News Releases

Owners of certified green homes in Snohomish County could be exempt from additional property taxes for up to 7 years, under legislation developed in cooperation with Snohomish County Councilmember Brian Sullivan and introduced today by Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood. “Our family-owned construction company was one of the first in the county to participate in the Built Green program a decade ago, so I have firsthand knowledge of its many benefits,” Liias said. “Certified green buildings typically consume less energy, are made ...

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, has been appointed the assistant ranking member on the Senate Transportation Committee, a move that gives him a role in writing the transportation budget and makes him the second-ranking Democrat on the committee. “This puts me in a stronger position to address the needs of the 21st District as well as to help prioritize transportation projects in communities across the state,” Liias said. “This is very good news for residents of the 21st District.” In the Democrats’ reorganization ...

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, joined with 11 other state legislators today to ask Gov. Jay Inslee form a task force to study make recommendations to the Legislature on the need for tax incentives to encourage innovation. “Next January, for the first time in two decades, our state will no longer support research and development through our tax policy,” the lawmakers said in a letter to Inslee. “We believe that this is short-sighted, and we believe that the costs of inaction are ...

This week the Legislature passed its supplemental transportation budget for the 2014 session. While the budget contains no new revenue for significant new investments, Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, secured funding for two key projects in Mukilteo. “Our transportation budget is a crucial driver of job creation in our state,” said Liias. “Transportation investment creates jobs today on construction projects and it creates jobs in the future by improving our physical infrastructure and economic climate for decades to come. I’ve made job ...

Today the Senate voted to pass the Washington Dream Act off of the floor. Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, was proud to vote in support of the bill. “I came to the Senate to help break the gridlock and get things done for the people of Washington,” said Liias. “I’m glad to see the Senate put politics aside today and act on behalf of the students this will help.”   The Washington Dream Act would allow students with Washington high school degrees who as ...

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, and Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, introduced legislation in their respective chambers that would renew and extend research and development (R&D) tax incentives for the high technology and bio-technology industries in Washington until 2040. SB 6430 and HB 2685 are a bipartisan approach to renewal of  the business and occupation tax credit for expenditures on R&D activities and the sales tax deferral on ...

Calling reductions in class size “critical to fulfilling our mandate to provide a quality education to every child,” Washington State Representative Roger Goodman and State Senator Marko Liias today announced legislation at fully implementing the student-teacher ratios recommended by the Bi-Partisan Quality Education Council.   “We know what the right number of students in each classroom should be, and we know we have to make a significant investment in education,” said Rep. Goodman. “Reducing class size is the right thing to do, ...

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, was sworn in as a member of the Washington State Senate on Wednesday from the 21st Legislative District.  After taking the oath of office he spoke about his new position and his priorities. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD. [audio mp3="http://sdc.wastateleg.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12214Liiasintro.mp3"][/audio]