News Releases
Friends and neighbors, This year’s legislative session included several important new laws and investments for our community here in Spokane and across the state. I’ve had the opportunity to discuss some of these major developments over the last few weeks, and I want to share these links to news stories and television coverage where you can learn more:
Pictured above: Cutting ...Read More
Friends and neighbors, The 2026 legislative session officially adjourned last Thursday in Olympia. During the 60-day session, we made important progress to move Spokane and the state forward. It was another challenging budget year, but I’m proud the Legislature took a balanced approach while also making historic progress to fix our state’s upside-down tax code. We also took several key steps to ...
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Dear friends and neighbors, As this year’s legislative session approaches its final weeks, I want to share a brief video update highlighting key investments included in the proposed operating, capital, and transportation budgets. These proposals reflect our continued commitment to strengthening communities across Spokane and throughout our region. I remain focused on securing meaningful state investments that improve lives and support ...
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Dear friends and neighbors, Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our 3rd District telephone town hall earlier this week. We received several thoughtful questions for myself and Representatives Natasha Hill and Timm Ormsby. A robust democracy can only exist with an active and engaged citizenry, and I am proud to represent such an engaged community ...
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OLYMPIA – Legislation to protect sensitive personal data in the statewide voter database passed by a 29-19 vote on Thursday in the Washington State Senate. Senate Bill 5892, sponsored by Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane), would ensure that confidential information like drivers’ license numbers, social security numbers, and full birth dates are not disclosed by county election officials. The bill ...
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OLYMPIA – Two key housing bills sponsored by Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) will receive public hearings on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Senate Housing Committee. Senate Bill 5884, the ‘Pavement to People’ bill, expands the sales and use tax deferral program to encourage redevelopment of vacant and underutilized urban property such as surface parking lots into housing. It would ...
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Dear friends and neighbors, In my time spent outside of the state legislative sessions, I work hard to stay connected with our community and listen intentionally. We held ‘mobile offices’ again this year, and I am grateful for the conversations I had at the Emerson-Garfield Farmer's Market and at Shadle Park Library. They help me better understand the ...
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OLYMPIA – Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) received the 2025 ‘Legislator of the Year’ award this week from the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) for his work in the Legislature to secure $8 million for the purchase of land to replace the Spokane Veterans Home.
“Our local veterans deserve quality health care and a stable, ...
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Dear friends and neighbors, I have been working for more than decade in the Legislature to end hunger and increase access to nutritious food in our community. That’s why I am so concerned that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are now disrupted due to the federal government shutdown. The roughly one in ten Washingtonians who rely ...
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