News Releases

The Washington state Senate today passed groundbreaking legislation extending juvenile justice jurisdiction for some youthful offenders to age 25. Current Washington law requires that 16-17 year olds who commit certain crimes are automatically tried as adults without any consideration of brain development, criminal history, upbringing or other potentially mitigating circumstances. Some of these crimes include: first degree robbery, first-degree burglary (if ...

The Washington State Senate today voted to expand protections for women’s health by requiring that three-dimensional mammography be covered by health insurance providers. 3D mammography, also known as tomosynthesis, has been shown to improve early detection by 40-percent, which is paramount in winning the fight against cancer. “About one-in-eight women in the United States can expect to develop breast cancer over the ...

News broke on Thursday that the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) has been sharing information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being directed not to do so by an executive order issued by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2017. Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, released the following statement in response: “Yesterday, our worst fears were confirmed ...

Today, Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, and Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, introduced legislation to put the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association under state oversight. “Right now there’s no clear oversight for the WIAA,” said Baumgartner, Republican leader of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. “I’ve heard from countless parents that there is no transparency in their decision-making process. This bill ensures that parents ...

A package of elections reform bills to reduce barriers, increase transparency and boost turnout in elections statewide will be heard Wednesday by the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee.   SB 6002, Washington Voting Rights Act

• Enables cities, counties, school boards and other local elected bodies to voluntarily adopt changes to their elections system that will improve representation in ...
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OLYMPIA – Ahead of the 2018 Legislative Session, Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, was elected by members of the Washington State Senate Democratic Caucus to serve as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader. “I am honored to serve on the leadership team as the assistant floor leader in a Democratic majority,” said Kuderer. “I am ready to govern and help improve the ...

OLYMPIA – Thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local projects across the state are at risk if the Washington State Legislature adjourns without adoption of a state capital budget. “It is irresponsible to adjourn this legislative session without a capital budget,” said Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue. “The capital budget not only funds critical infrastructure investments across our state, it ...

Senate Bill 5955 will offer car owners in King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties some relief from increases to vehicle license tabs under the motor vehicle excise tax (MVET), one of the primary funding sources for the expansion of light rail, the sounder, and bus rapid transit under Sound Transit 3. “There is no doubt that people across our region had ...

OLYMPIA – Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, today released the following statement on the 103^rd day of the 105- day legislative session as Senate Republicans refuse to negotiate a final budget and brought forward a capital gains tax without the context of a budget: “I refuse to lend my name or reputation to a political stunt. Forcing a piecemeal vote on potential ...

OLYMPIA – Senate Bill 5142, signed into law Monday by Gov. Jay Inslee, will allow educational interpreters more time to complete certification exams while continuing to provide sign language interpreting services to children in schools. “Today’s bill signing is a win for our students and a win for their interpreters,” said the bill’s prime sponsor Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue. “We ...