Author Archives: kenf

18 May
0

Nation-leading police accountability bills signed into law

OLYMPIA – A package of law enforcement accountability legislation was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee today, increasing state oversight of police conduct, banning dangerous and unnecessary police practices, and raising standards for police conduct. “The public outcry over a series ...

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13 May
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Governor signs bills to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault

OLYMPIA – Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault will gain crucial protections and supports, and abusers will be held more accountable, under legislation signed into law by the governor. “This year, we made our justice system more responsive to ...

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27 Apr
0

Everett Herald: Workers’ protections expanded during, after covid

By Karen Keiser and Mike Sells / For The Herald We have heard a lot of talk about “essential workers” over the past year, as we depend on people whose work cannot be done remotely; tens of thousands of workers ...

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24 Apr
0

Change in law provides treatment for controlled substances

OLYMPIA – Washington will extend its public-health approach to substance use disorder by establishing a temporary new legal framework the possession of controlled substances and providing nearly $90 million to significantly expand treatment infrastructure, under a bill passed today by ...

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22 Apr
0

Keiser: Legislature has delivered for hard-hit businesses

OLYMPIA — With the passage of Senate Bill 5478 today, the Legislature has now put $2.2 billion in unemployment insurance (UI) tax cuts back into the pockets of Washington’s employers. “Businesses around our state have been suffering during this pandemic,” ...

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09 Apr
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Keiser bill to cut $500 million in business taxes passes Senate

OLYMPIA — A bill to provide hard-hit businesses with $500 million from a state funded unemployment relief account to reduce unemployment insurance (UI) premium taxes in 2022 passed the Senate today on a unanimous vote of 49-0. “This awful pandemic ...

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23 Mar
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Dhingra proposes treatment-focused legal framework for controlled substances

OLYMPIA – Washington would extend its public-health approach to substance use disorder by establishing a new legal framework for the possession of controlled substances, under a bill introduced today by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond). In a Feb. 25 decision in ...

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24 Feb
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Senate unanimously passes bills to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault

OLYMPIA – Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault will gain crucial protections and supports, and abusers will be held more accountable, if four bills passed unanimously by the Senate become law. SB 5180, passed today, would make it easier ...

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23 Feb
0

Senate passes nation-leading Keiser bill to protect frontline workers during pandemic

OLYMPIA — Frontline workers who are infected with COVID-19 would receive medical coverage and partial wage replacement for lost work hours under the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), passed today by the Senate on a vote of 48-1. “HELSA ...

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23 Feb
0

Stanford bill to engage tribes in emergency management passes Senate

OLYMPIA – Native American tribes would gain a say in Washington state’s emergency management preparations under legislation passed unanimously today by the Senate. “Emergencies do not recognize borders,” said Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), the bill’s sponsor. “It’s crucial that federally ...

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