News Releases

OLYMPIA — The historic residential buildings at the Mukilteo Light Station will soon receive much-needed repairs, thanks to new funding from the state’s 2026 bipartisan supplemental capital budget. Totaling $206,000, the project funding secured by Sen. Marko Liias, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, and Rep. Strom Peterson will help stabilize and preserve the keeper’s quarters and associated residential structures at the Light Station after years of deferred maintenance. The funds will mainly mitigate moisture issues and address significant wood rot that threatens the ...

OLYMPIA — A bipartisan bill aiming to limit student cellphone use in the classroom was signed into law Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), lays the groundwork to help school districts find the best approach for restricting student cellphone use in ways that work best for their schools. “Creating a vision for device-free schools in Washington will give the districts that need additional support the guidance they need to implement policies that work for their community,” Liias said. ...

OLYMPIA — Bipartisan legislation providing Washingtonians with more electric vehicle (EV) choices was signed into law Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), allows more EV manufacturers, including Rivian and Lucid, to hold vehicle dealer licenses so they can sell their cars directly in Washington. It is estimated that direct sales could increase EV adoption by as much as 13% by 2030. “Making it easier for people to choose an EV is essential for reducing emissions in our ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation to improve permitting efficiency for Sound Transit light rail projects was signed into law Monday. Under the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), as long as Sound Transit provides proof of notice to property owners at the time of application, it can apply for land use, construction, and technical permits for light rail and rapid bus projects before acquiring the property they will be built on and receiving local governments’ land use decisions. “Time is money in transportation. ...

Sen. Marko Liias and Rep. Jake Fey, Chairs of the Senate and House Transportation Committees, respectively, and Sen. Annette Cleveland and Rep. Sharon Wylie, who represent the 49th Legislative District, issued the following statement regarding the new cost estimate for the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project: "As taxpayers and policy makers, we are pleased to be moving into construction for the new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River. Each of us has been working to replace the vulnerable structure for ...

OLYMPIA — Bipartisan legislation ensuring Washington’s housing market remains fair and transparent was signed into law March 16.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), will require real estate brokers to market residential properties for sale or rent in Washington without limiting access to select buyers or broker networks. Currently, brokers may use private listing networks, also called “pocket” listings, to market properties to exclusive groups, leaving other buyers and renters in the market with fewer options.  “When buyers and renters search for their next ...

OLYMPIA — Bipartisan legislation mandating all Washington health plans issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2027, cover all HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization or step therapy was signed into law March 14. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), builds on the state’s efforts to reduce transmission and expand access to lifesaving HIV care for Washingtonians, including post-exposure drugs and Medicaid prescription coverage. “Doctors will no longer face unnecessary barriers when prescribing ...