News Releases

March 1, 2021

OLYMPIA – Legislation passed today by the Senate would reduce environmental health disparities in Washington state and improve the health of all people in Washington using principles of environmental justice. Senate Bill 5141, also known as the HEAL Act, would address the disproportionate exposure of Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, along with low-income communities to ...

January 14, 2021

OLYMPIA – Senate Bill 5141, also known as the HEAL Act and introduced by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) this week, would reduce environmental health disparities in Washington state and improve the health of all Washington state residents using principles of environmental justice. Studies have found that people of color and low-income people are disproportionately exposed to environmental ...

August 18, 2020

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) issued the statement below following the announcement today by the Postmaster General that he will cease operational changes to the US Postal Service until after the November election: “I am pleased and relieved that the Postmaster General has agreed to halt changes to mail service. It is important that this be ...

OLYMPIA – Today, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law legislation prohibiting Washington state from contracting with private prisons. Senate Bill 6442, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), would prohibit the state from sending people to for-profit prisons outside the state. The prohibition does not apply to facilities for involuntary placement for mental health, substance use rehabilitation, juvenile rehabilitation and ...

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed into law a measure to explore giving access to unemployment benefits to those who become unemployed due to family caregiving responsibilities. Currently, unemployment insurance law does not allow people to collect unemployment benefits if they leave work voluntarily without “good cause.” The definition of what qualifies as “good cause” is narrow, and current ...

OLYMPIA - Hoy, el Gobernador Jay Inslee aprobó legislación que amplía el acceso a la asistencia pública para las víctimas de la trata de personas.  El proyecto de ley 5164 del Senado, patrocinado por la senadora Rebecca Saldaña (Demócrata-Seattle), amplía la elegibilidad para programas estatales de asistencia alimenticia, asistencia familiar y atención médica. Según la nueva ley, los no ...

OLYMPIA – Today, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a measure that expands access to public assistance for victims of human trafficking. Senate Bill 5164, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), expands eligibility for state food assistance, family assistance, and medical care services programs. Under the new law, noncitizens will be able to access these programs if they have ...

OLYMPIA – Hoy el Gobernador Jay Inslee firmó legislación para prohibir la discriminación basada en la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio, haciendo ley la prohibición. Proyecto de Ley del Senado 5165 (SB 5165), patrocinado por la Senadora Rebecca Saldaña (Demócrata-Seattle), agregará la ciudadanía y el estatus migratorio a la lista de características protegidas por la Ley en Contra ...

OLYMPIA – Today Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation to prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status into law. Senate Bill 5165, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), will add citizenship and immigration status to the list of characteristics protected by Washington’s Law against Discrimination. The change prohibits discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status unless a distinction ...