Dear neighbors,
If we listen to each other with respect and work together, good things happen.
And I am happy to tell you we are doing a lot of good things this year in Olympia.
The 2023 session is more than half over, and we’ve already passed landmark legislation in the House and Senate.
You wouldn’t know from listening to the radio or reading the newspapers, but almost 60 percent of the bills voted out of the House of Representatives this year were passed with unanimous support. Almost 80 percent of bills passed with the support of 80 or more legislators from both sides of the aisle.
That’s important for the health of our democracy and for our state. Because we will definitely disagree on issues, sometimes strongly. But we should always do so respectfully, and be able to shake hands and work on the next problem.
Housing
On housing, we are making progress on two big reforms: middle housing and mother-in-law units.
Middle housing (House Bill 1110)
This reform will help create more middle housing. Our grandparents used to have more options, like cottage courts and duplexes, instead of today’s dichotomy of single-family housing or apartment buildings. This bill can help create more housing where we need it most, near transit options and jobs, while bringing down the price of housing everywhere.
Mother-in-law units (House Bill 1337)
With this reform, people can use land they already own to add a small living space—maybe above the garage or in the backyard. A lot of families can use this to bring in a family member, often aging parents, or to rent it out for extra income.
I supported both these bills because they are common-sense solutions to our housing crisis—and they both passed with strong bipartisan support.
What’s next?
Now, we’ll go back to committee to consider all the bills the Senate passed, and they’ll do the same.
I believe we have the chance to make historic progress this session, not just on housing and workforce issues, but on kitchen-table issues like education, healthcare, and transportation.
That progress is possible because here in Washington state, we have a long history of respecting our neighbors and coming together to solve common problems.
I appreciate everyone who’s taken the time to share their ideas and thoughts this session. I hope we can continue to have good discussions about ways to make the 10th District – and our state—an even better place to work, live, and raise a family.
10th District Town Halls this Weekend
Sen. Ron Muzzall and I are hosting two in-person community town halls this weekend to hear your feedback and answer your questions about this year’s legislative session. Hearing from you is very important to me, so I hope to see you there!
When: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Where: Oak Harbor Library Meeting Room, 1000 SE Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 19, 2023.
Where: Boys & Girls Club Hadley Hall, 18513 59th Ave. NE, Arlington, WA 98223
It’s an honor to serve as your representative. I hope to hear from you soon.
In Service,
