OLYMPIA… Washington hunters now have a green light to wear blaze-pink safety clothing out in the field later this year. Sen. Lynda Wilson said the change endorsed by lawmakers will take effect July 28, right in time for fall deer, elk, and upland bird modern firearm seasons.

The law created by Wilson’s Senate Bill 5148, signed a week ago, makes Washington the seventh state to allow what’s also being called “hunter pink.”

“I’ve worn fluorescent orange plenty of times,” said Wilson, referring to the state’s traditional color for hunter safety clothing, “but pink will be a great option because it’s super visible in the outdoors, probably more than orange in a lot of situations.”

She also expects fluorescent pink safety clothing will be a hit with both men and women who hunt, and likely attract more women to the sport.

“Who said safety can’t also be fun?” said Wilson, R-Vancouver, whose sponsorship of SB 5148 dovetailed with her effort to raise awareness of the need for regular breast self-exams and mammograms, using the social-media tag #OnWednesdaysWeWearPink. She has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer since November.

This week also brought the final vote on SB 5151, Wilson’s bill requiring the state’s Growth Management Hearings Board to develop a “rational system” for filing its decisions and orders. The House unanimously approved the measure, as did the Senate, but made changes along the way; on Monday the Senate agreed with the adjustments, again by a unanimous vote.

“Technology has helped make government more transparent in many ways, but this board still needs help on that front. It’s important because local governments and others with an interest in land-use policies should be able to find what they’re after without an excess of searching,” Wilson said. That new law also takes effect July 28.