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 by a vote of 48-1 on Tuesday. [TVW Link] SB 5179, sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) would allow people ages 16 and 17 to donate blood through the apheresis process with parental or guardian permission. Under current law, 16- and 17-year-olds can donate whole blood with parental or guardian permission, however they cannot donate blood through ...

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 was approved by the Senate by a vote of 40 – 7  on Tuesday. Under current law, community-based credit unions can partner with local governments in all but the five largest counties (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, and Clark) in Washington. SB 5106 would eliminate the population restriction, thereby allowing credit unions in all 39 counties to partner with ...

The 2021 legislative session is underway, and lawmakers have already approved $4 billion in COVID-19 economic relief for families and small businesses, with additional relief measures to follow. State legislators Sen. Marko Liias, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, and Rep. Strom Peterson will host a virtual town hall to discuss these economic relief bills and answer questions from constituents about the legislative session. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will also join the discussion to provide an update on federal issues. The virtual town hall ...

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,