Press Releases – Greg Nance

Take a survey to help Rep. Nance Fix our Ferries and a spring update

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope you’re enjoying spring sunshine and rain showers. Time has flown by since the legislative session ended on March 7, and I’m back in Kitsap meeting neighbors, touring the shipyard and visiting schools, hosting town halls, and talking to folks across the district about what we can do to make Kitsap a better place to live, work, and play.

I grew up in Kitsap so it’s a special honor representing our community as State Rep. Since taking office, I’ve heard your concerns – the lack of affordable childcare, healthcare workforce shortages, unsafe roads – and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in Olympia.

I sponsored legislation to clarify and streamline eligibility for Working Connections Child Care (HB 2110) so more hardworking families can get the affordable childcare they need.
My bill to cut red tape so we can more efficiently certify our healthcare workforce passed unanimously (HB 2355) and I helped deliver $204,000 for Olympic College Healthcare Pathways to support students pursuing healthcare degrees. Working with Senator Hansen and Rep. Simmons, we also secured $4.5 million for the Suquamish Health Center.
As a member of the House Transportation Committee, I helped secure $5.9 million for “Safe Routes to School” at View Ridge Elementary and $1.6 million for the Warren Avenue Bridge. Both projects will help kids and neighbors walk and bike safely, better connecting our community.

But the biggest concern I hear is unreliable ferry service, which led to 3,500 cancelled sailings last year. My top priority in Olympia has been building a bipartisan coalition to Fix our Ferries. The ferry legislation I sponsored had 27 co-sponsors, including leadership from both parties. We worked across the aisle to secure $80 million in new ferry funding ($1.3 billion total) for vessel construction, maintenance, and workforce expansion.

What’s the path ahead? You can read my Seattle Times editorial that details how we can restore reliable service.

Take this survey to help Rep. Nance Fix our Ferries!

I’m grateful to the folks who shared suggestions at one of the 7 Fix our Ferries town halls around Kitsap. I’d love to hear from you too – please take this short survey to offer your ideas on how we can turn the tide and Fix our Ferries!

Election year communications restrictions

There are certain restrictions on legislator communications to prevent the use of state resources for election purposes every election year. These restrictions include a freeze on my legislative Facebook account and my legislative webpage beginning Monday, May 6, 2024, until after the general election in November.

However, our office is still here to help you! Even during the election year freeze, you can still reach out to my Legislative Assistant Shelby Williams or email me if there’s anything I can do to assist you or your family. You’ll also be able to find loads of information and access to state & local resources on my website → housedemocrats.wa.gov/nance

It’s truly an honor to serve Kitsap… look forward to seeing you around the peninsula soon!

Join your 23rd District lawmakers for a town hall tomorrow!

Dear friends and neighbors,

I’m proud to work alongside Senator Hansen and Rep. Simmons to deliver for our Kitsap community. Tomorrow we’re hosting two town halls in Poulsbo (10AM) and Bremerton (1PM). We want to hear about your priorities and concerns for the district, and answer any questions you have about what happened during this year’s legislative session and what we are going to be working on during the interim.

Your voice is important to me and I hope you’ll join us at one of tomorrow’s town halls with your 23rd District delegation. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions: Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov.

10am Poulsbo campus, Olympic College
1pm Bremerton campus, Olympic College

First bills signed into law + Fix our Ferries townhalls this weekend

Dear friends and neighbors,

Great news — Governor Inslee has signed three of my bills into law:

Working Connections Child Care (HB 2111) clarifies eligibility for subsidized childcare to better support Washington’s working families.
High School Graduation Standards (HB 2110) streamlines graduation requirements to reduce confusion for students, parents, and teachers.
Healthcare Workforce Expansion (HB 2355) cuts unnecessary red tape to certify more radiological technologists and provide early detection to save lives.

Fix our Ferries townhalls continue tomorrow Saturday, March 16th

Hope to see you at one (or both!) of tomorrow’s events:

10am Kingston Village Green
1pm Poulsbo City Hall

We had a great turnout last Saturday in Bremerton and Bainbridge… you can read the KUOW recap. Join us tomorrow and bring your questions, complaints, and suggestions!

