Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 17th for this year’s 43rd District Town Hall with Sen. Jamie Pedersen, Rep. Frank Chopp, and Rep. Nicole Macri. The annual gathering of the state legislators representing Capitol Hill and the nearby in Olympia again takes place at First Hill’s First Baptist Church.

The current legislative session has reached the halfway point as the state’s lawmakers meet for only a 60-day period in even years under Washington’s two-year budget system.

Local Democrats say they are hoping to make progress on legislation including homelessness, the fentanyl epidemic and treatment for addiction and mental health, housing, and child-care. Funding must also be found for WSDOT’s 520 Portage Bay Bridge/Roanoke Lid project as the budget has ballooned to $1.4 billion.

Sen. Pedersen said there are also legislative efforts underway to change the law around “lewd conduct” enforcement by the state liquor board after a group of Capitol Hill gay bars and clubs successfully pushed back against possible citations.

Pedersen said the Senate was considering amendments to Senate Bill 6105 “to repeal the LCB regulation at issue.”

“It has been painful to see members of our community targeted in spaces where they should feel safe. And given the larger context of nationwide attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, it is unfortunate that the LCB action has undermined the perception of our state as a safe haven,” Pedersen said in a statement. “We will continue to fight for policies to promote greater health, safety, and dignity for members of the LGBTQ+ community in our state.”

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