News Releases

SEATTLE — A panel of national health care leaders at the Binaytara Foundation’s annual Summit on Cancer Health Disparities discussed Washington’s role leading the nation in expanding health care coverage on the way to universal health care. “Each and every person in our society deserves high quality health care, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation backed by students and surgeons to help keep students safe in the event of traumatic injuries was signed into law today. SB 5790 would provide bleeding control kits in schools and encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help until professionals arrive. “Bystanders can help save lives with simple techniques. Having these kits available and having ...

OLYMPIA — Two omnibus bills to improve the response to survivors of sexual assault and child trafficking in Washington state’s legal system were signed into law Tuesday. “This legislation rewrites our state’s laws to provide a truly victim-centered, trauma-informed response to survivors of sexual assault and child trafficking,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), prime sponsor of both bills. “Too often, ...

OLYMPIA — Child survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse would receive greater support and protections under legislation passed unanimously by the House Thursday. Every year, 500 to 700 minors are forced into sex trafficking in Washington state. But over the past decade, fewer than 100 people have been prosecuted in Oregon and Washington for sex trafficking crimes. Though the Legislature has ...

Update March 19, 2024: The bill as described below has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. TVW coverage available here. OLYMPIA — People who commit crimes on tribal lands would not be able to escape justice by fleeing into Washington state lands, under legislation passed unanimously by the House Wednesday. SB 6146 would authorize Washington state law enforcement ...

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Senate passed a resolution Wednesday honoring the contributions of Sikh Americans to the culture and history of Washington state and the United States. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), the first Sikh American elected to a state legislature in American history, who spoke about how Sikh values have inspired her and ...

OLYMPIA — People who commit crimes on tribal lands would not be able to escape justice by fleeing into Washington state lands, under legislation passed on a 45-4 vote by the Senate today. SB 6146 would authorize Washington state law enforcement officers to enforce warrants issued by the 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington state and empower them to transport ...

OLYMPIA — An omnibus bill to promote a victim-centered, trauma-informed response to sexual assault in Washington’s legal system passed the Senate today unanimously. SB 5937 streamlines eligibility for crime victim benefits, covers some of victims’ costs for forensic examinations, expands protections to more victims, improves state and local teams to respond to sexual assault, and ensures that children age 13 ...

UPDATE March 29, 2024: All four bills were signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. Video of the signing ceremony can be found here. OLYMPIA — Four bills to improve Washington state’s behavioral health system passed the Senate unanimously this week. “Over the last seven years we have been working to build capacity for services across the behavioral health crisis continuum: ...