Roger has won countless awards during his decade in office, including:

• Roger was 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.
• He has been recognized multiple times as “Champion for Children” by the Children’s Alliance.
• He has received the Gold Crayon Award from the Early Learning Action Alliance twice.
• He has also been named Legislator of the Year by the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention.
• Roger has been recognized by the Mockingbird Society for his work to help foster children, by the District and Municipal Court Judges Association for his work to reform the trial courts,
• by the Mountains-to-Sound Greenway for his work to link trails along the I-90 corridor,and by several other diverse organizations.

During his ten years of service in the Legislature, Roger Goodman has sponsored a total of 187 bills, with the language from 93 of those bills enacted into law – a remarkable achievement, given that only 10 percent of all bills introduced in the Legislature actually become law. With his 50% average, Roger ranks as one of the most effective and prolific legislators in the United States.
Roger has led the Legislature to enact the following important legislation on a wide range of policy matters:

Making Us Safer on the Roads, in Public Places and in our Homes

As 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.

Reducing Drunk Driving

Even with tougher punishments and ad campaigns, drunk drivers continue to plague our roads. People need to know that when you drive drunk and put lives at risk, it will not be tolerated. Strong sentences aren’t the only answer; we need new solutions to make our roads safer and to save more lives.

For several years, Roger Goodman has worked closely with the Washington State Patrol, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, judges and prosecutors to come up with innovative ways to hold drunk drivers accountable.

He has passed a dozen bills in this area, and the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission has reported that his legislation has resulted in a 44 percent decline in alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries on Washington’s roads in the last seven years, making Washington the model for the nation. Roger’s legislation has aimed at known drunk drivers, installing breathalyzers, or what are called “ignition interlock devices” in DUI offenders’ cars. If the driver has been drinking, the car won’t start and can’t get on the road. The DUI offenders must pay for the device themselves, sparing the taxpayers any expense.

Eighty percent of drivers with a suspended license drive anyway. By installing the alcohol-detection devices, we allow them to get a special driver’s license, so they can continue to drive to work or school. These are known drunk drivers and we’ve been able to make sure they’re driving sober, saving several hundreds of lives in the process.

Roger’s DUI and road safety bills enacted into law include:

HB 2700 (Chapter 203, Laws of 2016), a significant reform of DUI laws, expanding alcohol monitoring, ignition interlock requirements, vehicular homicide penalties and license suspensions.

HB 2314 (Chapter 213, Laws of 2016, enacted as companion SB 6160), criminalizing the manufacture, sale and installation of counterfeit and defective automobile safety airbags.

HB 2728 (Chapter 100, Laws of 2014, enacted as amendment to SB 6413), holding repeat DUI offenders in jail after arrest, punishing the tampering with ignition interlock devices, et al.

HB 1482 (Chapter 35, Laws of 2013, enacted as companion SB 5912), a major reform of DUI laws strengthening the felony DUI law, ignition interlock requirements, DUI courts, alcohol monitoring and treatment programs, among many other provisions.

HB 2443 (Chapter 183, Laws of 2012), another significant update to the ignition interlock program, including a major expansion of Washington State Patrol’s enforcement capability.

HB 2302 (Chapter 42, Laws of 2012), a child endangerment statute requested by the Washington State Patrol, increasing penalties for driving drunk with children in the vehicle.

HB 1789 (Chapter 293, Laws of 2011), another major expansion of the ignition interlock program and further toughening of other DUI penalties.

HB 1017 (Chapter 167, Laws of 2011, enacted as companion SB 5000), requiring a mandatory 12-hour impound of DUI offenders’ cars, preventing drunk drivers from retrieving their vehicles while they are still drunk.

HB 2742 (Chapter 269, Laws of 2010), a major bill expanding the ignition interlock program and toughening other DUI penalties.

HB 2466 (Chapter 268, Laws of 2010), a bill requested by the Washington State Patrol to ensure the reliability of ignition interlock technologies.

HB 1732 (enacted in the 2009 Transportation Budget), securing a revolving fund, financed by DUI offenders, to pay for the ignition interlock devices of indigent DUI offenders.

HB 3254 (Chapter 282, Laws of 2008), a landmark measure, holding DUI offenders accountable through the establishment of the new Ignition Interlock License program.

HB 2130 (Chapter 474, Laws of 2007), strengthening the felony DUI law by properly accounting for prior DUI offenses.

