Category: Uncategorized

State Representative Roger Goodman to Seek Re-Election

House Public Safety Committee Chair pledges to continue work keeping Washingtonians safe, while playing important role in Covid-19 recovery

KIRKLAND—State Representative Roger Goodman has filed for re-election. The Democrat, who chairs the House Public Safety Committee, has been a leader throughout his career on protecting the lives and property of Washingtonians while promoting smart, equitable reforms in our state’s justice system. “I stand by my record of public service — as a public safety leader and advocate for families, small businesses and our quality of life,” said Goodman. “As we face the challenges of COVID recovery, we’ll need proven, consistent leadership to help address complex issues that directly impact our health and safety. I look forward to these challenges, and building on my record of results.” Specific to criminal justice and public safety, the COVID pandemic has led to the release of many non-violent offenders, for their own safety and the safety of prison personnel and other inmates. Goodman sees the need to adopt policy around these emergency procedures, to both address historic inequities in our criminal justice system, and also make sure that there is accountability and thoughtful application of either reduced or deferred sentencing moving forward.
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Making Us Safer on the Roads, in Public Places and in our Homes

Traffic Problems and Transportation Choices

Roger is the Chair of the House Public Safety Committee and also as a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Roger has worked successfully to enhance public safety. Roger is especially distinguished for his work to reduce drunk driving and domestic violence, which are the greatest sources of harm in our society.

He has passed more than a dozen pieces of major legislation to address these chronic problems and his work in this area has earned him national acclaim.



Legislative Accomplishments

Roger has won countless awards during his decade in office, including being the first Washington state legislator to win the “Safety Champion Award” from the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration (NHTSA). In 2013, he received national recognition from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). He also received the 2012 Norm Maleng Award from the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence for his groundbreaking work in revising Washington’s domestic violence laws. (more…)

WA State Criminal Justice Reform

Roger discusses upcoming reforms to the Washington state criminal justice system.

Roger Goodman chairs The House Safety Committee and is part of the state’s sentencing task force that is working on solutions.

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House Passes Bill to Save the Lives of Domestic Violence Victims

HB 1840 would keep firearms out of the hands of domestic violence offenders

OLYMPIA –Today, in a 97-0 vote, the House passed HB 1840, likely the only gun safety bill to come out of the legislature this year.

For years, advocates for victims and survivors of domestic violence have called for laws to remove firearms from domestic violence offenders. More than half of the homicide victims in this country are women killed at the hands of their intimate partners, usually with a firearm.

Rep. Roger Goodman, on the bill’s passage said, “There are too many tragic deaths in our state. I think of Melissa Batten, a software developer in Redmond who secured a protection order against her estranged husband, who then shot Melissa eight times and turned the gun on himself. Melissa’s life could have been saved.”

Under federal law, when a protection order is issued against a domestic violence offender he must surrender his firearms. State law currently allows domestic abusers to keep an arsenal of weapons.

“Enough is enough,” Goodman said. “It’s time for a common sense approach. This bill will help protect victims of domestic violence from the deadly threats of their abusers. We need to give law enforcement and the courts the ability to disarm these known dangerous people and to save lives.”

HB 1840 aligns Washington state law with federal law by removing firearms from those subject to protection orders. At the most volatile time in an abusive relationship, offenders will be required to surrender firearms. If the protection order expires or is lifted, or if the offender is acquitted, firearms rights are then restored.

HB 1840 now heads to the Senate Law and Justice Committee for consideration.