Great news! The Vulnerable User Bill just passed the state senate on a bipartisan vote, 43-5. Senator Adam Kline of southeast Seattle sponsored the bill and explained why it is important to hold negligent drivers accountable when they injure or kill vulnerable users of our roads. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane and Senator Cheryl Pflug of Maple Valley spoke in favor of the bill, and no one rose to oppose it.

You can see the roll call vote here. Please use this link to send a quick thank-you email to your senator. The Vulnerable User Bill would not have made it this far without the efforts of the senators who sponsored the bill and the thousands of supporters who contacted their legislators over the past three years.

While we’re technically halfway there, the house companion Vulnerable User Bill was just placed on second reading and has another couple of weeks to get passed. There are still a number of steps before we can declare victory, but with such overwhelming support in the senate, it’s likely that the house will vote in favor as well. Thank you!

First, there is great news for the Vulnerable User Bill in Olympia. The bill has bipartisan support. Victims and their family members made clear in two moving hearings how and why they want to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. Now the full House or Senate must vote on the bill before a looming deadline at the end of the month. You can send a message to your legislators and help make it happen.

Click the image for full video of the most recent Vulnerable User Bill hearing (beginning at 48 minutes).

Right now, the Vulnerable User Bill is right where it “died” last year. In February 2010, a very similar bill awaited a vote in the full Senate but legislators did not feel enough positive pressure to vote on the bill. Like so many potential laws, the SB 5838, last year’s Vulnerable User Bill, sat on a list of bills for consideration but missed a deadline for passage in the “house of origin.”

In 2011, we have bills ready in both the House and Senate and at least double the chance of making the Vulnerable User Bill into a law — but the clock can still run out without your help!

Please click here to send a message to your state  representatives and senator. Encourage them to support the Vulnerable User Bill when they meet in caucus and bring it for a floor vote. Let’s get this done!

To learn more, here are some resources:

• You can read and print quick facts on the Vulnerable User Bill.
• Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the Vulnerable User Bill.