News Releases

OLYMPIA - Legislation to increase transparency in drug pricing passed unanimously off the Senate floor today.

"This bill will go a long way towards revealing the real cost of prescription drugs," said Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), sponsor of Senate Bill 5292. "As things stand, we really do not have publicly available drug pricing information. It’s past time ...

Senate legislation would protect vulnerable employees from sexual harassment

OLYMPIA – Employees who are vulnerable and isolated at work will have better protection against sexual harassment and assault as a result of legislation that passed unanimously off the Senate floor today. The bill was inspired by the personal stories of hotel housekeepers, office janitors and security guards who often ...

Keiser:  "I heard your concerns, we are not moving forward" 

“Thank you to everyone from across the state who have reached out to us in Olympia. I heard from hundreds of hairdressers who feared Senate Bill 5326 was a threat to their chosen profession. I want to be clear that it was never my intent to cause ...

I’ve heard from dozens of cosmetologists who were fearful that my intent was to take away their livelihood.  Let me say in the strongest possible terms that is not my intent, and I promise you it will not be the outcome of this effort. 

I hope removing the language regarding a booth rental ban will ...

OLYMPIA – Addressing the continued federal government shutdown affecting 800,000 workers across the country, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) released the following statement:

"I am proud that the state of Washington is working hard to give furloughed federal workers the unemployment benefits they deserve. Our state continues to put working families first in times of need.

“Unfortunately, state ...

MEDIA ADVISORY – 33rd Legislative District Telephone Town Hall Who: Sen. Karen Keiser, Rep. Tina Orwall & Rep. Mia Gregerson –The 33rd Legislative District delegation representing part of King County including SeaTac, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and parts of Kent, Burien and Renton. What: 33^rd Legislative District telephone town hall meeting When: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 15 Three ways to ...

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Feb. 27, 2018   Sexual harassment bills pass off House floor, head back to the Senate   OLYMPIA — Three bills related to combatting workplace sexual harassment passed off the House floor unanimously today. “I have been working on addressing sexual harassment for quite some time, and passing this group of bills off the floor in the House today is great ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Feb. 8, 2018   Bills to address sexual harassment pass off Senate floor, now advance to the House   OLYMPIA — Three bills related to combatting workplace sexual harassment passed off the Senate floor unanimously today. “I have been working on addressing sexual harassment for quite some time, and passing this group of bills off the floor is great news for ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Jan. 31, 2017   Bills to address sexual harassment pass out Senate committee   OLYMPIA — Three bills related to combatting workplace sexual harassment passed out of the Senate’s Labor & Commerce Committee today. “I have been working on addressing sexual harassment for quite some time, and passing this group of bills out of committee is great news for the women ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Jan. 25, 2018 Senate votes to help sick Hanford workers get compensation OLYMPIA— The state Senate voted late today to expand workers compensation protections to Hanford workers exposed to toxic chemicals while on the job. “Rep. Larry Haler and I have been working on this bill for quite some time and its passage is great news for the Hanford ...