News Releases

OLYMPIA — The Senate today approved $6.3 billion in funding for priority infrastructure across the state, the largest and most aggressive capital construction budget in state history, funded through a combination state bonds, local revenue sources and federal relief funds. The funds allocated by House Bill 1080 will go toward expanding broadband internet access, growing the state’s supply of affordable ...

OLYMPIA — Upon Senate passage of HB 1297, expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle) released the following statement:

“Since even before I came to the Legislature in 2011, I have felt it was wrong that we had not provided working people with a break on the sales taxes that they pay under our state’s upside-down tax ...

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OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats’ proposed capital construction budget (Senate Bill 5083), which would be the largest in state history, would build $6.2 billion in priority infrastructure across the state—expanding broadband internet access, growing the state’s affordable housing, safeguarding natural resources, and creating a new Community Relief Fund to invest in underserved communities. “This budget makes investments across the state that ...

OLYMPIA — Frontline election workers would be protected from harassment in Washington state under a bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by the Senate late on Thursday. “Elections are meant to safeguard our democracy—they are our democracy,” said Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle), the sponsor of SB 5148. “They are strengthened by our collective participation and trust in the systems ...

SEATTLE — Restaurants and retail businesses whose insurers are denying claims for losses suffered due to shutdowns to combat the COVID-19 pandemic would receive help if a bill introduced today becomes law. SB 5351, sponsored by Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle) and Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), would help ensure that businesses unable to operate due to the pandemic response have the ...

SEATTLE — The bipartisan Senate Special Committee on Economic Recovery today released recommendations for rebuilding a post-pandemic economy that works for all Washingtonians. “Washington’s economy has been stretched in unparalleled ways as the public health crisis began, leveled off, and then hit us again,” said Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle), the committee’s chair. “To go from 3.8% unemployment to nearly 16% in ...

SEATTLE — Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle), vice chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee with lead responsibility for the capital construction budget, released the following statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee released his proposed 2021 capital construction budget:

“Investing in construction, infrastructure, and much-needed housing and behavioral ...

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I am proud to have worked with my legislative colleagues to support this project with nearly $70 million in state capital funds. Ensuring that UW health sciences students have access to state-of-the-art interdisciplinary training facilities is critical to our state’s health care workforce pipeline. You can read the full story here.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today five insurance carriers have applied to offer public option plans in a majority of counties across the state. The first year of Cascade Care, the public option program, begins later this year with plans to start coverage on Jan. 1, 2021. “The first-in-the-nation public option continues to move toward a successful start,” Inslee said. “Now more ...

Working people and small businesses are facing unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the Senate Special Committee on Economic Recovery heard from a variety of experts about ways to help people and businesses recover. The bipartisan committee focused its first meeting on a wide variety of topics, including unemployment, regional challenges, challenges faced by small businesses, short ...