Commissioner David Maehren recently had the honor of being present for Governor Inslee’s signing of Senate Bill 5454. This bill changes state law by allowing mergers and/or annexations of Fire Districts within a reasonable proximity, rather than requiring adjacency.

The adjacency requirement was identified as too restrictive during previous consolidation discussions with The City of Bothell, Woodinville Fire Department, and Northshore Fire Department. Commissioner Maehren worked with sponsors of the bill; Senator David Frockt (46th District), Representative Jessyn Farrell (46th District), and Representative Roger Goodman (45th District).