A healthy democracy depends on citizens’ ability to access accurate, thorough information about the world around them, from global affairs down to local issues. This knowledge empowers us to make informed, responsible choices as consumers, at the ballot box, in our interactions with our neighbors and communities, and in countless other aspects of our lives.
As part of this, we must also be able to engage critically with the media we consume. In this age of disinformation, many people get their news from social media platforms that prioritize outrage over accuracy, and from a federal administration that twists truths and spreads lies to stoke hatred and fear. To navigate the world today and stay safe both online and offline, we must be wise consumers of the media saturating our lives.
As a legislator, I’ve worked to ensure Washington is a leader in defending democracy, passing bills and securing funding in our budgets to expand voting access, strengthen media literacy and digital citizenship education, and support local journalism by:
- Passing legislation to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the date of the general election (SB 6313).
- Passing legislation to create the Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship grant, supporting teachers in forming groups and collaborating to develop media literacy curricula to share with other teachers and students (SB 5242).
- Securing funding for the Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship Ambassador Program to provide training and networking events for teachers and teacher-librarians.
- Working to pass legislation to support local journalism by taxing large social media platforms and search engines and using the revenue to fund grants for small news organizations (SB 5400).
- Securing the inaugural funding for Washington State University’s Murrow News Fellowship program to increase civic affairs reporting for the state’s underserved communities.
- Passing legislation to help school districts create policies around students’ mobile device use during school hours, as well as provide students with resources to help them develop healthier relationships with these devices (SB 5346).
You can find more information and resources here:
Washington State resources: https://www.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/school-technology/media-literacy-digital-citizenship
Common Sense Education resources: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington: https://www.cip.uw.edu/
Senate Democrats – news release: https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/liias/2026/03/25/liias-bill-to-help-schools-limit-student-cellphone-use-signed-into-law/
PBS Newshour: How media literacy can help students discern fake news
Marko Liias Speaks About Supporting Media Literacy Education
The Spokesman-Review: Washington Legislature addresses need for media literacy education in proposed bill
King 5: Washington’s new digital citizenship legislation sets nationwide precedent