Legislation sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) to pass rent stabilization and other tenant protections will be heard 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Senate Housing Committee. The hearing can be streamed live or watched on replay at TVW here. The bill, Senate Bill 5222, is a companion to House Bill 1217, the House companion bill introduced by Rep. Emily Alvarado (D-Seattle). Trudeau offered the following quote on the bill: “The housing crisis is only getting worse. We need more housing supply and we need new tenant protections – these aren’t a tradeoff, we can and must do both. We know that unnecessary and large rent increases are disproportionately hurting seniors, low and middle-income workers, families with children, and ...

Legislation strengthening criminal penalties against corporate actors responsible for pollution spills and other environmental crimes was introduced Thursday by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma). SB 5360 comprehensively updates these statutes to more closely align with federal law. This includes stronger criminal penalties to ensure that those who violate Washington’s laws on clean air, clean water, and hazardous waste are held accountable for their actions. “Criminal polluters who violate our environmental laws must pay the price of doing dirty business here in Washington,” Trudeau said. “Too often our criminal justice system has a double standard — it comes down hard on lower income individuals who commit crimes, while businesses and corporate actors avoid meaningful accountability when they violate our laws. This bill ensures ...