Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The short legislative session is moving at full speed, with packed agendas and important votes happening early and often, and a coffee cup that gets refilled more than once before 8 a.m. With just 60 days on the calendar, every hour counts, and the pace in Olympia reflects that urgency.
Serving in the Legislature is both demanding and deeply meaningful. It is truly an honor to represent the people of our district and to bring your concerns, experiences, and priorities to the table every single day. I never take that responsibility lightly, and I’m grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me.
Taking action on public safety: Crash prevention zones
 That sense of responsibility is why I want to highlight two bills this session that speak directly to public safety and the well-being of our communities.
First, I introduced Senate Bill 6066, which would create crash-prevention zones to address roadways where serious and fatal crashes keep occurring, including stretches of Highway 395 that many in our community know all too well. The bill would give local governments and the Washington State Department of Transportation a practical tool to identify dangerous patterns, conduct engineering and traffic studies, coordinate enforcement, and make targeted safety improvements before another tragedy occurs.
Crash prevention zones would be temporary and clearly marked. Certain traffic violations within a zone would carry increased penalties, with those dollars required to be reinvested directly into fixing the roadway itself. Once the safety work is done, the zone would come down. The goal isn’t punishment, it’s prevention.
I’m encouraged by the momentum behind this bill. SB 6066 was heard in the Senate Local Government Committee on Jan. 15 and approved unanimously in executive session on Jan. 22. The bill now advances to the Senate Transportation Committee, where I look forward to continuing the work. This issue has also drawn attention beyond Olympia, and I’ve included links below to news coverage of the bill and the safety concerns it’s meant to address.
News stories:
Amber Alert bill
Next, I also introduced Senate Bill 5822, legislation to strengthen Washington’s missing persons alert systems, including Amber Alerts and alerts for endangered and missing individuals. The bill would require mandatory coordination among local, state, and tribal law enforcement, close long-standing gaps in how alerts are issued, and ensure missing Indigenous persons and individuals believed to be victims of trafficking are not overlooked. It would also require regular reporting on how often alerts are activated, how quickly they are issued, and whether they are actually helping bring people home safely.
Sadly, the majority party has chosen not to grant this bill a public hearing this session. That is frustrating, especially when the goal is simple: improve coordination, transparency, and accountability when someone goes missing. This is too important to drop. I am not giving up on this effort, and I fully intend to continue pushing for these changes, including bringing the bill back in a future legislative session.
Visitors in Olympia
 It’s always good to see familiar faces from back home in Olympia. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting with leaders from Prosser, Mayor Greg Vegar, City Administrator Rachel Shaw, and Councilmember Bill Jenkins, who took the time to make the trip and speak up for their community. I’m grateful for their willingness to come over the pass, share what’s happening on the ground, and stay engaged in the legislative process. Conversations like these help make sure the work we do in Olympia stays rooted in the real needs of our communities back home.
Contacting me
 Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments, questions, concerns, or bill ideas. I also invite you to contact my office to schedule a time to meet with me at my Olympia office or in the district.
It is an honor to serve you.
Go Hawks!
 Senator Nikki Torres
15th Legislative District
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