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OLYMPIA – If a law enforcement officer uses excessive force, fellow officers would have a duty to intervene to stop it, under a bill passed today by the Senate. “I have had the pleasure of working with many law enforcement officers in my previous career as a senior deputy prosecutor, and the vast majority are committed to doing the right thing,” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), the bill’s sponsor. “They hold themselves up to a high ethical standard. This bill is about empowering our good officers to hold their peers to the same high standard.” SB 5066, ...

A bill aimed at restoring salmon habitat for Puget Sound orcas struggling to find enough food to survive was approved by the Senate by a vote of 28-21 on Thursday. Senate Bill 5273, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline), would require residential property owners to use an alternative that has the least amount of negative impact on marine life when replacing existing shoreline seawalls.

OLYMPIA – A bill that would protect pregnant patients’ access to health care during urgent medical situations was approved by the Senate by a vote of 29-20 on Wednesday. Senate Bill 5140, sponsored by Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), would bar hospitals from prohibiting health care providers from providing health care services related to miscarriage management and treatment for ectopic pregnancies.

“Women need to be safe, feel safe, and receive the best possible health care during pregnancy,” said Kuderer. “Pregnant patients should never have their lives put in jeopardy by having urgent medical care delayed or denied.”

The Washington State Legislature on Wednesday gave final approval to a bipartisan $2.2 billion COVID-19 relief measure to expand testing and vaccine distribution, provide support to schools, make grants available for small business, and help thousands meet basic needs with housing and food assistance. The bill (HB 1368) will now head to Gov. Inslee to be signed into law. “This pandemic continues to put strain on communities across our state, and these investments target critical areas that will help us defeat COVID-19 while building back a stronger and more resilient Washington,” said Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), chair ...

All businesses in Washington would see significant relief from unemployment taxes, including reductions in bills due in April, if SB 5061 is passed by the Legislature by mid-February. The bill, which passed on the Senate floor today with an overwhelming bipartisan majority, has an emergency clause and would take effect as soon as Governor Inslee signs it into law. [TVW link] SB 5061, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), targets relief to the most affected businesses and helps low-wage workers by raising their benefits. “This issue is urgent,” said Keiser. “Employers are seeing increases of 300 ...

OLYMPIA – The Senate Law & Justice Committee held a public hearing on SB 5038 today, which would prohibit the open carry of firearms or other weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol  grounds. [TVW Link] SB 5038, sponsored by Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), would also prevent open carry weapons within 1,000 feet of public demonstrations. Similar restrictions exist in Maryland, Alabama, and Washington, D.C. “The purpose of openly carrying a weapon at a protest is to intimidate people who are exercising their First Amendment rights,” said Kuderer testifying in support of ...

Former state representative Brady Piñero Walkinshaw was sworn in Friday morning as the Senate Democratic Caucus representative on the Washington State Redistricting Commission. Walkinshaw, who was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, joins Secretary Treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) AFL-CIO April Sims, who will represent the House of Representatives on the Commission and took the oath of office Monday. "I'm honored to be serving our state in this once-in-a-decade effort that's so vital to our democratic process," said Walkinshaw. "I look forward to partnering with my fellow commissioners to lay the foundation for ...

Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) released the following statement on Wednesday's events in Washington D.C. and Olympia: “We all have the right to protest, but we all also have a responsibility to not cross the line into intimidation or violence. Today at our state capital and in our nation’s capital, we have seen that line crossed. I condemn any violence, intimidation and destruction in the strongest terms possible. “I ask all elected officials, at all levels and of every political affiliation to join me in denouncing today's actions and to fully support a smooth and peaceful ...