News Releases

OLYMPIA — Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) has been elected to serve as chair of the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs, and Elections Committee, following a vote among Senate Democrats last week. Valdez succeeds Sen. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia), who will retire in January 2025 after nearly 25 years of service in the Legislature. “I am deeply honored to follow Sen. Hunt, whose tireless ...

OLYMPIA — A bill to provide meaningful help to victims of hate crimes and bias incidents in Washington state was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee today. Senate Bill 5427, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), establishes a support system for victims of hate crimes and bias incidents by creating a hotline administered by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) ...

OLYMPIA – A bill prioritizing the public safety of Washingtonians was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee today. Senate Bill 5444, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), expands upon existing legislation by including additional designated places where possession of weapons is prohibited. Among the newly added locations are public libraries, zoos, aquariums, and transit stations or facilities utilized for ...

OLYMPIA — Two bills aiming to strengthen Washington state's democracy and address concerning ballot rejection rates were signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee.  Sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), Senate Bill 5890 and Senate Bill 6269 represent a significant step forward in improving voter access and inclusivity in the state’s electoral ...

OLYMPIA — A bill to provide meaningful help to victims of hate crimes and bias incidents in Washington state passed the House on Wednesday.  SB 5427, sponsored by Senator Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), establishes a support system for victims of hate crimes and bias incidents.  Valdez’s bill would create a hotline administered by the Attorney General’s ...

OLYMPIA – A bill prioritizing public safety passed the Senate on Friday.   Senate Bill 5444, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), expands the list of public places where possessing weapons is strictly prohibited. Among the newly added locations are public libraries, zoos, aquariums, and transit stations or facilities used for public transportation services. The bill ...

OLYMPIA – A bill to enhance support for student athletes passed the Senate. SB 5913, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), addresses concerns regarding the Ethics in Public Service Act, ensuring public resources, including personnel, can be utilized by state higher education employees to benefit student athletes. The bill specifically allows them to provide advice, facilitation, acknowledgment, or education on matters ...

OLYMPIA— Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) reintroduced legislation aimed at providing support to victims of hate crimes and bias incidents. SB 5427, initially introduced during the 2023 legislative session, was heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Thursday.  It creates a useful hotline under the administration of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) for reporting hate crimes and bias incidents. The hotline ...

OLYMPIA— A bill addressing the use of synthetic media in campaigns was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee today. Synthetic media — also known as “deepfakes”— involves generating, manipulating, or altering data, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence and has become increasingly common in political campaigns, often with malicious intent. This practice can be used to mislead people or ...