Category Archives: News Release

11 Feb
0

Flood warning for renters passes Senate

Legislation to provide flood warnings to renters passed the Senate on a 46-3 vote on Wednesday. SB 6237, sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia), requires that landlords disclose to tenants and potential tenants if the property is located in a ...

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14 Jan
1

New protections for seniors in independent living facilities introduced

Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia) introduced a bill providing a new set of protections for seniors in independent living facilities. Current law contains legal protections for seniors in licensed elder care facilities that provide more complex care like memory care. But ...

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22 Aug
0

2025 Legislative Session Report

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27 Apr
0

2025’s “Year of Housing” hailed by Sen. Jessica Bateman

OLYMPIA — Senate Housing Committee Chair Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia) hailed the 2025 legislative session as one that made significant progress for housing affordability. “We came into this session with a three-pronged housing strategy — expand our housing supply, support homeownership ...

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24 Apr
1

Rent stabilization compromise proposal released

OLYMPIA — A revised version of rent stabilization legislation, House Bill 1217, was proposed by a conference committee of House and Senate members Thursday. The bill could potentially be voted on as soon as Friday evening.   The proposed compromise would ...

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11 Mar
0

Housing Accountability Act passes Senate

The Housing Accountability Act passed the Senate on a 46-2 vote on Tuesday. Senate Bill 5148, sponsored by Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia), helps ensure cities and local governments comply with state laws that expand housing affordability options and require the ...

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19 Feb
1

Parking reform legislation passes Senate

OLYMPIA – The Parking Reform and Modernization Act passed the Washington state Senate today on a bipartisan 40-8 vote. Senate Bill 5184 would reform rigid parking mandates set by local governments across Washington, replacing them with flexible rules that allow ...

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05 Feb
3

Public employees could collectively bargain over AI use under new Bateman legislation

New legislation introduced by Sen. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia) would allow public sector unions representing public sector employees to collectively bargain over the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in government workplaces. “Workers deserve to have a voice at the table when ...

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22 Jan
0

Expanding housing supply hearing in Senate Friday

Major legislation to help expand Washington’s housing supply will be heard in the Senate Housing Committee 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26. The hearing can be streamed live or replayed on TVW here. The two bills, the Housing Accountability Act (SB ...

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