News Releases

OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation Tuesday to expand the Clemency and Pardons Board and update some procedures statewide.   House Bill 1131, sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), updates the membership, compensation, and considerations ...

OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation Saturday to provide more consistency and transparency in civil asset forfeiture across the state, including changing the burden of proof threshold.   House Bill 1440, sponsored by Rep. Roger ...

OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation to increase workplace protections for immigrant communities Monday. Senate Bill 5104, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Tukwila), shields employees from coercion in the workplace based on immigration status. “We’re facing a crisis across the ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation to protect landowners from unfair eminent domain practices was signed into law today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. Senate Bill 5142, or the Houston Eminent Domain Fairness Act, will help ensure landowners who have land procured by school ...

OLYMPIA – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Tukwila) to strengthen workers' protections was acted upon in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee Friday and referred to the Rules Committee Monday. This bill ensures employers cannot use an employee’s ...

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law today that requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to incorporate a racial equity analysis into its audits, reviews and evaluations. JLARC consists of 16 members evenly split between ...

OLYMPIA – Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Beacon Hill) was chosen by the Washington State Senate Democratic Caucus to be the Majority Caucus Chair early last month. He has filled the position as Interim Chair since Sen. John McCoy retired ...

Governor Jay Inslee signed two closely watched bills recently that were championed through the 2020 Legislative Session by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle). Senate Bill 6066 received Inslee’s approval on March 18, and will expand ethnic studies opportunities in schools throughout ...

Three bills designed to increase equity in Washington’s education system passed the Washington State Senate on Wednesday. The bills, all sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle), would increase equity by addressing ethnic studies curricula, the shortage of teachers from underrepresented communities, ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Feb. 10, 2018   Senate passes Hasegawa bill to avoid institutional racism   OLYMPIA — Future legislative proposals will be assessed for disproportionate or unintended impacts on racial and ethnic populations, under legislation passed today by the Senate. “Passing this bill ...