News Releases

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 ...

Aliana Pineda, a sophomore from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, served as a page for the Washington State Senate the week of Feb. 6. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored her week at the Legislature. The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. During a week-long interactive learning experience, students get a firsthand ...

Sen. Manka Dhingra, legislators from both chambers and both parties, and guests from the community will hold an in-person press conference on Valentine’s Day, to discuss legislation and funding aimed at reducing domestic violence and supporting survivors in Washington. In the wake of a surge in domestic violence during the pandemic, the need for services has been escalating in recent ...

Vidhi Mehrotra, a tenth grader at the Overlake School in Redmond, served as a page for the Washington State Senate the week of Jan. 16. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored her week at the Legislature. The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. During week-long interactive learning experience, students are visited by guest ...

Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) will sponsor a resolution honoring the 74^th anniversary of India’s Republic Day on the floor of the Washington State Senate on Thursday, Jan. 26. There will be a reception at 11:30 am in the Senate Rules Room, followed by the Republic Day Resolution, which will be read on the Senate floor at 12:30 pm. WHO: Sen. Manka ...

OLYMPIA – On the heels of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Democrats in the Washington State Legislature are proposing comprehensive action to strengthen state protections for reproductive freedom. On Tuesday, five bills will be heard across three Senate committees, as well as several more in House committees. “Hearing and considering all of these bills on the same day demonstrates the ...

Jillian Baer, 14, served as a page for the Washington State Senate the week of January 9. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) sponsored their week at the Legislature. The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to learn how the state government works. The interactive learning experience lets students experience the Legislature directly by delivering papers for Senate staff, as well ...

HEARING ADVISORY: Gender-based pricing ban to be heard in Senate SB 5171, the gender-based pricing ban, is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on Monday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 4. Testimony is expected from students at Lake Washington High School who brought the bill forward. The hearing can ...