As always, it’s an honor to represent Kitsap as your State Rep.

Take care,

MEDIA ADVISORY – Rep. Greg Nance to host two Fix our Ferries town halls next two Saturdays (March 9 & 16)

MEDIA ADVISORY – Rep. Greg Nance to host two Fix our Ferries town halls next two Saturdays (March 9 & 16)

WHO: Rep. Greg Nance

WHAT: Rep. Greg Nance will host morning and afternoon town halls across Kitsap over the next two Saturdays to share ferry funding budget updates, take suggestions from constituents, and answer tough question about work he’s doing in the legislature to Fix our Ferries.

WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 10AM-12PM Bremerton Norm Dicks
Saturday, March 9, 1PM-3PM, Bainbridge Senior Center
Saturday, March 16, 10AM-12PM, Kingston Village Green
Saturday, March 16, 1PM-3PM, Poulsbo City Hall

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Fix our Ferries townhalls begin this weekend

Dear friends and neighbors,

We’re in the homestretch of our 60-day legislative session. With just a few days left, both the House and the Senate have been busy going through the concurrence process to finalize bills and get them to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Fix our Ferries Town Halls

Please join us at an upcoming Fix our Ferries townhall in your neck of the woods:

I’ll share highlights from the State’s Transportation Budget along with a progress report on our roadmap to fix our ferries… I’m also eager to hear your questions and suggestions.

Please join us – and share with your friends and family as it will take all of us working together to fix our ferries.

Concurrence, Dispute, and Conference

When either chamber amends a bill from the opposite chamber, the amendment must be approved by the chamber of origin. Here’s what that process looks like:

The House or Senate can choose to concur with the changes and move the bill forward
The House or Senate can dispute the changes and ask the other chamber to recede from their amendments and move the bill forward in same form it was in when it was voted out of the House
The House or Senate can request a conference. If differences can’t be resolved, a committee with members from both chambers meet to try and reach agreement. If they can’t, the bill does not move forward.

2024 Supplemental Budget

In Washington the legislature passes biennial budgets in odd-numbered years. In 2023 we passed the budget that covers 2024 and 2025. In even-numbered years like this one, we have a chance to revisit the biennial budget to make sure the numbers still compute. It also gives the legislature the opportunity to add funding for needs we may not have foreseen.

My top priority has been working to fix our ferries. I’m proud of the bipartisan coalition we’ve built that voted to fully fund our ferries by passing the House Transportation Budget on a 93-2 vote.

The proposed transportation budget includes more than $80M of new funding to help Fix our Ferries. Here’s a few highlights:

Investing in ferries and local infrastructure

$1.3B for reliable ferry service including $80M in new funding for vessel maintenance and preservation, and staff recruitment and training
$5M for Kitsap Transit Bremerton-Seattle fast ferry
$51M for Kitsap highways and $14M for Kitsap infrastructure upgrades

Investing in children, youth, and families

This supplemental budget includes investments in K-12 and higher education, including $150M for children, youth & families.

Combatting the fentanyl and opioid crisis

We also proposed making significant investments in the fentanyl and opioid response. This includes HB 2112 that I sponsored to make sure students and staff at higher education institutions in WA get awareness and prevention training and have access to lifesaving overdose reversal drugs.

If you have any questions about the budget, bills, or anything else please email me at Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov or reach out to my office any time. I’m proud to serve Kitsap.

Take care,

House Transportation Budget helps Fix our Ferries and fund Kitsap infrastructure

Dear friends and neighbors,

The House just released its proposal for the state’s supplemental Transportation Budget (think ferries, roads, bridges, and buses). I’m delighted to share that several key priorities for Kitsap made it into the budget, including $500,000 for the WSF 75 Commission I proposed in HB 2497 to evaluate funding sources and gather key data for federal funding we can use to fix our ferries.

