Category Archives: News Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A year after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision upended abortion rights, lawmakers from around the country met in the nation’s capital to detail their efforts to ensure reproductive freedom in their home states.  Sens. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) ...

A new analysis from nonpartisan legislative staff shows that 95.89 percent of bills that passed the legislature in 2023 did so with bipartisan support. The legislature passed 487 bills during the 2023 legislative session, 467 of which received the ‘yes’ vote ...

OLYMPIA — A bill to amend Washington’s drug possession laws and expand access to pretrial treatment programs was signed into law Tuesday, after passing both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.  Senate Bill 5536, sponsored by Sen. June Robinson ...

OLYMPIA — Washington state’s behavioral health system is coming out of the 2023 legislative session with nearly $1 billion in new funding and crucial innovative initiatives established. “With the rollout of Washington’s new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, our state ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 15, 2023   Press Inquiries | 360.786.7853, courtney.james@leg.wa.gov  OLYMPIA – Legislation to further protect Washington’s endangered southern resident orca population was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee today. Senate Bill 5371, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), requires ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 11, 2023  OLYMPIA – Applicants to Washington’s childcare workforce will no longer have to pay burdensome background check fees thanks to Sen. Claire Wilson’s (D-Auburn) Senate Bill 5316, signed into law Thursday.   State law requires ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 11, 2023  OLYMIPA — Sen. Claire Wilson’s (D-Auburn) legislation to regulate authorized entities serving Washington students with disabilities was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee Thursday.   An investigation by the Seattle Times and ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2023  OLYMPIA – Transgender youth who are not safe at home and seeking life-saving care can depend on Washington for safe shelter.   Gov. Jay Inslee signed Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) Senate Bill 5599 ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2023  OLYMPIA – Nurses who have suffered repeated traumatic events, like those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, will soon have access to improved workers’ compensation benefits.   Gov. Jay Inslee signed Sen. Annette Cleveland’s (D-Vancouver) ...

PASCO — Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) attended the opening of the new Criminal Justice Training Center in Pasco on Wednesday. The center is one of three new regional training facilities planned to open in the state. Clark and Skagit ...