“We are still reviewing the court’s decision, but as I’ve said throughout this process, I believe the Legislature should continue to take steps toward greater transparency. Long before this decision came down, we started establishing an institutional infrastructure to help respond to public records requests, store documents and take other measures to increase public access. “We will be working with Senate administration and legislators in the coming days and weeks to ensure compliance with this decision.”
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Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) released this statement following the election of Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) as the Speaker-designate of the Washington State House of Representatives:
“I would like to extend congratulations to Laurie Jinkins on being elected the next House Speaker by her colleagues today.
“As an accomplished legislator and the first woman to hold the position, she will bring a vital perspective to leadership in the Washington State Legislature. I’ve enjoyed a productive working relationship with Laurie since we joined the House together in 2011. She has a long record of ...
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OLYMPIA – Derek Stanford was unanimously appointed state senator for the 1st Legislative District this morning at a joint meeting of the King and Snohomish County councils in Bothell.
“I’m excited to get to work in the Senate, and I’m grateful to the 1st District Democrats and to the Snohomish and King County councils for their support,” said Stanford (D-Bothell).
“It has been an honor to serve the people of the 1st Legislative District as state representative for the past nine years.”
Stanford was first elected to the House of Representatives in ...
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The state’s newly created state LGBTQ Commission will meet Saturday with stakeholders to discuss the commission’s initial steps, Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) said today.
Wilson’s Senate Bill 5356 was signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Jay Inslee, establishing a commission to identify concerns specific to LGBTQ individuals and apply those concerns to inform practices and policies at state agencies.
“Our state constitution promises to protect us against discrimination in its many forms, but not everyone receives those protections,” Wilson said. “Many people regularly experience discrimination and other challenges, including physical violence, based merely on ...
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Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig released the following statement Friday following the resignation of Sen. Guy Palumbo:
“Sen. Palumbo has informed me he intends to resign his seat in the state senate, effective today.
“Sen. Palumbo has done an excellent job representing the people of the 1st Legislative District and has been a particularly strong advocate on issues related to higher education, transportation, climate and energy.
“We will miss him in the senate but definitely understand his reasons for leaving as the job ...
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Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) released this statement following the adjournment of the 2019 legislative session, the first 105-day session to end on time since 2009 and the second year in a row the Legislature has adjourned as scheduled:
“In the two years since Democrats retook control of the Senate, we have worked hard to pass legislation that puts people first and ensures more people have access to a quality education, health care, clean air and water and create an overall better quality of life.
“We finished our work on time. We made sure ...
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OLYMPIA – The Senate passed the Transportation budget Sunday with unanimous support.
ESHB 1160 will now head to the Governor for his signature.
“This budget addresses the transportation needs of our state,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs, chair of the Senate Transportation committee. “This was a good, bipartisan effort to keep our promises and move our state forward.”
There are several highlights and new investments made as part of the $9.8 billion, two year plan including the continued delivery of projects first adopted as ...
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Legislation to establish a state commission to identify concerns specific to LGBTQ individuals and apply those concerns to inform practices and policies at state agencies is on its way to the governor to be signed into law.
“Our state constitution promises to protect us against discrimination in its many forms, but not everyone receives those protections,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 5356. “Many people regularly experience discrimination and other challenges, including physical violence, based merely on their identity or someone else’s perception of their identity.”
Wilson’s legislation will establish a state ...
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Legislation passed late Friday by the House would establish a state commission to identify concerns specific to LGBTQ individuals and apply those concerns to inform practices and policies at state agencies.
“Many members of our community face an extreme and disproportionate risk of violence, discrimination and other challenges based merely on their identity,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 5356. “This action is needed to ensure that LGBTQ people receive the same consideration and protections against discrimination guaranteed all other Washingtonians under our state constitution.”
The legislation would create a state LGBTQ Commission whose ...
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OLYMPIA – A historic bill to commit Washington to 100-percent clean energy from renewable and zero-emission sources took another step forward today following passage by the Washington House of Representatives.
Representatives voted 56-42 in favor of Senate Bill 5116, a centerpiece of Gov. Jay Inslee's 2019 agenda to take meaningful action on climate change and reduce Washington's carbon footprint.
Sponsored by Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle) and in House companion legislation by Rep. Gael Tarleton (D-Ballard), the bill requires all electric utilities in Washington to transition to a 100-percent, carbon-neutral electricity supply by 2030 and to 100-percent carbon-free electricity ...
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