Dear friends and neighbors, A bill I’m working on this session at the request of the Suquamish Tribe would ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide (sometimes known as Galaxy Gas or whippets). Similar to tactics seen in the tobacco industry, colorful and flashy marketing and packaging of the product are resulting in a surge in popularity among younger users. The number of annual deaths associated with nitrous oxide misuse has skyrocketed in the U.S. nearly 600% from 2010 to 2023, according to a 2025 study. Another analysis found emergency medical visits for ...
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About Sen. Hansen
Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) was appointed to represent the 23rd Legislative District in the Washington State Senate in 2023. Hansen, who has served in the state House of Representatives since 2011, has focused on opening up opportunities for people in Kitsap County to get trained for good jobs that support their families. His work to build partnerships with Olympic College, Western Washington University, and apprenticeship programs has transformed lives across the district.
In the House, Hansen chaired the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee since 2020 and before that, he chaired the House Higher Education Committee from 2014 to 2020. Hansen has led efforts on historic legislation in recent years, including this year’s Shield Law (HB 1469) to protect those who pursue or provide legal reproductive care in the state.
Read Sen. Hansen’s full biography here.
In the News
Washington lawmakers look to limit ICE tactics, including mask use
Washington state lawmakers are considering new limits on federal immigration agents, including proposals ...
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New bill would ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide in Washington state
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A new bill introduced in Washington state’s legislature Wednesday ...
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SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL: Protect WA residents with bill requiring judicial warrants for ICE access
Since the Trump administration has granted Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency officers ...
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KING5: Washington lawmaker proposes new limits on ICE access to schools, hospitals and daycares
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash — Washington lawmakers are considering legislation that would require ...
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KIRO7: Right to wheelchair repair bill signed into law
People who use wheelchairs to get around Washington will soon have more ...
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WA State Standard: Lobbying the Legislature from behind bars
Charles Longshore is the author of a bill Washington lawmakers considered this year that would have ...
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WA State Standard: WA lawmakers consider free prison phone calls to help keep families connected
Washington Sen. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, knew that the state charged people ...
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Dallas Observer: Ken Paxton’s Shakedown of Seattle Hospital Warning of ‘Tyranny,’ Critics Say
Texas hates it when progressive ideas encroach on our conservative turf, but ...
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The Washington Post: Seattle hospital sues Texas AG who sought records of trans minors
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) tried to compel a Seattle hospital ...
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PBS NewsHour: Formerly incarcerated lawmaker reflects on breaking down barriers after prison
Tarra Simmons is the first formerly incarcerated state legislator in Washington state. ...
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