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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are doing well! As always, thank you for staying engaged in what’s happening in Olympia and here at home. Your voices truly matter, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent you and keep you informed through my Weekly Session Snapshot.
First, I want to thank all the concerned families and community members who joined us on Monday night in Kennewick for the town hall on the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) placement. I was encouraged by the strong turnout and deeply appreciate everyone who took the time to show up, ask questions, and share personal concerns. Your engagement makes a difference.
Since that meeting, I’ve received many questions about what legislative action is being taken on this issue. You may have seen the joint press release my seatmate, Rep. April Connors, and I shared, but I want to focus here on the work I’m leading.
I’ve introduced a series of bills to put families first, strengthen safety standards, and ensure communities are no longer sidelined when LRA placements are considered.
- House Bill 2687 prohibits the state from placing an LRA next to a residence where a minor lives. Simply put, this bill ensures children are not living door-to-door with sexually violent predators.
- House Bill 2693 protects family-dense neighborhoods by prohibiting LRA placements in areas with a high concentration of children, using clear, measurable criteria to define those neighborhoods. Simply put, this bill keeps LRAs out of areas where kids and families are most concentrated.
- House Bill 2694 establishes sight-line protections by prohibiting LRA placements that have a direct line of sight to schools, child care facilities, or recreational facilities, while maintaining minimum distance requirements. Simply put, this bill prevents placements where predators would have direct visibility into places where children regularly gather.
- House Bill 2698 restores local authority by requiring courts to allow county prosecutors to recommend the appropriateness of an LRA site and to consider those recommendations before approving any placement. Simply put, this bill gives local prosecutors and law enforcement a real voice before these decisions are finalized.
These bills are about creating firm, common-sense boundaries and making sure public safety is never treated as an afterthought.
I’ve also cosponsored companion legislation from my seatmate, Rep. April Connors, which strengthens accountability and transparency throughout the placement process:
- House Bill 2635 requires supervising community corrections officers to be located within 50 miles of an LRA placement, improving oversight and accountability.
- House Bill 2654 increases safety buffers by expanding required distances between LRA placements and schools, child care centers, and recreational facilities.
- House Bill 2665 improves transparency by requiring advance notification to local officials when a property is being considered for use as an LRA site.
- House Bill 2696 ensures accountability by requiring courts to confirm that LRA residences are owned and operated by the same individuals responsible for treatment and supervision.
Together, these eight bills form a coordinated legislative package to close dangerous gaps in current law and ensure state agencies can no longer bypass the communities most impacted by these placement decisions.
All of these bills have now been referred to the House Community Safety Committee — meaning they’ve been assigned to that committee for review and consideration. As of this update, none are scheduled for a public hearing.
That’s where you come in.
Your voices matter. These bills would directly affect the proposed LRA placement in Kennewick by strengthening safety requirements, restoring local input, and establishing clearer limits on placement locations. I strongly encourage you to contact members of the House Community Safety Committee and ask them to schedule public hearings on these important bills. Public hearings allow community members to testify, share concerns, and formally place their experiences on the legislative record. Your engagement helps move this process forward.
Two citizen-led initiatives are before the Legislature
I also want to briefly update you on two citizen-led initiatives now before the Legislature. One focuses on restoring the Parents’ Bill of Rights (IL26-001), and the other addresses fairness in girls’ interscholastic sports (IL26-638). Both initiatives qualified for legislative consideration after receiving hundreds of thousands of signatures. Lawmakers now have the option to adopt them, refer them to voters, or propose alternatives. As of this update, the majority party does not plan to hold public hearings or advance the initiatives forward in the legislative process. I will continue to monitor these closely and keep you informed as developments occur.
Looking forward
In my next Barnard’s Weekly Session Snapshot, I’ll share an update on my other sponsored legislation and where each bill currently stands in the legislative process.
Thank you again for your continued engagement and advocacy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have questions or need assistance. It’s an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Barnard
