News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 25, 2023  Press Inquiries | 360.786.7298, erin.hut@leg.wa.gov  OLYMPIA – Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center) and Sen. Marko Liias (D-Everett) met with leaders at Washington State Ferries (WSF) Thursday to address repeated route delays and cancelations impacting constituents on Vashon Island.   WSF officials said these challenges are an industry-wide reality, but promising changes are on the horizon thanks to new legislation passed during the ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 16, 2023  OLYMPIA – Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) bill protecting Washingtonians from discriminatory treatment because of their identity was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday.    Senate Bill 5186 requires antidiscrimination clauses to be included in all state contracts and subcontracts. While current anti-discrimination laws only protect workers of certain employers, this legislation applies similar protections to all employers paid with public funds. This ensures all ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 11, 2023  Sen. Marko Liias’ legislation to improve safety among young drivers was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee Thursday.   Senate Bill 5583 requires the Department of Licensing to develop an implementation plan to expand requirements for driver training education for people ages 18 to 24. It is part of a package of bills introduced this session aimed at increasing traffic safety, following a report released by ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2023  OLYMPIA – Transgender youth who are not safe at home and seeking life-saving care can depend on Washington for safe shelter.   Gov. Jay Inslee signed Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) Senate Bill 5599 into law on Tuesday.   “Every child – including our trans youth – deserves to be safe at home. In a perfect world, that is the case, but unfortunately, that is not ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2023  OLYMPIA – Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) legislation to streamline the process of student data transfer to higher education institutions was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday.   Senate Bill 5593 is intended to make higher education opportunities more accessible to students across Washington. There are roughly 75,000 high school seniors in Washington each year, but universities can only contact the 30,000 who take pre-college placement ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 9, 2023  OLYMPIA – Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) legislation to authorize tolling on the Interstate 5 Bridge has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee.   Passage of Senate Bill 5765 is the next step in Washington’s effort to replace the I-5 Bridge. This legislation simply authorizes tolling along the bridge; it does not set a cost, nor does it state when tolling will go into effect.   Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 25, 2023  OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee signed Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) legislation to address diversity, equity, and staffing concerns within the Washington State Ferries (WSF) workforce on Tuesday.   Senate Bill 5550 requires WSF to adopt a formal diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, and develop an action plan to address issues identified in a newly mandatory annual employee survey.   It also directs WSF to seek methods to improve ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 13, 2023 Press Inquiries | 360.786.7298, erin.hut@leg.wa.gov  OLYMPIA – Legislation to protect transgender and at-risk youth seeking gender-affirming or reproductive care passed the House on Wednesday.  Sen. Marko Liias’ (D-Everett) Senate Bill 5599 affirms that trans youth are protected in Washington state by removing barriers to safe shelter.   This legislation gives meaningful choices to young people who may not have supportive families at home ...