Legislative Update from Representative Mike Steele

My 2024 end-of-session mailing, election-year restrictions, and staying connected

information released

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this message finds you well! Living in the 12th Legislative District truly offers the best our state has to offer. With its stunning natural beauty and welcoming communities, it’s an honor to call this area home.

That’s why, along with my deep family roots here, I’m committed to working in Olympia to ensure our region remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

By now, you may have received my 2024 end-of-session mailing, in which I shared highlights from this year’s legislative session. In it, I covered some of the highs, lows, and achievements that will impact our district and state.

Some of the topics include budget updates, details on local infrastructure projects funded this year, and the three initiatives approved by the Legislature. If you missed my end-of-session update or want to reference it later, you can find it here.

During the past several weeks, many of you have asked about the recent initiatives sent to the Legislature and also expressed concerns about the rise in crime, taxes, and state spending.

Here is more information on each of those topics:

• For details on the six initiatives sent to the Legislature by voters this year, and the three that passed, click here.
• For crime statistics in our state and how they’ve changed over the past decade, click here.
• For information on the nearly $80 billion in tax and fee increases imposed in the last decade by the majority party in Olympia, click here.

As I mentioned in a previous update, 2024 was a very busy short session with 845 House bills and 770 Senate bills introduced. By the time we adjourned on March 7, 201 House bills (52 of them Republican-sponsored) and 181 Senate bills were passed and signed into law.

I am particularly proud of my bill, ESHB 2306, which received overwhelming bipartisan support. This bill enhances the Main Street Program for over 70 communities statewide by emphasizing the Main Street Tax Credit, which supports economic vitality and downtown preservation—removing the cap on program credits to enable more effective fund utilization.

• Want to see all the bills approved this session? Click here. From there, select the year and the type of approved bills you would like to review, whether passed by the House or the Senate.

Election-year outreach restrictions begin on Monday, May 6. These restrictions mean I cannot send email updates until after the November election results are certified. Nonetheless, I remain your state representative and am available to address any concerns you may have throughout the year.

Staying connected! I encourage you to reach out to me via email, phone, or letter with any questions or issues. I am also available for in-person meetings. Please feel free to contact me as you normally would—I will respond as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your continued support! It is an honor to serve you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Mike Steele