Reducing the Harm From Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Harassment

Roger has convened working groups of experts to deal with the chronic problem of domestic violence and sexual assault, seeking advice and guidance from prosecutors, law enforcement, judges, treatment programs and victims and their advocates. This work has resulted in major pieces of legislation, helping law enforcement respond much better at the scene of a domestic dispute, giving courts better and more timely information about perpetrators and victims, improving the enforceability of no-contact orders and protection orders, and also toughening criminal penalties:

In 2014 Roger received national attention for his successful effort to get guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Too many times, abusers were ignoring domestic violence protection orders against them and then seeking retribution with firearms by killing or grievously injuring their partners or spouses. Roger worked with law enforcement, victims and survivors of domestic violence – and even the gun lobby – to craft HB 1840 (Chapter 111, Laws of 2014), which was one of the most significant gun safety measures in a generation. This measure required the removal of firearms from those subject to protection orders and criminal no-contact orders in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault and other cases where the assailant is deemed to continue to be a credible threat to the victim. Roger’s work in this regard has literally saved lives.

Other important measures in this area of law which Roger has led the Legislature to enact include:

HB 1653 (Chapter 256, Laws of 2013, enacted as companion SB 5484), increasing penalties for assaults inside courthouses, where domestic violence victims are particularly vulnerable.

HB 1383 (Chapter 84, Laws of 2013), protecting victims of stalking through the creation of a new stalking protection order, with serious criminal penalties for violating such an order.

HB 1307 (Chapter 74, Laws of 2013), protecting victims of sexual assault from their assailants by allowing expedited service and renewal of sexual assault protection orders.

HB 1108 (Chapter 94, Laws of 2013), a significant piece of legislation repealing the so-called “marital exception” to rape, holding rapists accountable when their victims are their spouses.

HB 2363 (Chapter 223, Laws of 2012), a major revision of Washington’s domestic violence laws, toughening penalties and protecting the confidential locations of “safe houses” for domestic violence survivors and their children.

HB 1626 (Chapter 307, Laws of 2011, enacted as companion SB 5579), which strengthened our state’s anti-harassment laws.

HB 1188 (Chapter 166, Laws of 2011), raising criminal sanctions for suffocation, which is a terrifying means used by domestic abusers to attack their victims.

HB 1182 (Chapter 165, Laws of 2011), significantly increasing penalties for intimidating and tampering with witnesses, which is a major problem in domestic violence cases.

HB 2777 (Chapter 274, Laws of 2010), the most comprehensive revision of Washington’s domestic violence laws in more than 30 years, significantly changing the way law enforcement, prosecutors and courts handle domestic violence cases, and improving the quality of perpetrator treatment programs.

Protecting the Public and Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters

Roger has led the Legislature to enact many other measures to enhance public safety, especially to improve our preparedness and responses to emergencies and natural disasters.

In 2014 the town of Oso in Snohomish County was devastated by a massive landslide, instantly killing 43 residents, destroying a state highway and causing floods in the region. A flaw in state law prevented local fire services from entering the disaster zone to set up emergency operations. Working with the state’s fire chiefs and fire commissioners and the Washington State Patrol, Roger sponsored and led the Legislature to pass HB 1389 (Chapter 181, Laws of 2015), which expands the critical life-saving role of our fire services in response to all natural disasters, including landslides, earthquakes, floods and windstorms, and not just disasters involving fire.

After the destructive windstorm in December of 2006, Roger sponsored and passed HB 2053 (Chapter 223, Laws of 2008), a bill providing tax credits to gas stations for installing backup generators. This program allowed gas stations to stay open during power outages to make fuel available to keep people mobile and home generators running.

Roger’s many other public safety measures enacted into law have included:

HB 1047 (Chapter 61, Laws of 2015), requiring all state agencies and statewide officials’ offices to complete and renew “Continuity of Operations” plans in preparation for disasters.

HB 1552 (Chapter 322, Laws of 2013), a major bill to reduce metal theft, with new transaction and licensing requirements for the scrap metal market, and tougher criminal penalties.

HB 1126 (enacted as budget proviso to SB 5034, Chapter 4, Laws of 2013), providing that fire services may be deployed as part of all statewide disaster mobilizations and not only fires.

HB 1059 (Chapter 21, Laws of 2013, enacted as companion SB 5025), making emergency proclamations effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature

HB 2615 (Chapter 47, Laws of 2012, enacted as companion SB 6470), allowing for municipalities that annex unincorporated county areas to increase fire protection service for the new area.

HB 2570 (Chapter 233, Laws of 2012), increasing penalties for metal theft, a growing problem for public utilities, farms, and businesses in our community.

