Friends and neighbors,
On Thursday, we wrapped up the 2024 legislative session. We have worked on bills dealing with education, housing, responding to the fentanyl crisis, climate, and others. The state’s three supplemental budgets – Operating, Transportation, and Capital – have all funded important priorities in our region and across the state. Before leaving Olympia, I want to provide a quick update on those final investments, as well as some legislative success I have accomplished this session. Stay tuned for additional updates in the days ahead about bills and budget details from this session.
My legislative successes.
House Bill 1992 increases the number of judges on the Whatcom County Superior Court from four to five. This provides our county with additional resources to tackle a backlog in court cases and to help Whatcom County prepare for the Department of Ecology’s upcoming water rights adjudication process in the Nooksack watershed.
House Bill 2020 creates a public infrastructure assistance program within the state’s emergency management division. This is a response to devastating floods in Whatcom County in 2021 that damaged local infrastructure, uprooted families and businesses, and resulted in the tragic loss of life. This new program will help communities around the state rebuild after natural disasters occur.
House Bill 1985 provides a 3 percent cost-of-living increase, up to $110 per month, to those who dedicated their careers to public service and are on the state’s public employees’ retirement system (PERS1) or teachers’ retirement system (TRS1). The last several years of high inflation have been a struggle for many people. This is especially true for seniors living on fixed incomes. Everyone deserves to age with dignity, especially our retired public servants and educators who have given our state so much. I’m proud that this bill passed the House and Senate unanimously and is on its way to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Wins for Whatcom County in the state’s supplemental budgets.
(Credit: LSS Photography)
Operating Budget
Our community, like many others, has been experiencing the harmful effects of the opioid and fentanyl crisis. Our supplemental operating budget makes significant investments to help our state and communities respond to this problem. We’ve allocated $245 million toward behavioral health care, including expanded inpatient capacity, increased rates for long-term civil commitments in the community, behavioral health for those with exceptional needs, and diversion and outpatient care.
Additionally, we have allocated an additional $156 million specifically toward access to opioid use disorder treatment, programs, and supplies. An investment of $16 million helps us support families struggling as a loved one is navigating substance use disorder. This includes money to help keep kids safe.
I am also proud that we have invested $335 million in our schools. This includes $72 million toward staffing under the prototypical school model and $26 million of investments in special education to support school districts in Whatcom County and around the state.
Capital Budget
(Credit: LSS Photography)
Whatcom County also saw some critical investments in local early learning, behavioral health, and career training facilities. These Capital Budget items include:
- $5.1 million for the Meridian Early Learning Facility.
- $4.7 million for the Lummi Nation Secure Withdrawal Management Facility. This includes a commitment for additional funding next year.
- $2.35 million in funding to complete the Whatcom 23‐Hour Crisis Relief Center in Bellingham.
- $19.3M for emergency repair funding for Bellingham Technical College’s Campus Center building.
Transportation Budget
Finally, the Supplemental Transportation Budget will help make our roads safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and wildlife. The budget includes $1 million in planning funding for Kendall Trail, a bicycle-pedestrian trail along SR-547. The budget also includes another $1 million for US 97 wildlife crossing underpasses. This money helps Washington leverage federal funds to make it easier and safer for wildlife to cross highways. This funding is related to HB 2456, a bill I sponsored this session to help keep wildlife safe and reduce fatalities on our state roadways.
It is my honor to represent Whatcom County in Olympia. I look forward to being back in district talking with community members as we continue to work toward improving our community and the lives of the people that call it home.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Rep. Joe Timmons