In the News

The Washington state Legislature, which has proposed legislation in the past to tackle issues such as data privacy and the use of facial recognition tech, is now reviewing a bill that would regulate the use of “automated decision systems” and AI technology within state government. According to the bill, these systems use algorithms to analyze data to help make or support decisions that ...

Washington State’s 2021 legislative session kicked off on January 11 and it will go for 105 days, until April 25. Between now and then, State senators and representatives will introduce bills to the legislature, refer them to their applicable committees, and consider the bills multiple times and at various stages before a bill is potentially passed into law. This year’s ...

Senator Bob Hasegawa, who represents Washington’s 11th District (Renton, Tukwila, part of Kent, SoDo, the Industrial District, Georgetown, and South Park), introduced a bill that would create a healthcare trust allowing everyone in the state to access affordable healthcare, vision care, dental, and mental health care. Hasegawa’s bill, SB 5204, has six co-sponsors so far. Hasegawa said in an interview with the ...

The 2021 session of the Legislature has kicked off with virtual participation in deference to the coronavirus. Leadership of each legislative session usually comes from the four corners, which are the leaders of each house and party. Democrats include Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) and Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington), and their Republican counterparts, Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox (R-Yelm) ...

Democrats in the state Senate have reelected state Sen. Andy Billig of Spokane as majority leader, and named Sen. Bob Hasegawa of Seattle majority caucus chair. The moves were made as lawmakers prepare for the 2021 legislative session, which will convene in January with Democrats in control of the state Senate and House and Gov. Jay Inslee elected to a third ...