HB 1923 (Chapter 294, Laws of 2011), requested by Washington’s Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, tightening the background check requirements for concealed pistol licenses.

HB 1362 (Chapter 387, Laws of 2009), increasing penalties and impounding the vehicles used by those who solicit street prostitutes.

HB 1263 (Chapter 28, Laws of 2009, enacted as companion SB 5190), strengthening community supervision of offenders released from prison.

HB 1892 (Chapter 242, Laws of 2007), allowing the immediate impoundment of unused vehicles with expired plates from public roadways.

Strengthening Education, Child Welfare and Juvenile Rehabilitation

Championing Early Learning

The evidence is clear that early childhood education programs are the very best investment of our tax dollar. Kids who are not ready for kindergarten fall behind right away and need extensive remedial education, and are more likely to drop out of school later, costing all of us to clean up the mess at the other end.

Roger has been a leader in the Legislature in enacting bills to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for all of Washington’s kids, helping to ensure that pre-school programs are available to kids at risk, helping them prepare for success in school and in life.

In 2010 Roger authored the “Ready for School Act,” HB 2731 (Chapter 231, Laws of 2010), a landmark piece of legislation establishing a new statewide program of early childhood education, to be fully phased in by the 2021 school year as an entitlement for all three- and four-year olds in the state. That bill also preserved the existing capacity and funding for the state’s early learning program, one of the only programs that was not cut during the “Great Recession.”

Roger has been repeatedly named “Champion for Children” by the Children’s Alliance and has twice received their highest honor, the “Gold Crayon Award”. Roger has also been named a “Champion for Education” by the League of Education Voters for his work to expand early learning in Washington.

Leading the Effort to Reduce Class Sizes in Public Schools

In 2014 Roger sponsored HB 2589, a measure to reduce class sizes throughout the public school system. Knowing that “class size counts,” Roger followed the compelling research that links students’ academic achievement with class sizes in school, along with the quality of the teacher and the level of parental support for students. After Roger championed this effort in the Legislature, the language of his bill was put on the ballot as an initiative to the people of Washington, Initiative 1351, which received a majority vote statewide and was enacted into law

Roger has led the Legislature to enact more than a dozen bills related to education, child health and welfare and juvenile rehabilitation:

HB 1505 (Chapter 136, Laws of 2016, incorporated in HB 2906), a significant expansion of restorative justice practices throughout the juvenile justice system.

HB 1498 (Chapter 255, Laws of 2015, incorporated in HB 1625), requiring all ambulances to carry the medication needed to treat acute adrenal insufficiency in children.

HB 1319 (Chapter 134, Laws of 2015), facilitating the release of certain adults who have served 20 years or more in state prison for offenses committed when they were juveniles, in response to U.S. Supreme Court rulings that sentencing juveniles to life in prison is unconstitutional.

HB 1226 (Chapter 113, Laws of 2016, enacted as companion SB 5605), allowing diversion into alternative therapeutic programs for adolescents who commit violent acts in their homes.

HB 1129 (Chapter 262, Laws of 2015, enacted as companion SB 5262), giving attorneys essential access to court case files to help them represent foster children.

HB 1285 (Chapter 108, Laws of 2014, enacted as companion SB 6126), a landmark measure granting foster children statewide the right to their own legal representation.

HB 1775 (Chapter 201, Laws of 2012), a major step forward for juvenile justice, enshrining for the first time in state law the concept of restorative justice, a victim-centered process allowing juveniles committing minor offenses to make their victims whole and be restored to the community.

HB 1774 (Chapter 292, Laws of 2011), a major child welfare bill that improved adoption procedures, ensured better training for special child guardians, facilitated the reuniting of siblings and eased the restoration of parental rights.

HB 2735 (Chapter 180, Laws of 2010), helping children in foster care navigate through the court system with better legal representation.

HB 1782 (Chapter 477, Laws of 2009), helping parents retain their parental rights and reducing unnecessary separation and placement of children into foster care.

HB 1491 (Chapter 177, Laws of 2012, enacted as companion SB 5389), altering the membership of Washington’s Early Learning Advisory Council (of which Roger has been a member), thereby securing $1.7 million from the federal government to support Washington’s early learning programs.

HB 3168 (Chapter 164, Laws of 2008), setting the stage for an expansion of Washington’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), modeled after the federal Head Start program.

