OLYMPIA… Hunters in Washington are one step away from being able to wear fluorescent or “blaze” pink clothing as their required high-visibility clothing, in addition to fluorescent orange attire. Sen. Lynda Wilson’s Senate Bill 5148 was delivered to the governor’s office today, following its unanimous passage Thursday by the House of Representatives.

“As a hunter I’m grateful for the strong support this bill has received, and I’m looking forward to seeing both pink and orange when hunting season arrives in several months,” said Wilson, R-Vancouver. SB 5148 won unanimous approval in the Senate on Feb. 20.

With close to two weeks left in the 2019 legislative session, the governor has five days to consider a bill. Wilson fully expects her measure will continue on its path into state law, knowing pink can be more visible than orange and mean more safety for hunters.

For Wilson, who began undergoing treatment for breast cancer well before the Legislature convened in January, being the prime sponsor of SB 5148 has given her an unexpected platform to raise awareness of the need for regular breast self-exams and mammograms, using the social-media tag #OnWednesdaysWeWearPink.

“It’s a wonderful coincidence that pink is the color associated with the fight against breast cancer and also looks like nothing else in the field, or the forest, which makes it a great choice for hunter safety clothing. I also have no doubt that this change will be popular with women who already hunt or are interested in starting,” Wilson said.

Washington will become the seventh state that allows hunters to wear blaze pink.

For more information, visit www.LyndaWilson.src.wastateleg.org