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 nitrous oxide misuse in Michigan jumped four to five times from 2019 to 2023.   

I had no idea how big of a problem this was until the Suquamish Tribe reached out; from there, I started learning about the harm caused by the unchecked availability of these products in gas stations and convenience stores. A UW student who visited me early in session told me that students get nitrous oxide delivered to their dorm rooms; another student reached out and told me about a classmate who was paralyzed after inhaling nitrous oxide.  

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that intentional misuse of nitrous oxide can lead to serious adverse health events, including blood clots, trouble walking, vitamin B12 deficiency, and in some cases, death.  

It’s long past time to ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide in our state. Many states have already passed laws to protect consumers by regulating the sale or possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use. I hope our state is next. (The bill includes exemptions for medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses.) 

HB 2532 has advanced out of committee and awaits consideration by the full House. Check out this KGW story on the legislation.  

Fighting federal overreach 

We are working hard to push back against federal overreach in every way possible to protect the rights of all people in Washington State. Here are a few of the bills we’ve already passed off the Senate floor that await consideration in the House:  

  • SB 6002 would regulate the use of Flock cameras. This technology can help law enforcement find missing people and solve crimes, but there must be guardrails to protect our civil rights. The bill would put clear rules on how data is stored and accessed to prevent misuse by bad actors. Learn more. 
  • SB 5855 would prohibit all law enforcement officers operating in our state, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while interacting with the public. We already have a clear expectation for state and local law enforcement officers to be clearly identifiable, with limited exceptions. All law enforcement doing work in our state should be held to the same standard. The legislation would also allow individuals detained by unlawfully masked agents to sue those officers for damages. Learn more.  
  • SB 5892 would protect the state from unlawful federal attempts to access sensitive voter information by ensuring the Secretary of State has the authority to protect information like drivers’ license numbers, social security numbers, and full birth dates. Learn more.  

The SAFE Act, my bill to keep ICE out of daycares, schools, colleges, hospitals and more without a judicial warrant, is expected to be considered on the Senate floor soon. Stay tuned for updates.  

Please continue reaching out to share your questions and feedback.  

Sincerely,  

Drew Hansen