Pioneering Four-Year Program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Our area has a shortage of workers trained in technical disciplines, especially in high-tech and medical fields. Roger passed legislation (HB 1885, Chapter 166, Laws of 2008, enacted as companion SB 5104) allowing Lake Washington Institute of Technology to offer a four-year degree program in applied science, for which Roger also secured the needed funding. This successful program is already implemented at some community colleges around the state, and this is the first technical college program of its kind in our state and an opening for those working to pursue additional education, as well as helping local businesses by supplying skilled new talent.

Helping the Business Community and Supporting Local Organizations

Roger recently passed HB 1070 (Chapter 276, Laws of 2015, enacted as companion SB 5227), establishing a new legal framework for international commercial arbitration to be conducted in Washington State, which will bring in millions of dollars from new business transactions into the state’s economy.

Roger also led the Legislature to enact a major reform of Washington’s wage garnishment laws (HB 1552, Chapter 159, Laws of 2012). After two years of tough negotiations, Roger brought together small and large businesses, collection agencies, consumer groups and the courts to achieve a win-win solution for all parties. Businesses now avoid needless paperwork and receive moneys owed to them faster; courts have withdrawn unnecessary oversight yet have preserved essential due process in garnishment proceedings; collection agencies are able to sustain a workable business model; and low-wage workers are better able to pay back their debts without losing their housing or running short of funds for food and necessities. This legislative effort is one of the most successful examples of Roger’s collaborative problem-solving style of leadership.

Roger sponsored and passed HB 1745 (Chapter 57, Laws of 2011, enacted as companion SB 5574)), the product of further negotiations between consumer groups and collection agencies to revise methods of debt collection and ensure their fairness.

Each year Roger has been able to secure important state appropriations to help our local businesses and non-profit organizations, including:

– funding to complete the construction of the new boathouse for the Sammamish Rowing Association, which serves hundreds of underprivileged youth with athletic opportunities.

– funding to help our premier local social service agencies, Friends of Youth and Hopelink, with the construction and refurbishment of their facilities for homeless families and youth.

– major funding for the expansion of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, with its unique programs for youth with disabilities.

– significant funds to help the expansion of programs at Studio East, the Eastside’s premier performing arts school for young children.

– funds to ensure the completion of Duvall Place, a transitional, supportive housing facility operated by Hopelink for homeless families in Duvall.

Expanding Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital is our region’s flagship institution of its kind. Its pediatric oncology and pediatric residency programs are rated among the best in the nation. The demand for their children’s health care services continues to grow rapidly.

Roger sponsored and passed HB 3071 (Chapter 114, Laws of 2008), altering the rules for the dissolution of condominiums, allowing for the expansion of Children’ Hospital to a former condominium site. Children’s Hospital has now expanded from 250 to 600 beds, providing the capacity that our area needs for top-quality children’s health care.

Protecting Property and Natural Resources

As the bottom of the economy fell out in late 2008, King County and Washington State revenue agencies considered increasing some property taxes as a means to bring in more revenue. One proposal was the threat to charge excessive taxes on rural, horse-boarding facilities, a burden that would have put them all out of business.

In response, Roger introduced and passed HB 1733 (Chapter 255, Laws of 2009), which secured in perpetuity the favorable tax valuation for horse-boarding properties as agricultural land. This helped to ensure the unique quality of our Eastside horse farms, an important part of our culture for many generations.

The economic crisis also put real estate brokers at risk, exposing them to extreme liability when dealing with so-called “distressed conveyances” as the housing market was crashing. Roger sponsored and helped secure the emergency enactment of HB 1132 (Chapter 15, Laws of 2009, enacted as companion SB 5221), which shielded real estate brokers from liability as they handled the many transactions of homes that were “under water.”

Roger has worked for many years with the Cascade Water Alliance, a unique partnership of local jurisdictions that have banded together to secure a safe water supply for the Eastside. Roger sponsored and passed two important pieces of legislation (HB 1332, Chapter 504, Laws of 2009; and HB 1014, Chapter 97, Laws of 2011, enacted as companion SB 5241)to ensure that the Cascade Water Alliance has the proper authorities of a public utility to complete the construction and operation of the pipelines for this critical water supply.

Other important bills Roger has passed related to property rights include:

HB 1214 (Chapter 36, Laws of 2011, enacted as companion SB 5115), prohibiting the charging of private transfer fees by out-of-state developers, who were secretly profiting from hidden fees on the resale of properties.

HB 1078 (Chapter 168, Laws of 2011, enacted as companion SB 5035), ensuring proper documentation of rent payment transactions between mobile home tenants and mobile home park owners.

