Deadlines ahead, work moving forward
State Senator Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor) posted this to the news section of his legislative website on 2026-02-05 15:10:34
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Every session in Olympia has a turning point. At the start, there’s no shortage of ideas. Everyone’s got a bill. As the weeks go by, the focus shifts to which ones are ready to move and which ones aren’t.
I think of it like watching the tide around Whidbey Island. Early on, you’ve got some room to maneuver. But once the tide turns, you’d better be lined up, or you’re fighting the current instead of making progress.
That’s where we are now. Policy committee cutoff is Feb. 4, fiscal committee cutoff comes next on Feb. 9, and by Feb. 17, we hit the house-of-origin cutoff. From here on out, the window gets smaller, and the work gets more focused.
Putting safety first on Washington roads
One bill that continues to move forward is Senate Bill 5890, my legislation aimed at making our roads safer by cracking down on reckless driving. Washington has seen too many serious crashes caused by extreme speeding and dangerous behavior behind the wheel. When someone is driving far beyond the speed limit and putting lives at risk, that’s not an accident, it’s a choice, and the law should reflect that.
The bill has drawn bipartisan attention and was recently highlighted by Governor Bob Ferguson in his State of the State address, where he emphasized the need to hold the most dangerous drivers accountable and improve safety on Washington roads.
SB 5890 strengthens accountability for reckless driving while reinforcing a clear message: public safety comes first. The bill has advanced through committee and remains on track as we head toward these key deadlines, and I’ll keep pushing to see it move forward in the days ahead.
