Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I want to thank everyone who joined Rep. Greg Nance, Sen. Drew Hansen and me at our recent town halls. Our community members asked really important questions about public school funding, the state budget, and housing affordability. I have an update on what I’ve been working on the past few weeks below, but first I want to say a few words about something else that happened while I was back in district to host these town halls and hear from you, my constituents.

A few words about civility

You may have heard or read in the news about how two dozen community members showed up to my home in Bremerton to protest against me and my policies. Of course, people have the right to free speech and to express their feelings – I was in district that weekend for that very reason, to look people in the eye and talk about the issues that they care about. I also work hard to ensure my office is responsive to the hundreds of emails and calls we get every week.

However, this sort of demonstration is designed to harass and intimidate, not problem solve. The protest continued at my town hall in the afternoon where, unfortunately, protestors shouted other community members down. They also criticized me for my past, which just highlights how formerly incarcerated people continue to be marginalized in society. Without a second chance at life, people are more prone to recidivism which means there are more crime victims. As a crime survivor myself, I want nothing more than to keep our communities safe and this is why I will continue to speak up for the rights and treatment of those who are currently and formerly incarcerated.

I am grateful to my legislative colleagues who spoke against this demonstration, even lawmakers across the aisle. We have policy differences, but that’s the beauty of the legislature and political process – we’re able to come together and debate the merit of our ideas and share our experiences. What we all can agree on is that there is always room for civility and respect while we come here to do the work on behalf of the people of Washington. I value the relationships that I have made across the ideological spectrum here in Olympia, and I am also thankful for the many constituents who reached out to support me in the wake of those events.

A step forward for mental health support in Washington

Now, with that out of the way, I wanted to talk a bit more about a bill that I’m quite excited about: HB 1432.

According to Mental Health America, over 1.6 million Washington adults are living with mental illness and 1.2 million are managing a substance use disorder. For Washington’s kids, 85,000 are experiencing serious thoughts of suicide and 63,000 reported a substance use disorder.

These are our family members, our friends, our neighbors, and our children. Many of us struggle with our mental health alone. Often, we don’t, or can’t get help until we’re at our lowest, and by then it’s really difficult to improve.

I’ve heard from Washington families who have commercial health insurance who have been advised to remove their children from coverage so they can access Medicaid because Medicaid covers more behavioral health services than commercial insurance plans. Some young people wait until they age out of coverage under their parents’ plans to get help so they can access Medicaid coverage, going untreated in the meantime. This is not acceptable and sometimes leads to repeated cycles in our jails, prisons and hospitals. HB 1432 aligns standards between Medicaid and commercial insurance providers, ensuring coverage for behavioral health services is available and affordable in Washington. When folks reach out for help and they are actually able to receive it through a doctor’s recommendation and prescription, this bill will ensure that their insurance allows them to access that lifesaving medical care before it’s too late.

As this bill continues to work its ways through the legislative process, one thing we all can do is treat people with kindness and respect. All of us have a duty to our neighbors to support each other through our behavioral health challenges – being kind is the least we can do.

A bill update

I’m proud to share that two of my bills have already passed the Senate and are on their way to the Governor’s desk.

HB 1706 passed both chambers unanimously. This bill ensures Washington aligns with upcoming federal guidelines to streamline prior authorization through modern, secure technology. What does that mean in real life? Faster care, less paperwork, and fewer delays for both patients and the providers who care for them

HB 1234 also passed out of both chambers unanimously. This bill helps fill a long-standing vacancy on the state’s Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee by expanding eligibility to include independent clinical social workers, not just advanced social workers. It also ensures that professionals who volunteer their time with associations can still serve on the committee—as long as they’re not in a governing role. This will help improve access, inclusion, and functionality in the systems that support our behavioral health providers—and by extension, the people they serve.

My other bill, HB 1430 to increase pay for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) remains under consideration in the Senate.

A remembrance of Speaker Frank Chopp

Finally, I wanted to take some time to mark the passing of former House Speaker Frank Chopp. While I never served under his leadership. I always admired him as a fierce and effective leader in our state. The work he did, the work he dedicated his life to, to ensure all Washingtonians had access to affordable health care and housing has made this entire state better. Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of joining him to break ground on a new affordable housing project in East Bremerton, the place that we’re both from.

I am thankful for the four sessions we did spend together as colleagues and I pray that he rests peacefully knowing that myself, and so many others, will continue to follow his lead and fight for working families in East Bremerton and all over Washington.

You can read a remembrance from the House Democratic Caucus, including quotes from many of Speaker Chopp’s colleagues and mentees here. And listen to a special episode of the ‘Capitol Ideas’ Podcast with Speaker Chopp here.

That’s all for now. Please keep an eye out for my next legislative update. And as always, reach out to my office if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Sincerely,

Rep. Tarra Simmons