Dear neighbors,  

We have just two weeks remaining in the 2025 legislative session. The Senate is hard at work sending bills to the governor, who has already started signing many of them into law. 

We are also negotiating the state’s final operating, transportation and capital budgets. Our budget is our value statement. We’re committed to meeting the needs of Washingtonians and funding the services our communities, and especially our kids, count on — this means balancing responsible, targeted reductions with revenue. A combination of reductions with revenue that helps balance our tax code will get us to a balanced budget we can all be proud of. 

I want to thank those who attended our town hall last month. We received many thoughtful questions, discussing public school funding, our state budget, fixing our broken tax code, rent stabilization, concerns about federal overreach and so much more. If you couldn’t make it, you’re always welcome to reach out to our offices directly.  

Bills on the move 

Eleven of the bills I’ve worked on are still moving through the legislative process, including: 

  • HB 1052 strengthens our hate crimes law. Hate crimes don’t just impact a single person, they make entire communities feel unsafe and unwelcome. This bill would provide clarity for juries and ensure accountability for hate crimes offenses. I’m grateful to Rep. Cindy Ryu for her partnership and King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Yessenia Manzo (pictured above) for bringing this issue to our attention. The House will need to concur on the Senate’s changes to the bill before it can be signed by the governor. 
  • SB 5093 ensures we don’t have statutes in Washington criminalizing pregnancy outcomes. In the year after the Dobbs decision, there were more than 200 cases in other states where a pregnant person faced criminal charges for conduct associated with pregnancy, pregnancy loss or birth — the most recorded in decades. SB 5093 will further protect people who lose a pregnancy. The bill has passed the Senate and the House and awaits a signature by the governor.  

Transgender Day of Visibility 

Transgender Day of Visibility is about more than visibility — it is about survival, safety, and recommitting ourselves to protecting the rights of all Washingtonians. Transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people are our friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It was a privilege and a joy for the Senate to pass a resolution last week celebrating their immense contributions to our great state. I’m incredibly grateful to the folks who made it to Olympia to join in the celebration.  

Stay in touch 

Our office is always ready to help you. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or concerns. As we approach the end of session, it is important to hear from you. You can always reach me at Manka.Dhingra@leg.wa.gov — I appreciate your input.  

Sincerely, 

Manka Dhingra 
Senator, 45th Legislative District 
Deputy Majority Leader