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 Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2024 State of the State address Tuesday. Pictured: The speech highlighted Pasco police officer Claudia Fuentes, a graduate of a new regional training academy. Former Gov. Gary Locke applauds as the governor enters the House chamber.
On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 10th State of the State address. He testified to Washington state’s steady position as a top state for both businesses and workers. And he spoke to its status as a beacon of progress on issues such as climate action, reproductive freedom, and more.
His remarks contained a promise to “run through the tape.” That advice from his father, a high school track coach, says to envision the finish line beyond where it lies to finish at top speed.
In his final session, and his final year as governor, Inslee intends to do just that. He committed to continuing to work with the Legislature to strengthen the state’s behavioral health system, address the state’s housing crisis, and prioritize funding for students and schools. He reiterated the urgency of fighting climate change and called for continuing the push for a constitutional amendment that would protect abortion rights in Washington state.
“If I have learned anything with each subsequent legislative session, it’s that Washingtonians are always capable of doing more than others thought we could… Washingtonians have more resilience, more love for our state, and more endurance to push toward the sunny uplands of the future than any other people on the planet,” said Inslee.
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A maquette of the statue of Billy Frank Jr. to be sent to the National Statuary Hall in Washington D.C. was unveiled this week. Pictured: Frank’s son, Nisqually Tribal Chair Willy Frank III, and artist Haiying Wu discuss the piece.
Billy Frank Jr. will soon represent Washington state in our nation’s capitol. A model of the statue to be sent to Washington D.C. was unveiled in an emotional public ceremony Thursday.
The National Statuary Hall within the United States Capitol displays two statues from each state. To be selected as a delegate for a state’s entire history is an extraordinary honor and one well-deserved by Frank. Frank is best known as a Nisqually treaty rights activist and defender of salmon. He was arrested 50 times, first at age 14, defending his people’s federally guaranteed right to fish as they always had. In time, he triumphed in federal court in a landmark case known as the Boldt decision.
“Treaty rights are not self-executing,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “They require people of courage to uphold them.”
Frank’s courage and kindness were interpreted by Seattle artist Haiying Wu, the sculptor of the maquette and the final work to be delivered to the United States Capitol in 2027.
"I looked at his face, his smile, and the wrinkles on his face," said Wu. "I imagine that after many, many years he fought for Indians' rights, he was put in jail many times, and I looked at his face and he doesn't have any resentment. He's looks rather peaceful ... so I chose that picture as the basic image ... to portray him."
Frank’s statue will replace that of missionary Marcus Whitman. Rep. Debra Lekanoff led the effort to create Frank’s statue in 2021. Washington is also represented by a statue of Mother Joseph.
Gov. Jay Inslee takes a photo with WSDOT incident workers at the Kent depot.
WSDOT has a message for travelers: slow down and move over for road workers. It’s the law.
Driving a tow truck is among America’s most dangerous jobs; only roofers and fisherman are injured as often. And the news is littered with stories of reckless drivers smashing into WSDOT trucks. And each year, WSDOT holds a ceremony to honor the dozens of workers killed in highway work zones since 1950.
Per state law, motorists approaching an emergency zone or work zone must move over one lane, if possible, or slow to 10 miles per hour below the speed limit. The zone extends 200 feet in both directions of the incident or work area.
Gov. Jay Inslee met with state Department of Transportation Incident Response Team workers on Wednesday, who urge the public to follow the law, slow down, and move over.
“These are people who are taking care of us, saving our lives, dealing with incidents on the roadway,” said Inslee. “So let’s give these hard workers and their families a ‘brake.’”
The 60-day 2024 legislative session began Monday with opening ceremonies and remarks by House and Senate leaders. The governor outlined his priorities for his final legislative session Tuesday in his State of the State speech. He expressed pride about Washington state’s steady position as a top state for both business and workers, and its emergence as a beacon of progress on issues such as climate action, reproductive freedom, and more.
Inslee’s session priorities include maintaining momentum on housing and homelessness, fighting fentanyl, climate action and advancing education – priorities shared by legislative leaders.
Opioid-related deaths among youth have tripled since 2016, largely due to potent illicit fentanyl. On Thursday, legislators heard from families who lost a child to fentanyl overdose and they heard from experts about its cheap street price and abundance. SB 5923, a bill requested by the governor and sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman, would inform students about the extraordinary danger of the drug by incorporating fentanyl education into schools’ curriculum. Legislators discussed a related bill to distribute naloxone in schools. In the last year alone, schools used naloxone 42 times to reverse student overdoses.
As legislators continue work on housing, they held hearings on proposals to strengthen tenant protections and limit rent hikes. And the House took early action to pass several bills. One bill, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Barkis, would allow residential lot splitting to create sorely-needed space to build housing in cities. The House also unanimously passed bills to prohibit child marriage, and to expand dual credit programs in which students receive both high school and college credit for certain coursework.
First Spouse Trudi Inslee appeared Thursday to testify in support of a bill to regulate chemicals harmful to bees and other pollinators that are so vital to the state’s food supply.
Tune in for hearings and floor action at TVW.org. Bill information, committee schedules and legislator contact information is available at leg.wa.gov.
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Department of Health offers naloxone to high schools to combat opioid overdose
Overdose deaths are rising quickly, but they can be stopped. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is now offering all public high schools across the state. Naloxone is available in a nasal spray that can be given to anyone, any age, during a suspected opioid overdose and has no harmful effects even if opioids are not present in the system.
Extreme cold expected; winter safety resources available
Freezing temperatures and snowfall have settled upon some parts of the state. The state Department of Health has posted some cold weather preparedness tips and a list of warming centers operating statewide. To find a warming center near you, call 2-1-1 or visit wa211.org and search for “warming centers.”
Joby Shimomura appointed to serve as Inslee’s chief of staff
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday that Joby Shimomura will return to the Office of the Governor to serve as his chief of staff, effective Feb. 19. Shimomura served as Inslee’s congressional chief of staff for six years, as chief of staff during the governor’s first term, and managed several of his campaigns. Shimomura will take the place of Jamila Thomas who announced her departure last month. Thomas took the helm as the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery was still underway. Inslee describes her as an “unwavering advocate for the people of Washington.”
“I couldn’t be more delighted about Joby’s return to the governor’s office,” Inslee said. “I’ve considered her an important partner and advisor during so many times of challenge and triumph. She loves our state and has a remarkable knack for leading people to success. We have important work ahead this year and I’m grateful she’ll be here for it.”
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