.
In the legislature this year, we made significant progress to ensure people and communities are safe by enacting the following:
- HB 2015 to create a fund of $100 million in the current biennium for local grants to pay for new local law enforcement officers and staff. The law grants cities funding authority, up to a 0.1% sales tax, which is sustainable funding for public safety and criminal justice programs like law enforcement hiring or training, crisis intervention services, or trauma-informed care.
- SB 5356 to require investigators at colleges and universities receive training on sexual assault and gender-based violence investigations.
- HB 1484 to give courts the ability to impose even greater penalties in cases where a rape leads to a pregnancy.
- HB 1052 to improve the state’s hate crimes statute so that perpetrators are held accountable.
- SB 5714 to make it clear that bail bond agents are not federal immigration officers, and do not use their limited authority to carry out federal immigration orders.
I won’t stop fighting to keep our communities safe because it’s personal to me.
Revive I-5: Important dates for you to know
A number of projects will impact travel in our region this summer with the Revive I-5 project, funded with your state transportation budget, continuing over the coming months. Below are some important dates and locations where you can expect slowdowns and delays.
- June 20 – July 23: Northbound I-5 two-lane reduction across Ship Canal Bridge.
- July 18 – July 21: Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 interchange to Northeast 45th Street.
- July 21 – Aug. 15: Northbound I-5 two-lane reduction across Ship Canal Bridge.
- Aug. 15 – Aug. 18: Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 interchange to Northeast 45th Street.
- Aug. 18: All northbound I-5 lanes reopen in regular configuration.
- Fall/winter 2025: Several southbound I-5 two-lane reductions across Ship Canal Bridge planned. Dates to be announced soon.
Congratulations graduates!
June is also when we get to say congratulations to all of the graduates in our lives! Whatever your next step is, we are proud of you for this monumental achievement and look forward to seeing what you do next. Congratulations Class of 2025!
As we transition to summer, please reach out if you have community events or meetings you would like to invite me to attend. See you around the neighborhood!
Best wishes,
State Representative Liz Berry
36th Legislative District