News Releases

OLYMPIA – A bill to expand eligibility for a certain type of blood donation to 16- and 17-year-olds was approved by the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee today. Under current law, 16- and 17-year-olds can donate whole blood with parental or guardian permission, however they cannot donate blood through the process known as apheresis, which is used for platelet donations. SB 5179, sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) would allow people ages 16 and 17 to ...

OLYMPIA – The Senate Law & Justice Committee held a public hearing on SB 5078 today, which would ban the possession and use of large-capacity firearm magazines in most circumstances. [TVW link] “On the evening of July 30^th, 2016, my community was changed forever by a preventable tragedy,” said Liias, testifying in favor of SB 5078 at the committee hearing. “We lost three beautiful lives—Jordan Ebner, Jake Long, and Anna Bui. Will Kramer was seriously injured and thankfully has ...

OLYMPIA – A bill sponsored by Senator Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) that would enable more partnerships between local governments and community-based credit unions throughout Washington received a public hearing in the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee today. [TVW LINK] Under current law, community-based credit unions can partner with local governments in parts of the state, but not in the five largest counties (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, and Clark) in Washington. SB 5106 would eliminate the population restriction, thereby ...

OLYMPIA – State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) was unanimously reelected as majority floor leader by his Senate Democratic Caucus peers on Monday, a position he has held since 2017. “It’s an honor to continue as majority floor leader,” said Liias. “Senate Democrats approach every policy discussion with the philosophy of putting people first, and that’s exactly what we need to do this session to help struggling people and families through the pandemic.” The majority floor leader is responsible for managing the ...

Washington, D.C. - Today, State Senator Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) was selected as one of 15 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of state and local elected officials with Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Mark Warner and former Governor Jack Markell. With state and local leaders on the frontlines of responding to the coronavirus crisis, Liias joins the group at a time when members are rising to this challenge by innovating,

Who: 21^st Legislative District lawmakers, Sen. Marko Liias, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, Rep. Strom Peterson, and special guest Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. What: Telephone town hall meeting. When: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Where: Calls will go out to thousands of homes throughout the 21^st legislative district. Residents will be able to listen live and speak with their lawmakers. Those who do not receive a call can participate by dialing 877-229-8493 and using ID Code 116357. Alternatively, the telephone town hall can be live-streamed: Read More

OLYMPIA – Governor Inslee has signed three bills sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) into law since the Legislature adjourned on March 12. Senate Bill 6690 repeals the preferential aerospace B&O tax rate and should stave off retaliatory tariffs on many trade dependent industries. “When this issue was brought to my attention two months ago, the world looked quite different than it does today,” said Liias. “Obviously issues like international tariffs are going to take a back seat while the ...

OLYMPIA – A bill that aims to increase voter participation among young adults was approved today by the House of Representatives by a vote of 56-41. “We have to do more to bring down barriers for young people to participate in our elections,” said state Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood). “The data is clear — if young people participate when they are 18, 19, 20, in those first formative elections, their lifetime voter participation is much higher. We want to teach young people ...