Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) was awarded the Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion by Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Ambassador Leena-Kaisa Mikkola presented Liias with the decoration Dec. 3 at her residence in Washington, D.C.
The Order of the Lion is one of Finland’s three official orders and awarded to people for their service and contributions to the country. Liias received the decoration in recognition of his legislative work, including his efforts to strengthen the relationship between Washington state and Finland.
Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) receiving the Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion from Ambassador Leena-Kaisa Mikkola Dec. 3 at her residence in Washington, D.C.
“In high school, I was proud to be a Kamiak Knight and as a Finnish American, I’m deeply honored to become a knight once more with this decoration,” Liias said. “Washington state and Finland are known for being innovation hubs. Our shared values and goals mean we can learn from each other and work together to address the problems we face — that’s exactly what I strive to do as a state senator.”
In 2021, Liias helped secure a memorandum of understanding between Washington state and Finland to solidify a partnership to make their ports more competitive, efficient, and sustainable.
As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Liias was also part of a delegation of lawmakers and transportation experts who traveled to Finland in 2023 to learn about the country’s traffic safety model, including its restrictions on impaired driving. In the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions, Liias sponsored bills to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08% to 0.05%, a step Finland took in 2011.
“The City of Helsinki had zero traffic deaths last year, which is far fewer than American cities of similar size like Seattle. There’s much we can learn from Finland’s approach to traffic safety, and I’ll continue to fight for legislation that brings these commonsense solutions home to make Washington’s roads safer for everyone who uses them,” Liias said.
Liias is the first graduate of Kamiak High School to serve in the Legislature, and he serves the community he grew up in. Liias represents the 21st Legislative District, which includes neighborhoods in Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, and Mukilteo.
