Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Legislative session is in full swing now as we are in Week 5. Our committees are hearing hundreds of different bills including several of mine. Here is an update on a few of the bills I’ve introduced so far.
Bill Updates
In my last newsletter, I talked about how HB 1590, my bill to support students through instruction in self-resiliency skills, can help improve student success and well-being. This session I have also introduced several bills to expand access to higher education and support students while they are in school. This is a top priority of mine, and I am laser focused on ensuring our kids have access to a quality education and receive the skills they need to join our workforce and strengthen our economy.
You can see a list of my bills here and you can even sign up to receive email notifications when the bills that you are most interested in move through the legislative process.
One bill I am particularly excited about is HB 1418. This will allow the governing bodies of our regional public transportation systems the option to add two new members to their boards that utilize transit services. It is critical that people who are most directly impacted by decisions relating to our transit systems have a say in how those decisions get made. I talk about this, and the benefits of including these voices in the decision-making process, in my latest video.
Honoring Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown
I was proud to have sponsored a House Resolution this session, along with my seatmate Rep. Rule, recognizing the work of Whatcom Community College President Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown. Under Dr. Hiayne-Brown’s nearly 20 years of leadership, WCC has helped thousands of students achieve their education and career goals, and has helped the college grow in terms of prestige, resources, accreditations and accolades, making it one of the stellar educational institutions in our community. It was an honor to present this well-deserved resolution to Dr. Hiayne-Brown to help commemorate her career and the impacts she has had on students and educators in Whatcom County and around the state. You can read the full resolution and learn more about Dr. Hiayne-Brown’s career here.
Supporting Vulnerable Communities
Finally, I have heard from many of our friends and neighbors, that recent actions taken at the federal level have created fear and concern in many communities around our state. As your state representative, I want to assure you that me and my legislative colleagues are doing everything we can to follow state law and support vulnerable communities, especially our immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQ+ community members.
As additional information, below is a recent statement from Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma), a joint statement from Speaker Jinkins and Senate Majority Leader Jaime Pederson, and links to more resources.
📌 Know someone impacted by immigration policy changes? Share this DSHS resource link to help them access critical information.
📌 The Washington State LGBTQ Commission tracks relevant legislative actions and keeps a list of resources categorized by county. You can find that list here.
As always, I welcome your input, questions, and concerns. Please contact my office anytime. I look forward to hearing from you and to continuing to share updates throughout the legislative session.
Sincerely,
Rep. Joe Timmons