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OLYMPIA – Washington workers will gain protection against employers who seek to force them to attend meetings where they are required to listen to the employer’s opinions on religious or political matters, under the Employee Free Choice Act, signed into law Thursday. SB 5778 makes Washington the sixth state in the nation to prohibit employers from disciplining or firing employees who refuse to attend such meetings. It simply allows an employee to keep working at their job rather than attend a “mandatory” meeting on political or religious matters. “Workers are hired to do a job. Going to work ...

OLYMPIA — Two omnibus bills to improve the response to survivors of sexual assault and child trafficking in Washington state’s legal system were signed into law Tuesday. “This legislation rewrites our state’s laws to provide a truly victim-centered, trauma-informed response to survivors of sexual assault and child trafficking,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), prime sponsor of both bills. “Too often, the victims of gender-based violence are forgotten by our society. These bills increase support to help survivors get their own lives back on track as well as ensure justice is done.” SB 5937 streamlines eligibility for crime ...

OLYMPIA – Unscrupulous lenders who are partnering with out-of-state banks to evade Washington’s limits on interest rates will have to cease their predatory practices or face sanctions, under legislation signed into law today. SB 6025, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), makes any attempt to evade the provisions of Washington’s Consumer Loan Act a violation of the act. “Our state’s Consumer Loan Act does a good job of protecting consumers and laying out clear standards for lenders and borrowers,” said Stanford. “But some companies are partnering with out-of-state banks and using structures that allow them to slip through ...

A new analysis of nonpartisan data shows that 95.8% of bills passed during the 2024 legislative session did so with bipartisan support. Overall, 365 of the 381 bills that cleared both chambers and arrived on Gov. Inslee’s desk did so with the ‘yes’ vote of at least one Republican senator or representative. Digging deeper into the numbers shows that only one ‘yes’ vote was the exception rather than the rule. Of the all the bills that passed the Legislature in 2024:

• 91.34% (348 of 381) garnered six or more Republican votes — 10% of GOP legislators.
• 89.24% (340 ...
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OLYMPIA – Public schools across Washington will be able to put more paraeducators in classrooms to better meet student needs, under legislation signed into law today. SB 5882 increases the staff allocation for paraeducators in the prototypical school funding model, unlocking dollars that schools can use to increase staffing, prevent layoffs, or raise salaries for paraeducators and some other support staff. The legislation is funded with $72 million in the state's general fund in the 2024 supplemental operating budget. “Paraeducators are crucial in our public education system,” said Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), the bill’s prime sponsor. “Paraeducators ...

OLYMPIA – Washington’s strong protections for workers against employer-imposed noncompetition agreements will grow even stronger under legislation signed into law today. SB 5935, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), increases protections for workers and consumers in response to real-life situations that have arisen since the passage of landmark 2019 legislation restricting the use of noncompete clauses in Washington. “This bill is about freedom in the marketplace for labor,” said Stanford. “It safeguards the freedom of workers to seek new jobs without undue interference from their current employer, and the freedom of consumers to follow their favorite car mechanic, ...

OLYMPIA — The Legislature on Thursday passed the supplemental transportation budget (HB 2134), a $14.6 billion plan which prioritizes public safety, preservation and maintenance of existing infrastructure and investments in the ferry system.   “After a thorough negotiation process, I am happy that both chambers came to an agreement about this year’s supplemental transportation budget,” said Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), chair of the House Transportation Committee.  “The health of our transportation system is vital to the health of our overall economy,” said Senate Transportation Chair Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds). “I’m proud of ...

OLYMPIA – Budget leaders in both chambers unveiled an agreed-to budget that puts Washington’s families and students first. The supplemental budget, which builds on last year’s biennial budget, also makes the state’s biggest commitment ever in combating substance use disorder in our communities – a priority for Democrats in both chambers. Supplemental budgets traditionally roll out to lower fanfare and often address minor tweaks and adjustments where necessary. But Democrats identified needs in communities across the state and directed funding to ensure no one is left behind as the state continues to support families and individuals recovering from ...

OLYMPIA—Leaders in the House and Senate today announced their final agreement on the state’s supplemental capital budget for 2024. The $1.3 billion budget funds construction projects and infrastructure across Washington and makes major investments in school construction, behavioral health facilities, and affordable housing construction.   Details of the budget are available on fiscal.wa.gov.  “I’m very proud of how we were able to come together and propose a budget that makes significant progress on so many of the important challenges facing Washington right now – schools, behavioral health, and housing,” said Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah), vice ...

OLYMPIA — Sen. Karen Keiser announced today on the Senate floor that she will retire later this year. “It has been my privilege to serve the people of the 33^rd Legislative District and the people of the State of Washington for the last 29 years,” said Keiser (D-Des Moines), the most senior member of the Senate. “I am in awe at the amazing progress we have made together in this institution over the last few decades.” Appointed to fill an open seat in the Washington State House of Representatives in 1995, Keiser ran and won her first election in ...