News Releases

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 tell the histories, contributions and perspectives of LGBTQ+ Washingtonians.  “The contributions of gay Washingtonians deserve recognition, and just as importantly, students deserve to see themselves in their schoolwork. That leads to better attendance, better academic ...

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 happy that both chambers came to an agreement about this year’s supplemental transportation budget,” said Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), chair of the House Transportation Committee.  “The health of our transportation system is vital to ...

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 do the jobs they were trained to perform.  That idea took the form of Senate Bill 6181, the substance of which was folded into Senate Bill 5424. That bill received a unanimous ...

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 than access to early learning programs,” Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) said. “This is great news for so many families and businesses in our community who rely on childcare and early learning.”  Facilities scheduled for an upgrade include:Read More

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 transportation system is the lifeblood of our economy, and this year’s budget makes critical investments in ferries, traffic safety, and improving mobility statewide,” Liias (D-Edmonds) said.  The supplemental budget proposal puts $150 million additional ...

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 Senate took an important step to protect bees and other pollinators Tuesday with the passage of Senate Bill 5972, which will end the domestic outdoor use of pesticides that contain neonicotinoids. This type of insecticide ...

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 sponsorship of Senate Bill 6114, which cleared the Senate Transportation Committee Monday.  The bill requires airport operators to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends available to noncommercial, private jet owners with the goal of ultimately ...

Washington’s history is filled with contributions from people of all walks of life, but often many of those stories go untold.  A bill sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) aims to tell those stories and ensure that current and future generations of Washington students learn about the contributions all Washingtonians have made in shaping our state.   Liias’ inclusive learning bill, SB 5462, which passed the Senate on 29-19 vote Wednesday, will require school districts ...