Category Archives: News Release

OLYMPIA — Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) issued the statement below in response to Julie Meredith’s appointment to lead the Washington State Department of Transportation:  “For more than 30 years, Julie Meredith has tackled tough challenges and served Washington state with ...

Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), Senate Transportation Committee chair, issued the statement below in response to the death of King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim Wednesday:  “I’m deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Shawn Yim, a King County Metro ...

OLYMPIA – Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) expanded his leadership roles in the Washington State Senate, following a vote among Senate Democrats on Thursday.  Liias will continue to chair the Senate Transportation Committee, where he has been focused on expanding sustainable ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation to ensure the stories of LGBTQ+ Washingtonians are taught in schools was signed into law Monday.  Senate Bill 5462, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), requires school districts to adopt curriculum that covers inclusive, age-appropriate materials that ...

OLYMPIA — The Legislature on Thursday passed the supplemental transportation budget (HB 2134), a $14.6 billion plan which prioritizes public safety, preservation and maintenance of existing infrastructure and investments in the ferry system.   “After a thorough negotiation process, I am ...

OLYMPIA — Earlier this year Mukilteo Police Chief Andy Illyn approached Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) with an idea to better define what it means to be a peace officer in Washington state and help all officers in the state better ...

OLYMPIA — The Department of Commerce announced recently that four local early learning centers were awarded grants through the Early Learning Facilities (ELF) program and will soon see major upgrades.  “There is nothing more beneficial to a young learner’s development ...

OLYMPIA — On Tuesday, Senate Transportation Committee Chair Marko Liias unveiled the 2024 supplemental transportation budget, Senate Bill 5947, a $14.6 billion proposal which prioritizes public safety, preservation and maintenance of existing infrastructure and investments in the ferry system.  “Our ...

OLYMPIA — Washington’s bees are in trouble. Climate change, chemicals and other factors have caused our state’s bee population to decline at a rate faster than the national average, with colonies decreasing 9% from April 2022 to April 2023.  The ...

OLYMPIA — Communities near Paine Field in Everett suffer from some of the worst air quality in the state. Sen. Marko Liias grew up nearby in a neighborhood overburdened by pollution. This experience was, in part, the motivation behind his ...