News - Washington Senate Democrats

Whitman County Gazette: Police restraint gets clarification in House bill

by sdcadminFeb 10 20220 Comments

OLYMPIA – Those suffering mental health issues and juveniles could be restrained by law enforcement responding to crises.

That is the thrust of House Bill 1735, which passed the state House with a 90-5 vote and is now under consideration in the Senate.

The bill is intended to end confusion stemming from last year’s House Bill 1310, which prevented responders from receiving police assistance in detaining or transporting people.

“We’re talking about hands-on… whether law enforcement can physically interact with people, not to hurt them but to help them,” Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, said.

“We’re talking about people in a mental ...

Liias’ Gender Affirming Treatment Act wins House approval

by sdcadminMar 25 20210 Comments

OLYMPIA – A bill that would require health insurers to cover medically necessary gender affirming treatment in their health plans was approved by the House on Wednesday. SB 5313, also known as the Gender Affirming Treatment Act and is sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Everett), would prohibit health insurers from denying or limiting coverage for gender affirming treatment that is consistent with a protected gender expression or identity, is medically necessary, and is prescribed in accordance with accepted standards of care. Many health plans in Washington state classify gender confirmation treatment as cosmetic and therefore such treatment is ...

Liias bill to improve health equity and access for transgender people wins Senate approval

by sdcadminFeb 26 20210 Comments

SB 5313, also known as the Gender Affirming Treatment Act and is sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood), would prohibit health insurers from denying or limiting coverage for gender affirming treatment that is consistent with a protected gender expression or identity, is medically necessary, and is prescribed in accordance with accepted standards of care.

Letter from LGBTQ Caucus to State Health Care Authority requesting open access to HIV treatments for Medicaid patients

by sdcadminDec 15 20200 Comments

Virginia Buccola, Chair Washington State Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee and Drug Utilization Review Board Washington State Health Care Authority Re: HIV Policy Dear Ms. Buccola: The undersigned are members of the LGBTQ caucus of the Washington State Legislature. We are writing to ask the Washington State Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee and Drug Utilization Review Board to ensure open access to the full range of HIV treatments for Washington State Medicaid patients. As Covid-19 continues to exact a disproportionate toll on immunocompromised and at-risk LGBTQ citizens throughout the state, the state has an opportunity to act in order to protect some of the most ...

Governor approves ban on ‘panic defense’ in LGBTQ assault cases

by sdcadminMar 05 20200 Comments

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law today a bill that will prevent defendants from citing a victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation — the so-called “panic defense” — to justify a violent assault.

House Bill 1687 was introduced in 2019 by then-Rep. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell). Now a state senator, Stanford moved it through the Senate this year to full passage by the Legislature.

HB 1687 makes clear that the discovery of a person’s actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation provides no justification ...

LGBTQ Caucus supports gender-nonbinary option for state IDs

by sdcadminFeb 29 20200 Comments

The members of the Washington State Legislative LGBTQ caucus wrote the following letter in support of the rule change:

As members of the Washington State Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, we write regarding your proposed rule change to allow Washington residents to choose from three options when getting a state-issued ID: female, male, and X. Last session, we passed a bill establishing the LGBTQ Commission to work with state agencies on issues exactly like this rule change. We strongly support this latest step in the state’s efforts to be more inclusive of all ...
Read More

Governor signs bill creating commission on LGBTQ inequities

by sdcadminMay 24 20190 Comments

The state’s newly created state LGBTQ Commission will meet Saturday with stakeholders to discuss the commission’s initial steps, Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) said today.

Wilson’s Senate Bill 5356 was signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Jay Inslee, establishing a commission to identify concerns specific to LGBTQ individuals and apply those concerns to inform practices and policies at state agencies.

“Our state constitution promises to protect us against discrimination in its many forms, but not everyone receives those protections,” Wilson said. “Many people regularly experience discrimination and other challenges, including physical violence, based merely on ...

Legislature passes Wilson bill creating commission on LGBTQ inequities

by sdcadminApr 23 20190 Comments

Legislation to establish a state commission to identify concerns specific to LGBTQ individuals and apply those concerns to inform practices and policies at state agencies is on its way to the governor to be signed into law.

“Our state constitution promises to protect us against discrimination in its many forms, but not everyone receives those protections,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 5356. “Many people regularly experience discrimination and other challenges, including physical violence, based merely on their identity or someone else’s perception of their identity.”

Wilson’s legislation will establish a state ...