Category Archives: News Release

06 Apr
0

Dhingra bill strengthening protections against hate crimes signed into law

OLYMPIA — A new law signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee will ensure hate crimes can be more effectively prosecuted and courts can require offenders to complete rehabilitative programs. “Hate crimes are horrific acts of violence that do more than ...

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05 Apr
0

Senate passes transportation budget focused on safety, workforce, green investments

The Senate on Wednesday passed House Bill 1125, the 2023-25 transportation budget. The $12.9 billion plan invests in traffic safety, expands the state patrol and ferry workforces, funds green transportation options, and keeps work on schedule for transportation projects big ...

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04 Apr
0

Legislation to protect workers on state highways signed into law

OLYMPIA – Sen. Marko Liias’s (D-Everett) bipartisan legislation to protect workers on Washington’s highways was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday.   Senate Bill 5272, which received unanimous support in both the Senate and House of Representatives, ...

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31 Mar
0

Newspaper tax break passes Senate

Legislation to help support the news media by exempting them from the state business and occupation (B&O) tax passed the Washington State Senate today on a 47-1 vote. SB 5199, sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah), is intended to support ...

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30 Mar
0

Keiser bill permanently caps insulin at $35 per month

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed SB 5729, which ensures that Washingtonians with diabetes will continue to pay no more than $35 a month for insulin. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines). In 2022, legislators ...

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29 Mar
0

Keiser bill will make WA third state to ban pre-employment cannabis tests

OLYMPIA – New hires in Washington will no longer have to take cannabis tests as a condition of employment, under legislation passed today by the House. Washington joins California and Nevada in banning pre-employment discrimination based on cannabis. Having received ...

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29 Mar
0

Senate passes budget to boost funding for schools, behavioral health, housing, climate action

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Senate passed a $69.2 billion, two-year budget today on a 40-9 vote to increase funding for vital state services, including targeted support for behavioral health, public schools, housing and homelessness, and a historic investment to ...

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29 Mar
0

Senate unveils $12.9 billion transportation budget focused on safety, workforce, green investments

The Senate on Wednesday announced details of the 2023-25 transportation budget, a plan totaling $12.9 billion in investments across the state. The proposal focuses on traffic safety, workforce expansion in the state patrol and ferry system, electrification, transit and other ...

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27 Mar
0

Washington Senate Democrats to release transportation budget proposal 

OLYMPIA – Members of the Senate Transportation Committee will release their 2023-25 budget proposal on Wednesday, March 29 at 10:30 a.m.   The state transportation budget funds various projects across the state – including ferries and passenger rail – and ...

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24 Mar
0

Capital budget proposal passes Senate

The Senate capital budget proposal passed the Washington State Senate today on a unanimous vote. The $7.9 billion budget makes historic investments in affordable housing, behavioral health, environmental protection, school construction, and public safety. “I’m encouraged by the strong support ...

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