News Releases

OLYMPIA – Legislation to give local governments new revenue options to fund affordable housing and homeless services passed today in the Washington State Senate on a 29-20 bipartisan vote. Senate Bill 5334, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), would allow counties or cities to adopt an excise tax on the sale of lodging of short-term rentals. The revenue would be ...

State Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes) is inviting the Lopez Island community to join her for an informal conversation as she prepares for the 2024 legislative session in Olympia. The event will take place on Monday, Dec. 11, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church, 70 Sunset Lane on Lopez Island. Constituents will have the opportunity to ask questions ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 15, 2023   Press Inquiries | 360.786.7853, courtney.james@leg.wa.gov  OLYMPIA – Legislation to further protect Washington’s endangered southern resident orca population was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee today. Senate Bill 5371, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), requires whale-watching boats and other marine vessels to refrain from approaching within 1,000 yards of a southern resident killer whale. The measure ...

OLYMPIA—The House of Representatives passed legislation on April 11, 2023, to safeguard the endangered orcas in the Salish Sea. Senate Bill 5371, sponsored by Senator Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes) and supported by Representative Debra Lekanoff (D-Bow), received overwhelming bipartisan support through Lekanoff’s collaborative striker to strengthen the work of both House Democrats and Republicans. This effort resulted in ...

OLYMPIA – Legislation to further protect Washington’s endangered southern resident orca population passed the Senate on a 29-18 vote today. Senate Bill 5371, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), would require whale-watching boats and other marine vessels to refrain from approaching within 1,000 yards of a southern resident killer whale. This would be an increase in distance from our current ...

OLYMPIA – Today, Sen. Liz Lovelett, Rep. Alex Ramel, and Rep. Debra Lekanoff of the 40th Legislative District released the following statement: “Today, the Washington State Ferry Service announced that due to vessel capacity limitations, they are unlikely to resume the Anacortes to Sidney, BC service until 2030.   “To say we are extremely disappointed with this announcement is an ...

OLYMPIA – A bill to require the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) to adopt uniform standards for temporary emergency shelters passed the Senate on a unanimous vote today. Temporary emergency shelters such as rapid-build structures and tiny home villages provide local jurisdictions with affordable and easily scalable options for safe and rapid housing for unsheltered members of their communities. Senate ...

Two bills sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett to reform the Washington state Growth Management Act (GMA) were heard in the Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee this week. Senate Bill 5203 would establish a new climate change and resiliency goal in the GMA to help local governments better plan for the challenges posed by climate change. ...

OLYMPIA – Legislation to further protect Washington’s endangered southern resident orca population was heard in the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee today. Senate Bill 5371, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), would require boats and other marine vessels to refrain from approaching within 1,000 yards of an orca. This would be an increase in distance, as current law ...