Dear friends and neighbors,
These past few weeks have been busy meeting with people and working on bills for next year!
We finalized our wrap-up of the 2023 legislative session and will be sending out an informational pamphlet across the district soon. Let me know if you didn’t receive one by August, and I will personally deliver you a copy. Also, as your state representative, I hope to meet as many people one-on-one starting in August. If there’s a day and time that works for you, please feel free to reach out for scheduling with my legislative assistance, Logan Duling at logan.duling@leg.wa.gov.
Here’s a preview of some of the main points in our upcoming informational pamphlet:
I helped lower property taxes for more people.
(Credit: LSS Photography)
I introduced House Bill 1560 and worked with Rep. Sharon Wylie on House Bill 1355 which provides tax relief to seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities. This bill expands eligibility for property tax relief so that more people aren’t hurt by rising home prices. Everyone deserves housing stability, and I’m fighting to ensure no one is forced out of their home.
I’ve kept my promise to defend your reproductive rights.
House Bill 1854 safeguards your access to abortion medication. I cosponsored this legislation because reproductive freedom means nothing without access to care. This bill ensures nobody is denied access to mifepristone. The Senate version passed – and I’m proud to have fought for your right to health care.
The My Health, My Data Act is first-in-the-nation legislation that protects our deeply personal health information – including reproductive health data – from being sold without our consent. No corporation has a right to share or sell your personal health data – and we’re making sure your privacy is protected.
I’m fighting to protect our farmland and environment.
I introduced House Bill 1412 banning any foreign government or entity from purchasing our farmland. Foreign ownership threatens our state’s food security, water supplies, and environment. It is vital that we protect our local farming and tribal communities that care for our land.
(Credit: LSS Photography)
Additionally, I introduced House Bill 1768 which encourages the use of green hydrogen, a clean energy source that creates good-paying jobs. It is part of a cleaner environmental future that makes sense, is cost-effective, and brings all of us together. I’ll keep working to make sure both bills pass next year.
As a member of the Capital Budget committee, I fought to include $1.9 million for construction of a dike northwest of Stanwood to prevent flooding in Stanwood and submerging of the road to Camano Island. This state investment will be matched by $1.75 million from Snohomish County. This dike will protect our farmland and thousands of homes and businesses and has been in the works since 2013. I’m proud that this year we were able to get it done. With more frequent flooding, I’m dedicated to doing everything I can to protect our coastal communities.
Protecting your community against crime is my priority.
House Bill 1363 restores the ability of our police officers to pursue suspects after a crime is committed. I cosponsored this bill because it ensures public safety by effectively balancing the risk of vehicle pursuits with protecting bystanders. The Senate version passed – and I’m proud to keep working on building safer communities by giving our police the tools to do their job and rebuild trust within our communities.
As a veteran having attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated from Naval Nuclear Power School, trained at a naval nuclear reactor plant, and served in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as a public affairs officer, I am honored to serve you here in the Washington State Legislature.
Always at your service,
Rep. Clyde Shavers