HB 1663 (Chapter 165, Laws of 2009), requiring relocation assistance for long-term tenants of residential motels that are shut down through no fault of their own.

Reforming the Courts and the Justice System

Roger has held countless meetings of experts in the justice system over the years to help reform the operation of our court system and to provide better access to justice. Roger has sponsored many bills to improve the local court process for citizens like you.

So, what is the effect of these changes? If you need to go to court, you’re more likely to deal with the matter locally. For victims, that means not traveling far from home. For those running afoul of the law, you’ll have local courts keeping you in line.

Roger’s many bills reforming the justice system include:

HB 1328 (Chapter 260, Laws of 2015, enacted as companion SB 5125), expanding the jurisdiction of the District Courts.

HB 1320 (enacted as budget proviso to SB 6052, Chapter 4, Laws of 2015), providing Washington State ID cards to prisoners upon their release to ease their re-entry into the community.

HB 1406 (Chapter 294, Laws of 2013, enacted as companion SB 5236), reforming the law of defamation, providing opportunities for clarifications and corrections.

HB 1065 (Chapter 92, Laws of 2013), requiring that the statute of limitations for initiating arbitration proceedings apply as they do in all other civil causes of action.

HB 2603 (Chapter 177, Laws of 2012, enacted as part of SB 6240), revising the Juvenile Disposition Grid, the sentencing system for juvenile offenders.

HB 1361 (Chapter 227, Laws of 2009), a significant reform of criminal sanctions allowing sentencing courts to hold non-violent offenders accountable through the use of county-supervised treatment programs and other alternatives to incarceration.

HB 1261 (Chapter 81, Laws of 2009), putting in place a new system of interstate court procedures in cases of establishing guardianship of vulnerable adults by parties outside Washington State.

HB 1159 (Chapter 26, Laws of 2009, enacted as companion SB 5135), increasing the number of King County District Court judges to accommodate overwhelming caseloads.

HB 1158 (Chapter 330, Laws of 2009), allowing for electronic juror registration, resulting in a significant expansion of the juror pools for the trial courts.

HB 2557 (Chapter 227, Laws of 2008), a major piece of legislation reorganizing the jurisdictions of the District and Superior Courts and the roles of judges and commissioners, among many other reforms.

HB 2236 (Chapter 475, Laws of 2007), a comprehensive revision of Washington’s probate laws, governing the inheritance of property.

Improving Government Efficiency

Each year Roger has found many ways for the government to save money, even in small amounts, because every scarce taxpayer dollar counts. Roger has even voluntarily cut his own pay to help balance the budget, believing that everyone has to give a little in tough times.

Roger serves as Chair of the Statute Law Committee, which oversees the Code Reviser’s Office and the publication of our laws. Roger has passed many bills to reduce huge government printing costs, allowing the electronic versions of rules and regulations to be considered the official versions, and shrinking the size of the printed volumes of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).

Roger has sponsored many bills that have saved public resources, including:

HB 1071 (incorporated into HB 2359, Chapter 202, Laws of 2016), updating dozens of forms in the code and eliminating obsolete provisions of law.

HB 1479 (Chapter 156, Laws of 2011), making the electronic version the official version of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), thereby eliminating huge publishing requirements for useless hard copies.

HB 2518 (Chapter 190, Laws of 2010), eliminating duplicative and time-consuming procedures for the swearing-in of foreign language interpreters at court proceedings.

HB 1335 (Chapter 174, Laws of 2009, enacted as companion SB 5298), eliminating unnecessary paperwork requirements for state park rangers in issuing citations and infractions.

HB 1257 (Chapter 135, Laws of 2009), reducing needless filing requirements for deferred prosecution cases in county courthouses.

HB 1218 (Chapter 37, Laws of 2009), allowing for more flexible use of city and county jails in order to reduce transportation costs.

HB 1058 (Chapter 186, Laws of 2009), reducing obsolete notes and citations from the printed laws, thereby shrinking the size of the volumes of the RCW.

HB 1859 (Chapter 456, Laws of 2007), making the electronic version the official version of the semi-weekly State Register of state regulations, thereby eliminating huge publishing requirements for useless hard copies.

HB 1431 (Chapter 171, Laws of 2007), eliminating duplicate responsibilities of three different state agencies in documenting Certificates of Discharge for felony offenders.

HB 1268 (Chapter 219, Laws of 2007, enacted as companion SB 5193), allowing law enforcement to donate unclaimed property to charity.