IT’S BEEN A WILD RIDE AND I WOULDN’T CHANGE ANY OF IT!

You and I, working together, accomplished a great deal over these years for Vancouver and for Washington. Here are a few of the achievements I am most proud of: Extending the Local Infrastructure Financing Tool Program (LIFT) to ensure continuation and completion of multiple projects, including revitalizing downtown Vancouver. Providing law enforcement with the tools needed to go after illegal activities in “foot spas” and massage practice businesses to effectively crack down on human trafficking and prostitution. Bringing justice for victims of “revenge porn” by establishing civil liability for the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images. Creating processes for designating certain transportation projects as those of statewide significance to expedite permitting of the I-5 bridge replacement across the Columbia River. A trans Vancouver teen was murdered in the summer of 2018 as a result of revealing her gender identity. Her body wasn’t found until that winter. You probably remember the case because it was so devastatingly tragic. In 2019, then Rep. Derek Stanford, introduced a bill to protect our transgender community from assault and violence. The legislation didn’t pass that year, so in 2020, when Stanford had moved on to the Senate, I picked it up and passed an amendment to rename it the Nikki Kuhnhausen Act or Nikki’s Law. The measure passed both chambers almost unanimously and the governor signed it making Washington the 10th state to outlaw the LGBTQ+ panic defense. And lastly, on March 23, Gov. Ferguson signed into law the companion to my HB 2621, which expands the Senior Citizen Property Tax Relief Program to an additional 30,000 households. This measure modernizes our property tax structure, and expands the program so more seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities can stay in their homes.

ELECTION YEAR ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS

Even though I am retiring, I will complete my term as your state representative, so I am subject to Election Year Activity (EYA) restrictions, which go into effect tomorrow. So, this is my very last e-newsletter to you.

What exactly are these EYA restrictions? Washington’s Ethics in Public Service Act sets limits on how legislators can communicate using official channels during election years, ensuring public resources are not used for campaign purposes. This includes a pause on social media posts and mass communications, like e-newsletters, until after the election is certified in the fall. Watch my video below for more on the EYA communications freeze.

Please keep in mind that I am still your state representative, and I will continue working on your behalf throughout the interim. I am also able to respond to emails and calls from constituents, so don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions and concerns.

PROTECTING THE FREEDOM TO VOTE

On April 29, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision that weakens key protections under the federal Voting Rights Act—making it harder to challenge discriminatory voting maps and practices in courts across the country.

Anticipating the need to act at the state level, we passed a package of bills this session to strengthen voting rights in Washington. This past Thursday, the House Democrats Members of Color Caucus released a statement outlining how these new laws will help safeguard access to the ballot and ensure every Washingtonian has a fair voice in our democracy.

HONORING WORKERS, STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS

May 1 marked International Workers’ Day—a time to recognize the hands that build, the minds that create, and the hearts that serve. From doctors to teachers, farmers to artists, truck drivers to baristas, each plays a role in shaping the communities we call home. Like any good work of art, strong communities are built through many hands and a shared purpose.

This year, I was proud to support legislation that strengthens workplace protections and improves job quality—including cracking down on wage theft and helping workers recover unpaid wages; protecting workers’ privacy, supporting immigrant and domestic workers, and more!

2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT

The 2026 legislative session called for collaboration and a clear focus on the essentials. In a challenging supplemental budget year, we worked across the aisle to protect the services people rely on. Of the 268 bills passed this session, 174 received at least 80 percent support, underscoring the importance of working together to get things done.

You can read about many of these bills in my 2026 session report, which was mailed out recently, so it may have already reached your mailbox. If you didn’t receive it—or if you’d prefer to read it online—you can click here or on the preview below.