Transportation budget highlights:

Washington State Ferries

More than $80 million for ferry support bringing the ‘23-’25 biennial budget to over $1.3 billion for WSF funding, including:

- $2.5 million in Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility improvements so our hardworking WSF crew has the advanced tools, resources, and training to maintain and preserve our fleet.
- $44 million in terminal preservation and improvements to equip Kingston ($18M), Bremerton ($8M), and Bainbridge ($18M) terminals with needed infrastructure upgrades so they can reliably serve passengers long into the future.
- $153 million for hybrid-electric vessel construction, vessel conversions, and terminal electrification.

More than $16M for safe, walkable, bikeable Kitsap communities

$5 million for the Kitsap Transit passenger-only vessels and funding to bolster our Bremerton-Seattle passenger-only run.*
$1.62 million for final design work on Warren Avenue Bridge for pedestrian and bike access. Warren Avenue Bridge SR 303 is a vital connection between Bremerton and the peninsula.*
$5.9 million for View Ridge Elementary Safe Routes to Schools so kids and families can safely walk and bike to school each day including continuous sidewalks and curb ramps at intersections.*

$14M for Kitsap Infrastructure Upgrades:

$2 million for Port of Bremerton electrification.*
$8 million to Kitsap Transit for SR 305 Day Road Park and Ride improvements on Bainbridge and inductive charging infrastructure for smoother, clean energy rides for all of Kitsap.
$4 million for Kitsap Transit design & shore power including design work for electric hydrofoil boats. *

$51.9M for Kitsap highways

$4.9 million for SR 104 Realignment for Ferry Traffic to promote steady flow and reduce blockage of driveways and small business storefronts for our neighbors in Kingston. An additional $13 million is allocated in the next biennium to see this vital project through.
$16 million for SR 3 Gorst Widening to reduce traffic jams and keep commuters moving.
$31 million for SR 305 construction, including improvements at Suquamish Way Access Road.

*indicates that this project was full or partially funded through the Climate Commitment Act

You can help get funding for WSF and Kitsap!

The Senate also released their supplemental transportation, capital, and operating budgets this week. Now lawmakers from both chambers work to combine these proposals into a package that the Governor can sign.

Alongside my seatmates Rep. Tarra Simmons and Sen. Drew Hansen, we’re proud of the work we’ve done as your 23rd Legislative District delegation. We’ll keep advocating for Kitsap all the way to the finish line. You can help us make it happen.

Please share your support for WSF and Kitsap investments by following my Facebook page and using the hashtag #FixOurFerries.

Your voice and advocacy matter. Together, we’ll Fix our Ferries.

Ps: please join one of our upcoming Fix our Ferries townhalls to make your voice heard:

Bremerton: Saturday, March 9th 10am-noon at Norm Dicks Center
Bainbridge: Saturday, March 9th 1pm-3pm at Senior Community Center
Kingston: Saturday, March 16th 10am-noon at Village Green
Poulsbo: Saturday, March 16^th 1-3pm at Poulsbo City Council

You can help fix our ferries! Find out how.

My top priority in Olympia is sponsoring legislation and building a coalition to Fix our Ferries.

Our ferry system is on pace for over 3,000 cancelled sailings this year. Every service disruption means neighbors miss work, miss school, and miss medical appointments.

I’m writing with good news: the legislation I’m sponsoring to Fix our Ferries, HB 2497, now has a bipartisan coalition of 27 co-sponsors including the House Majority Leader and House Transportation Chair.

Early momentum has helped us earn a hearing tomorrow 4p.m. with the House Transportation Committee but we need your help today:

Please register your support in the Legislative Record by signing-in PRO on HB 2497.

Together, we’ll Fix our Ferries.

Nance bill to reduce healthcare workforce barriers passes House

OLYMPIA—Today the House unanimously passed House Bill 2355, sponsored by Rep. Greg Nance (D-Kitsap) to expand Washington’s healthcare workforce by reducing the barriers to certify new Radiologic Technologists and MRI providers.

“Washington faces a dire healthcare workforce shortage. We must reduce unnecessary barriers to train and certify our workforce,” said Nance. “This legislation will help us train more MRI technologists to detect breast cancer, diagnose heart disease, and discover strokes or aneurisms before they become deadly. Early detection saves lives.”

