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Sens. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) and Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles) will take on new roles following a vote of the Senate Democratic Caucus Wednesday.  Shewmake will chair the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, while Chapman will chair the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.   The moves come following the departure of former Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center), who was recently appointed to head the Department of Commerce by Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson.  “I’m honored to have been named chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee,” Shewmake said. “I’m ready to work ...

SEATTLE – Vandana Slatter (D-Bellevue) was selected by the King County Council Wednesday to replace former Sen. Patty Kuderer, who was recently elected to serve as Washington’s insurance commissioner. Slatter was sworn into office shortly after.  “It’s a privilege to serve the 48th Legislative District in this new role,” Slatter said. “I look forward to continuing to be a champion for higher education, workforce development, new technologies, and the health of our communities.”  Slatter was appointed to the House of Representatives in 2017 to serve the 48th Legislative District, which includes parts of ...

OLYMPIA — Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett), Senate Ways & Means chair, issued the statement below in response to the release of Gov. Jay Inslee’s budget proposal Tuesday:  “I appreciate Gov. Inslee’s thoughtful and future-focused budget proposal, which highlights both the progress we’ve made as a state and the challenges that lie ahead. His plan recognizes the growing costs of inflation, increasing caseloads for safety net programs, and the need to maintain critical investments in areas like housing, education, behavioral health, and public safety.  “While budget writers will need to navigate a difficult fiscal environment ...

KEY PENINSULA – Former Peninsula School Board president Deb Krishnadasan was appointed Wednesday to the Washington State Senate, replacing former Sen. Emily Randall, who was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Krishnadasan was sworn into office following a joint vote by the Kitsap Board of Commissioners and the Pierce County Council.  “I am honored to serve the 26th district,” Krishnadasan (D-Gig Harbor) said. “Having served on the Peninsula School Board for more than six years, I know policy must come from a place of listening to my neighbors — to teachers and nurses, ...

SEATTLE – Tina Orwall, who has served in the House of Representatives for the past 15 years, was selected by the King County Council Tuesday to replace retiring Sen. Karen Keiser. She was sworn into office shortly after. “It’s an honor to continue serving my community in this new capacity,” Orwall (D-Des Moines) said. “I'm incredibly humbled to earn the trust of my community and will continue to do everything I can to improve the lives of all people living in our district and throughout our state.” Orwall’s first year in the House was in 2009. Since then, she ...

OLYMPIA – Sen. Mike Chapman was sworn in Friday to serve in the Washington State Senate representing the 24th Legislative District, which includes Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties on the Olympic Peninsula.  Chapman replaces former Sen. Kevin Van De Wege who resigned from the Senate in October after serving in the Washington State Legislature since 2007.  “It’s a tremendous honor to take on this role and I am so grateful to the people in our community who trust me to do this work for them in Olympia,” Chapman said. “We have ...

OLYMPIA – The Senate Democratic Caucus voted Thursday to confirm committee leadership and membership positions for the 2025 legislative session. The 2025 session will bring eight new members to the Senate Democratic Caucus. Seven senators decided to retire or run for another office following the 2024 legislative session, and Democrats added a 30th member — Sen.-elect Adrian Cortes from the 18th Legislative District — in the 2024 general election. “Washington voters sent a clear message this year — they want quality public schools, affordable housing and health care, a clean environment, and safe communities,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen ...

TUKWILA – Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) will be the new Senate Majority Leader in the Washington State Senate, following a vote among Senate Democrats on Monday. Pedersen will take over immediately as Sen. Andy Billig (D-Spokane) prepares to retire after 14 years of service in the Legislature, including six years (2018-2024) as leader of the Senate Democrats. Pedersen has served in the Senate since 2013 and was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2006. In the Legislature, he has chaired both the House Judiciary and Senate Law and Justice committees. He has ...

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 ...