News Releases

Employees who are paid differently, based on gender, from workplace counterparts who do the same work with the same experience now have better protection under state law. House Bill 1506, signed into law today by Gov. Inslee, modifies the Equal Pay Act to provide a range of remedies, from damages and civil penalties assessed by the state Department of Labor ...

The state Senate took aim at the generations-old practice of pay discrimination by passing legislation today on behalf of employees who are paid differently, based on gender, from workplace counterparts who do the same work with the same experience. “When I first began fighting for pay equality in 2013, people asked me, ‘Is this still a problem?’ ” said Sen. Annette ...

Legislation passed today by the House will preserve the state’s ability to provide a nationally recognized level of in-home health care at a lower cost than in 37 other states. Having already passed out of the Senate, Senate Bill 6199 now goes to the governor to be signed into law. “We have the best in-home care delivery system in the nation ...

A proviso in the supplemental transportation budget passed today by the Senate signals to Oregon officials that Washington is committed to working together on a new I-5 bridge, Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, said today. “The proviso makes it clear that as follow-up to the inventory of past bridge work, WSDOT is to support the work of our Legislative Action Committee this ...

Tenants would gain an extra 10 days’ notice if a landlord terminates a residential rental agreement under bipartisan legislation passed late today by the Senate. Senate 5408, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, would increase the length of notice of termination from 20 days to 30 days. The change also enables landlords to begin efforts to find a new tenant ...

On Saturday, in response to comments demonizing unions, Sen. Annette Cleveland took to the Senate floor to ram home the value of unions and their members, and to call for lawmakers across the aisle to speak more respectfully of hard-working Washingtonians in communities across the state. You can hear her comments by clicking on the icon below: https://www.facebook.com/SenateDemocrats/videos/1856930894597384/

The Senate passed bipartisan legislation today to simplify and speed up the process of approving a plan for a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River once consensus can be reached on the parameters of such a bridge. Senate Bill 6195, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, would establish a formal process of coordination to expedite the completion of transportation ...

Legislation passed today by the Senate will enable the state to explore ways to protect Washingtonians from reductions in minimum essential health care standards by the Trump administration. Senate Bill 6084, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, directs the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to convene a task force to explore mechanisms for enforcing an individual mandate at the state ...

Animal shelters would be able to provide a wider range of low-cost services to pet owners on limited incomes, under legislation heard today by the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver said the idea for Senate Bill 6196 came from her district and has been championed by Stacey Graham, president of the Humane Society for ...

Traffic laws and offenses governing motorists in the vicinity of emergency vehicles would be extended to apply to adjacent lanes 200 feet before and after work vehicles that display flashing lights, under legislation that passed the Senate unanimously today. Senate Bill 5841, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, expands the area in which motorists must move into the next lane ...