News Releases

OLYMPIA – Two bills sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Everett) that would open up additional opportunities to go to college for more Washington students were approved by the Senate this week. In total, Liias had nine bills pass off the Senate floor before Tuesday’s deadline for policy bills to pass the Senate. In addition to expanding access to higher education, Liias’ other priority bills now in the House of Representatives include:

SB 5313, also known as the Gender Affirming Treatment Act and is sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood), would prohibit health insurers from denying or limiting coverage for gender affirming treatment that is consistent with a protected gender expression or identity, is medically necessary, and is prescribed in accordance with accepted standards of care.

OLYMPIA – A bill to restrict local governments from enacting arbitrary housing restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADU) and home occupancy was approved by the Senate by a vote of 43-6 on Wednesday. SB 5235, sponsored by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) would prevent local governments from having ordinances that restrict who can live in ADUs in most circumstances. The bill would also restrict local governments from placing arbitrary limits on the number of unrelated people within a home. These arbitrary limits ...

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 ...