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OLYMPIA - The Washington State Senate gave final approval Monday to legislation prohibiting local, state, and federal law enforcement officers - including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents - from wearing face-concealing masks while interacting with the public.  Senate Bill 5855, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), strengthens existing law requiring officers to be reasonably identifiable through clearly displayed names or other identifying information. The bill bans opaque face coverings such as balaclavas, tactical masks, gaiters and ski masks.  “Our communities deserve to know who is exercising government authority in their neighborhoods,” Valdez said. “Today’s vote brings us one step closer to greater transparency and accountability, and ...

OLYMPIA — On Friday, the Senate passed its proposed 2025–27 supplemental operating budget that continues key investments in health care, education, and behavioral health while maintaining access to essential services Washington families rely on every day.  The roughly $79.3 billion plan updates the state’s current 2025–27 operating budget to reflect increased demand for services including Apple Health coverage, behavioral health treatment, and long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as rising costs to continue programs already in place.   The Senate-passed proposal includes approximately $1.7 billion in maintenance-level adjustments for the 2025–27 biennium to continue services the Legislature has ...

OLYMPIA — Senate Democratic budget leaders on Monday unveiled a proposed 2025–27 supplemental operating budget that continues key investments in health care, education, and behavioral health while maintaining access to essential services Washington families rely on every day.   The proposal updates the state’s current 2025–27 operating budget to reflect increased demand for services including Apple Health coverage, behavioral health treatment, and long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as rising costs to continue programs already in place. The proposal also accounts for ongoing uncertainty at the federal level that could shift additional costs to states ...

OLYMPIA – The Millionaires Tax, which will provide a major and sustainable funding increase for schools, health care and other essential services, help fix Washington’s broken tax code and provide tax cuts for millions of working Washingtonians and small businesses, was passed off the Senate floor on Monday. Senate Bill 6346, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, passed the chamber on a 27-22 vote and will now head to the House of Representatives for further consideration. “Today was a momentous step forward,” Pedersen said. “For Washington’s 1.1 million school kids, people struggling to afford health care, and ...

Legislation to regulate automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras across Washington state passed the Washington State Senate on a 40-9 vote on Wednesday. SB 6002, sponsored by Senator Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), sets rules around the use and retention of data collected by ALPR ‘Flock’ cameras, which scan the license plates of passing vehicles and collect images and data for use by law enforcement and other government agencies. Washington state currently has no law on the books regulating ALPR cameras. “My goal with this bill has always been about community safety and trust,” Trudeau said. “Washington state has a ...

OLYMPIA – Leaders from the Washington State Senate and House on Tuesday introduced the Millionaires Tax, a policy that will help fix the state’s broken tax code, provide sustainable funding for schools and health care, and reduce taxes for working families and small businesses. Senate Bill 6346, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The House version of the bill, HB 2724, is sponsored by House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon. “Our state is wonderful for so ...

Senator Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) introduced legislation this week to regulate automatic license plate reader cameras across Washington state. Automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras scan the license plates of passing vehicles and collect images and data for use by law enforcement, parking enforcement agencies, toll systems, and other government agencies. More than 80 cities, six counties, and three Tribal governments in Washington have contracted with Flock and other ALPR companies in 2025. “These license plate cameras are powerful surveillance tools, and I think most people would agree there should be clear rules governing how the data collected on all ...

OLYMPIA — Senate Ways & Means Chair June Robinson (D-Everett) issued a statement in response to the release of Gov. Bob Ferguson’s supplemental operating budget proposal Tuesday:  “Gov. Ferguson’s proposed supplemental operating budget reflects how challenging the state’s fiscal landscape is again this year, and I appreciate the care and deliberation he took in developing it.  “I know firsthand how difficult it is to make reductions while balancing rising costs, economic uncertainty, and the real impacts on families and communities. This proposal provides a responsible starting point and a solid foundation for the Senate ...

OLYMPIA — Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) introduced legislation Monday to prohibit law enforcement officers — including federal immigration agents operating in Washington — from wearing face-concealing masks while interacting with the public.   Senate Bill 5855 is a direct response to ongoing immigration raids under the Trump administration during which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wear masks and other coverings to hide their identities. The bill defines prohibited facial coverings to include balaclavas, tactical masks, gaiters, ski masks, and similar items. Clear or translucent face shields, medical masks, respirators used in hazardous conditions, ...