The Department of Health currently recognizes five different professional titles as certified radiologic technologists, but “magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist” isn’t on the list.

Nance’s bill would add MRI technologist to the list and include the supervision requirement that they work at the direction of a licensed practitioner, including direct supervision by a physician for parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology.

A training course for MRI technology takes about two years. The legislation will bring Washington training requirements back to national training standards.

“This is a small change that can make a big difference in bolstering our healthcare workforce. I’m proud to work across the aisle and deliver for our neighbors across the state.”

The legislation passed the House in a unanimous 97 to 0 vote. It is now onto the Senate for consideration.

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House passes Nance bill to fund opioid prevention at colleges

OLYMPIA—Across Washington fentanyl and opioid deaths are rising fastest among youth and young adults. Today the House of Representatives passed House Bill 2112, sponsored by Rep. Greg Nance (D-Kitsap) to fund prevention education and make fentanyl strips and the overdose reversal drug naloxone available on higher education campuses in Washington.

“We know that fentanyl and opioids are devastating our communities and hitting our teens and young adults hardest.” said Rep. Nance. “Too often, these deaths are entirely preventable. Tackling this issue from both sides – prevention education and overdose response – is how we turn the tide.”

The bill would fund education and training on administering naloxone to students and staff working in residence halls.

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that can’t be smelled, tasted, or seen when mixed with another substance.

“One pill can kill. That’s what makes it so deadly,” Nance explained. “Fentanyl test strips can help folks avoid poisoning and naloxone helps reverse an overdose before it kills.”

Students or staff who administer needed emergency services to someone experiencing an overdose would be eligible for limited liability protections under Washington’s Good Samaritan Law.

“This is a common-sense measure that can save lives,” Nance said. “I’m grateful to impacted students, families, and educators for powerful committee testimony. These stories helped cement bipartisan support. My colleagues Rep. Leavitt (D-28) and Rep. Pollet (D-46) were key partners in shaping this policy and I’m grateful for their help.”

The bill passed the House with a vote of 94 to 3 and now moves to the Senate.

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House passes Nance bill clarifying high school graduation requirements

OLYMPIA— Decades of high school graduation code revisions have made it difficult for students and families to find the information they need to earn a diploma.

House Bill 2110, sponsored by freshman lawmaker Rep. Greg Nance (D – Kitsap) improves accessibility and clarifies language surrounding high school graduation requirements in Washington.

Nance, a proud graduate of Washington K-12 public schools, is passionate about supporting youth mental health and student achievement across the state.

“You shouldn’t have to graduate from law school to figure out how to graduate from high school,” said Rep. Nance. “The legislature has done terrific work expanding graduation pathways and unleashing local innovation spurred by our teachers and educators. Graduation requirements now span several statutes and have become unwieldy and confusing.”

This legislation is a statutory cleanup that makes organizational and technical changes to high school graduation requirement provisions and provides clearer guidance for graduation pathway options.

Most relevant information is consolidated into a single chapter and better aligns graduation requirements with their component parts.

Current state graduation requirements remain unchanged.

Today the House passed HB 2110 with a vote of 97-0. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

Fix our Ferries Town Halls

Concurrence, Dispute, and Conference

2024 Supplemental Budget

My top priority in Olympia is sponsoring legislation and building a coalition to Fix our Ferries.

Take a survey to help Rep. Nance Fix our Ferries and a spring update

Join your 23rd District lawmakers for a town hall tomorrow!

MEDIA ADVISORY – Rep. Greg Nance to host two Fix our Ferries town halls next two Saturdays (March 9 & 16)

Fix our Ferries townhalls begin this weekend

House Transportation Budget helps Fix our Ferries and fund Kitsap infrastructure

You can help fix our ferries! Find out how.

Nance bill to reduce healthcare workforce barriers passes House

House passes Nance bill to fund opioid prevention at colleges

House passes Nance bill clarifying high school graduation requirements

Fix our Ferries town hall this weekend – join us!