Biography

Senator Marko Liias is a lifelong Washingtonian born and raised in the neighborhoods he now serves. He represents the communities of the 21st Legislative District, which includes neighborhoods in Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, and Mukilteo.  

Marko was appointed to the House of Representatives in 2008 and won re-election three times. He was appointed to the Senate in 2014 and is currently serving his third term as a senator.    

Throughout his service in the Legislature, he has prioritized policies to increase access to public transportation across Washington, provide educational and career opportunities for students, make the state safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth, and build an economy that works for everyone.    

As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Marko championed the 2022 Move Ahead Washington transportation package which will invest nearly $17 billion in transportation resources across the state over the next 16 years while creating quality, family-wage jobs. The package prioritizes the future of Washington by investing in a sustainable transportation sector that addresses the climate crisis. Through funding to electrify the transportation sector, invest in active transportation, and expand transit options, Move Ahead Washington is a shift towards a greener transportation sector.   

Marko is the Co-Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus and has led the effort to protect LGBTQ youth and communities across the state.  He has championed bills to require schools to adopt policies that protect trans kids from bullying, increase access to HIV medication, and ban so-called conversion therapy. In 2021, he also championed the Gender Affirming Care Act, which ensures trans and gender diverse Washingtonians can receive medically necessary treatment by prohibiting health insurers from denying or limiting coverage for gender affirming treatment.    

He has focused on tackling the student debt crisis and increasing access to college – passing multiple bills including the Student Loan Bill of Rights, a refinancing program for college debt, and a new low-interest student loan program for undocumented students and Dreamers. Marko also passed the Our Colleges, Our Future Act, requiring all community and technical colleges to prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion of all students by funding programs that are proven to benefit those most vulnerable in higher education institutions.   

An advocate for his community, following a 2016 shooting in Mukilteo Marko committed to acting to reduce gun violence. During the 2022 session, he sponsored a limit on the sale of high-capacity magazines to reduce mass shootings in Washington. He increased access to democracy by passing the VOTE Act and empowering younger voters to use their voice.   

In addition to his service in the Legislature, Marko is an adjunct college professor, and the Communications Manager for the Snohomish County Office of Recovery and Resilience.

 

Updated May 2022.