Dear Friends and Neighbors,
March 8th marked the House of Origin Cutoff in Olympia, which means we’ve crossed the deadline for most bills to pass either the House or the Senate. The House has passed over 300 bills off the House floor, with nearly two-thirds receiving unanimous support and over seventy six percent receiving strong bipartisan support.
In this issue, I’ll share an invite to an upcoming town hall and provide exciting updates on three of my bills. I hope you will find it useful!
Town Hall on Saturday!
Rep. Dan Bronoske and I will be hosting a town hall this Saturday at Clover Park Technical College. We look forward to answering your questions and sharing our legislative priorities!
Questions can be submitted ahead of time by clicking here or scanning the . Looking forward to seeing you there.
What: In-person town hall with Reps. Mari Leavitt and Dan Bronoske.
When: March 18, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Clover Park Technical College, Building 3 rotunda.
Keeping Communities Safe
“One pill can kill.” That’s the slogan of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Last week, the House unanimously passed my bill, HB 1209, which addresses illegally using equipment to mass distribute controlled substances such as fentanyl. Pill presses can be used to make 30-50 pills per minute or up to 3,000 pills an hour, which are often laced with fentanyl or heroin. The fentanyl epidemic is ravaging our communities and banning these machines – when mass distribution of these drugs is harming our children – is critical to keeping our communities safe. Please consider helping us move this bill in the Senate. Sign up to testify here!
Protecting Elections Workers
Successful elections depend on professional, experienced staff who understand the nuances of this important process. Unfortunately, election workers have been targeted by vitriol and harassment simply for performing their job of conducting fair, safe, secure, and transparent elections. In fact, one in four election workers has experienced violent threats since the 2020 election, according to the Elections and Voting Information Center at Reed College and the non-partisan Democracy Fund.
One of those is a constituent of the 28th who had to move from her home twice because of concerns for her and her family’s safety. This is simply unacceptable – that’s why I’ve introduced House Bill 1241. This bill increases penalties for harassment of an election worker and allows election workers who are harassed to apply for the address confidentiality program. This bill has passed the House and now is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice. Read more in the opinion article I wrote with Lori Larsen in the Tacoma News Tribune.
The Sam Martinez Stop Hazing Act
On behalf of Sam Martinez’s family – I extend a heartfelt gracious thanks to my colleagues for voting to unanimously pass my bill, House Bill 1002 – the Sam Martinez Stop Hazing Act. This impactful legislation increases the penalties for hazing and adds felony hazing to the statutory list of crimes against persons and crimes of harassment.
As a mom, I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose a child. Pictured with me here is Sam’s Mother, Jolayne Houtz. Sam Martinez arrived on his college campus that autumn excited for what the future would hold. He was a business student, a talented athlete who loved soccer, he had two cats, and was excited to become an entrepreneur. Just a few short months later, his parents arrived on campus to pack up his belongings and bring them home…without their son. His smile impacted his friends and family in many ways, and they don’t get to see his smile any longer. It is our duty to protect and keep our youth and college students safe.
55% of students on college campuses have experienced hazing and 95% of those incidents go unreported. This bill will make a difference and ensure that proper consequences follow horrid incidents of hazing. This bill had a hearing in the Senate this week and is up for final committee consideration next week.
Let Me Know What Is Important to You
If you plan to come down to Olympia, please schedule a time for us to meet so you can share your concerns with me. I am also happy to meet remotely if you are not quite comfortable in a public setting or simply don’t have time to make it to Olympia. My priority is hearing from you however you are most comfortable, whether remotely or in person.
If you have comments, questions, or ideas, please contact my office. I hope to hear from you soon! It’s an honor to serve you and your family.
In service,
State Representative Mari Leavitt
28th Legislative District