Photo credit: Tim Davis
Dear friends and neighbors,
We are heading into week 6 of the 105-day legislative session and that means we have one more week to vote bills out of our policy committees before we start full-time floor debates. Out of the six bills I’ve sponsored this session, four have already been passed to the Appropriations or the Rules Committee (the final stop for policy bills before they are scheduled for floor debate). My last bill will get a hearing this Wednesday at 4PM in the Transportation Committee. You can read more about the Mosquito Fleet Act below.
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to join me at a Fix our Ferries town hall in January and February. Your stories and suggestions will help us turn the tide.
Last year we made headway with more than $80M in investments in the supplemental budget. This year we face tougher headwinds due to our state budget shortfall, so we’re getting creative and looking at ways to get more boats in the water quickly and simultaneously boost our local economy by creating more maritime workforce opportunities.
The Mosquito Fleet Act of 2025
Ferries are a lifeline to work, school, and critical services and appointments like cancer treatment. We’re entering year six of WSF service cuts and cancellations and watched as years have gone by without new boats in the water. There’s plenty of reasons – budget constraints, carbon emission concerns, and lack of manufacturers to name a few – but there are no excuses. We must move faster to restore reliable ferry service. I’m sponsoring legislation to make it happen.
The Mosquito Fleet Act gets boats in the water faster and cheaper by declaring an emergency and funding Passenger Only Ferries (which are available right now and cost under 4% the price of a new WSF vessel).
Want to help get this bill out of committee and on the floor for a vote? Sign up to testify at the hearing this Wednesday, February 19, or record your support in the legislative record.
Supporting our Emergency Responders and Patients
A trip to the emergency room isn’t cheap, and it’s not always the best option for a patient experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis. Yet the way our healthcare billing system is structured, dropping a patient off at the ER is sometimes the only way Emergency Responders can ensure they get paid for their services. That’s not right and it’s not fair for anyone.
HB 1809 will allow Emergency Responders to offer the kind of care that best fits a patient’s needs, such as a referral to social and case workers, counselors, or substance abuse support. This will help our neighbors get back on their feet after an emergency event, not wipe out their savings with a big medical bill.
You can help move this bill through the legislative process by commenting here with your support.
Wrap it up! A Look Back at Week 5
Meeting grade schoolers is always a highlight!
Thank you to the students from Silver Ridge Elementary School for taking the time to visit me in Olympia!
Keen on kelp
Thanks to the Kitsap Sun for running my op-ed on how we can save Puget Sound with kelp.
I look forward to hearing your complaints, questions, and comments at Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov.
