Category Archives: News Release

OLYMPIA — Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland) has been named Legislator of the Year by the Washington State Farm Bureau in recognition of his work in support of farm and ranch families across Washington state. Van De Wege, ...

OLYMPIA — A series of bills recently signed into law will sustain access to health care at rural hospitals, shield emergency dispatchers from potential distractions, assist small farmers who suffer crop damages, and create a memorial for fallen firefighters. All ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation on its way to the governor will require the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to produce maps identifying the areas of Washington state that face the greatest risk of wildfires and would most likely benefit from ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation headed for the governor’s signature will update state guidelines for mitigating crop damage caused by deer and elk, prioritizing relief for smaller farms. SB 5784, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland), raises the limits ...

OLYMPIA — Senate legislation passed today by the House will reduce the scope of wildfires by promoting the use of new technology to remove dead timber and other ground materials that help the fires spread. Having already passed the Senate, ...

OLYMPIA — Senate legislation passed late Thursday by the House will remove potential distractions for dispatchers who work with first responders to provide fast and effective assistance to people in times of emergency. “When there’s an emergency, dispatchers need to ...

OLYMPIA — Senate legislation passed late Thursday by the House would require the state Department of Natural Resources to produce maps identifying the areas of Washington state that face the greatest risk of wildfires and would most likely benefit from ...

OLYMPIA — Senate legislation passed unanimously today by the House will maintain levels of medical care in rural areas by allowing hospitals to hire highly trained, volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to provide certain medical care. Having already passed unanimously ...

OLYMPIA — Legislation to erect a memorial to firefighters who die in the line of duty was passed unanimously today by the Senate. Sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland), the bill passed in the ...