News Releases

OLYMPIA – Legislation requiring auto insurance policies to have a right to appraisal provision, so insurers and consumers can reach a fair and timely agreement on the cost of a damaged vehicle’s losses was signed into law Tuesday. Senate Bill 5721, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), provides an unbiased way to resolve disputes, allowing consumers and ...

OLYMPIA – Unscrupulous lenders who are partnering with out-of-state banks to evade Washington’s limits on interest rates will have to cease their predatory practices or face sanctions, under legislation signed into law today. SB 6025, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), makes any attempt to evade the provisions of Washington’s Consumer Loan Act a violation of the act. “Our state’s Consumer ...

OLYMPIA – Public schools across Washington will be able to put more paraeducators in classrooms to better meet student needs, under legislation signed into law today. SB 5882 increases the staff allocation for paraeducators in the prototypical school funding model, unlocking dollars that schools can use to increase staffing, prevent layoffs, or raise salaries for paraeducators and some other support ...

OLYMPIA – Washington’s strong protections for workers against employer-imposed noncompetition agreements will grow even stronger under legislation signed into law today. SB 5935, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), increases protections for workers and consumers in response to real-life situations that have arisen since the passage of landmark 2019 legislation restricting the use of noncompete clauses in Washington. “This bill is ...

OLYMPIA – Public schools across Washington would be able to have more paraeducators in schools to better meet student needs, under legislation passed by the House Thursday on an overwhelming bipartisan vote. SB 5882 would increase the staff allocation for paraeducators in the prototypical school funding model. “Paraeducators are crucial in our public education system,” said Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), the ...

OLYMPIA – Legislation to block unscrupulous lenders who are partnering with out-of-state banks to evade Washington’s limits on interest rates has now passed both the Senate and the House unanimously. SB 6025, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell), makes any attempt to evade the provisions of Washington’s Consumer Loan Act a violation of the act. “Our state’s Consumer Loan Act does ...

OLYMPIA – The members of the Washington State Caseload Forecast Council have re-elected Sen. Derek Stanford (D-Bothell) as chair. “Planning for every new biennial budget begins with the work of the Caseload Forecast Council,” said Stanford, who has served as chair since 2015. “It’s crucial we do that work with the utmost thoroughness and attention to detail.” The Caseload Forecast Council is ...

OLYMPIA – Borrowers entering home equity sharing agreements, in which homeowners sell part of their home equity to an investor, would gain protections against companies trying to take advantage of them, under legislation passed Thursday evening. SB 5968 would regulate home equity sharing agreements under the Consumer Loan Act and task the Washington Department of Financial Institutions with developing rules ...

OLYMPIA – Public schools across Washington would be able to have more paraeducators in schools to better meet student needs, under legislation passed by the Senate today on a bipartisan vote of 37-11. Senate Bill 5882 would increase the staff allocation for paraeducators in the prototypical school funding model. “Paraeducators are crucial in our public education system,” said Sen. Derek Stanford ...