Category Archives: News Release

OLYMPIA – State Senator Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, released this statement following today’s forecast from the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. “While today’s revenue forecast reflects a slowdown in our state’s ...

OLYMPIA – Budget leaders in the Washington State Senate proposed a $7.9 billion capital construction budget today, targeting investments in affordable housing, school construction, land preservation and environmental protection, and education. The proposal, if passed, would set a record for ...

OLYMPIA – The Senate on Tuesday passed Senator Claire Wilson’s (D-Auburn) bill to remove licensing and background check fees for those entering Washington’s childcare workforce.   State law requires critical background checks when the Department of Children, Youth and Families ...

OLYMPIA – The Senate unanimously passed Sen. Claire Wilson’s (D-Auburn) bill to regulate non-public agencies that serve Washington students with disabilities Tuesday.   Senate Bill 5315 in response to a report by the Seattle Times and ProPublica, which found Washington ...

OLYMPIA – The Senate took a critical step to address Washington’s healthcare workforce shortage by passing Sen. Annette Cleveland’s (D-Vancouver) bill to remove barriers for retired nurses wanting to return to patient care.   Currently, nurses in the state retirement system ...

OLYMPIA – Sen. Annette Cleveland’s (D-Vancouver) bill to improve workers’ comp benefits for nurses passed the Senate on Monday.  Nursing staff who care day after day for patients have faced tremendous and repeated stress since the start of the pandemic.  They ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2023 ———————————————  OLYMPIA — A bill to help address the health care staffing shortage by mitigating unmanageable patient loads and worker burnout passed the Senate floor Monday.  Senate Bill 5236, sponsored by Sen. June Robinson ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 6, 2023  Press Inquiries | 360.786.7298, erin.hut@leg.wa.gov  OLYMPIA – The Senate on Monday passed legislation to ensure those leaving incarceration are better prepared to be contributing members of our community.   SB 5134, sponsored by Senator Claire ...

OLYMPIA — A bill to amend Washington’s drug possession laws and expand access to pretrial treatment programs passed the Senate floor Friday.  Senate Bill 5536, sponsored by Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett), permanently addresses the state Supreme Court’s 2021 State v. ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 3, 2023  Press Inquiries | 360.786.7298, erin.hut@leg.wa.gov  OLYMPIA – The Senate on Thursday passed Senator Claire Wilson’s (D-Auburn) legislation to simultaneously increase access to affordable childcare and strengthen Washington’s childcare workforce.   Senate Bill 5225 aims ...