Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We’ve just finished week two of the 2025 Legislative Session. This year is a long session, lasting 105 days with our work here in Olympia scheduled to wrap up on April 27. I’m excited to be back in the capitol with my legislative colleagues.
I was honored to be elected Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore this year. That means, I will help fulfill the duties of the Speaker when the Speaker and the Speaker Pro Tempore are absent or unavailable. That includes presiding over the House proceedings. To go from being incarcerated to serving as a presiding officer in our state legislature is the culmination of support from people across political ideologies, faith beliefs, and intersectional identities. I was excited address my colleagues during Opening Day and encouraged them to work through this challenging session with empathy and hope. You can watch my speech here or by clicking the image below.
Providing hope and supporting the rehabilitation efforts of incarcerated folks
Last session, I worked with Charles Longshore to bring forth the Judicial Discretion Act (read more about Charles’ story here). The legislation would enable judges to review and shorten long prison sentences. This is particularly important in Washington because we abolished our parole system in 1984 where most other states still have parole place. Currently, only prosecutors can bring forward these motions for rehabilitated prisoners to make their case for an earlier release, even if they were given a sentence under laws that are no longer on the books. This bill would change that by allowing defense counsel to also get the case before a judge to determine whether the sentence still serves the interests of justice under certain circumstances.
Charles worked from behind bars to write and advocate for the bill, and to give himself and other justice-impacted folks a glimmer of hope that their efforts at rehabilitation might be recognized with shorter sentences. Last year, the bill passed the House but unfortunately it did not pass the Senate. I am proud to bring forth this legislation once more (HB 1125), taking into account the feedback we heard, including from victims who are concerned about resentencing. Incarcerated Individuals who have worked to change their lives for the better deserve an opportunity to demonstrate their progress and earn a second chance. I will keep you updated on this bill as it progresses.
Public testimony was heard on HB 1125 on Jan. 23. It can be viewed here on TVW.
I want to hear from you!
This year I am proud to serve as Vice Chair of the House Community Safety Committee, and sit on the House Healthcare & Wellness, Rules and Technology & Economic Development, & Veterans committees. This session will require difficult decision-making. In addition to hearing hundreds of bills on a variety of issues, we also must pass our biennial operating, transportation, and capital budgets.
Hearing your thoughts, ideas, and concerns will be critical. We need feedback from diverse communities and people with a wide range of lived experiences to guide our work.
Fortunately, it’s easier than ever for you to participate. You can always contact my office by email or call (360) 786-7934 and we will get back to you. More importantly, committees are always looking for robust testimony. We have written, remote, and in-person options for testimony. Please visit our new and improved legislative website to find out more.
I will keep you updated on our progress throughout the session. It is an honor to serve the 23rd Legislative District.
Sincerely,
Rep. Tarra Simmons