OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats offered a preview of their 2018 legislative agenda Thursday with the introduction of several bills during the start of the pre-filing period.
Topping the pre-file list is the Voting Rights Act. The bill aims to create more civic engagement and better access to the democratic process throughout Washington. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, failed to pass the Republican-controlled Senate the past five years despite bipartisan support in the House.
Other Democratic priority bills filed so far include:
• The DISCLOSE Act, a bill to improve transparency in elections by reforming the disclosure of secret money (SB 5991);
• A ban on bump stocks, the device used during the Las Vegas mass shooting in October (SB 5992);
• A bill preventing price gouging of prescription generic drugs (SB 5995);
• A bill encouraging the disclosure and discussion of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace (SB 5996);
• Breakfast After the Bell, a program aimed at reducing childhood hunger in our schools (SB 6003);
“These bills, although not a complete list of our agenda, are a good representation of the values of our state and our caucus,” Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson said. “Washingtonians want good government and a thriving economy, they want to reduce gun violence, end childhood hunger, create a safe workplace and address a number of other critical issues impacting their families every day.
“We have work to do, but we also have a tremendous opportunity to do the good work the people of our state sent us to Olympia to do.”
The pre-filing period begins the first Monday in December and lasts until the beginning of session. For a complete list of the bills pre-filed so far, click here. The list is updated daily.
