OLYMPIA – The Washington State House of Representatives passed an amended version of Senate Bill 5536 on Tuesday evening, updating Washington’s statute for possession of controlled substances and creating a…
Category: GD-TEST
23rd District Legislative Update: Resilient Washington Budget, Projects in the District, and Ferry Investments
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The budgets have finally been released! Serving on the House Appropriations Committee this year has given me a new perspective and opportunity to impact our state…
House Committee Amends Senate Bill to Create Comprehensive System for Drug Treatment and Possession
The House Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committee passed an amended version of SB 5536, a bill ensuring access to pre-trial diversion, funding treatment and recovery services, and creating a…
House passes Simmons bill to reform Legal Financial Obligations
OLYMPIA – A bill to reform Washington’s Legal Financial Obligation (LFOs) system passed the Washington House of Representatives Tuesday evening with a vote of 56-41. Sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons…
23rd District Legislative Update: Transform Justice Day of Action, Streamlining Relief for Blake, Town Hall, and Video Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors, “Cutoffs” are internal deadlines that the Legislature sets for itself to focus our work and keep the legislative process moving forward. Last week was policy cutoff…
23rd District Legislative News: Protecting Reproductive Care, Rental Stability, and Derelict Vessel Appeals
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Two issues that I have heard from you the most about are how we can protect our reproductive freedom and what are we doing to make…
23rd District Legislative News: Speeding Up Patient Care, Removing Regulations for Physical Therapists, and the Working Families Tax Credit
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Bringing a perspective of lived experience to the Legislature is one of the most important things that a citizen legislator can do. While I often speak…
Bill to pay incarcerated workers minimum wage passes House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee
Olympia- The Real Labor, Real Wages Act, which would mandate that incarcerated workers are paid state minimum wage, cleared its first legislative hurdle today when it was voted out of…
23rd District Legislative News: Opening Week, Real Labor Real Wages, and Legislative Page Program
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Thank you so much for returning me to serve as your voice in Olympia. It has been wonderful getting to meet with so many of you…
Simmons introduces bill to improve voting in jails
OLYMPIA – Innocent until proven guilty. That is the basis of the American criminal legal system. The majority of people incarcerated in county jails have not yet been convicted of…