News Releases

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 is becoming a national model for behavioral health crisis intervention,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), deputy majority leader of the Senate. ...

Uma R. Yaga, a sophomore at Redmond High School, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 17. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored her week at the Legislature. The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials ...

Prachi Desai, a freshman at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 17. Sen. Manga Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored her week at the Legislature. The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver ...

Monica Gupta, a freshman at Redmond High School, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 10. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored her week at the Legislature. The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials for ...

Annabelle Yip, a freshman at Inglemoor High School, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 10. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored her week at the Legislature. The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials for ...

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Senate passed a resolution Friday honoring the contributions of Sikh Americans to the culture and history of Washington state and the United States. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), who spoke about Sikh culture and recognized the service of Sikhs Americans, in particular the contributions of the Sikh community in Whatcom ...

OLYMPIA — A new law signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee will ensure hate crimes can be more effectively prosecuted and courts can require offenders to complete rehabilitative programs. “Hate crimes are horrific acts of violence that do more than affect individual victims — they make whole communities feel unwelcome,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), chair of the Senate Law ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — March 7, 2023  OLYMPIA — Companies doing business in Washington would no longer be allowed to charge different prices for substantially similar products marketed to men and women, under legislation passed today by the Senate.  SB 5171, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), would ...

OLYMPIA — Washington’s acute shortage of trained forensic pathologists would be eased under legislation passed unanimously today by the Senate. The scarcity of forensic pathologists — doctors who perform autopsies — has led to monthslong delays before bodies can be examined, prolonging the agony of families waiting for closure on death investigations. SB 5523, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), ...

OLYMPIA — Washington state would license innovative crisis relief centers for people with behavioral health needs, providing an alternative to emergency rooms and jails, under legislation passed unanimously today by the Senate. SB 5120, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), would direct the Department of Health to license or certify crisis relief centers, a new type of crisis diversion facility ...