News Releases - Sen. Kevin Van De Wege

Van De Wege bill would reform salmon fishing methods

by sdcadminFeb 03 20220 Comments

Legislation heard today by the Senate Ways & Means Committee would overhaul outdated state laws governing methods for catching salmon. “Our restrictions on fishing methods are badly in need of updating,” said Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim). “Improvements to pound nets and fish traps have been shown to be far ...

Van De Wege bill would bring consistency to emergency dispatching

by sdcadminJan 21 20220 Comments

Public safety would be enhanced by establishing certification and training standards for emergency dispatchers, under legislation heard today by the Senate State Government & Elections Committee. “Right now, standards and practices vary across the state,” said Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim), who is also a career first responder. “I don’t ...

Van De Wege bill would extend Public Records Act to state’s courts

by sdcadminJan 20 20220 Comments

All courts and offices in the state’s judicial branch would be subject to the same open records laws as the rest of Washington government, under legislation scheduled to be heard Friday by the Senate State Government & Elections Committee. Until 2018, when the state Supreme Court ruled that state lawmakers’ offices ...

Van De Wege bill would limit cougar hunting with dogs

by sdcadminJan 18 20220 Comments

Using dogs to hunt or pursue black bears, cougars or bobcats would be allowed only with the authorization of the state Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), under legislation heard today by the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee. “The people of Washington made clear in a 1996 ballot ...

Van De Wege seeks improvements to police accountability laws

by sdcadminJan 13 20220 Comments

Police accountability laws passed in 2021 would be improved in several areas by legislation introduced early this legislative session by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim). “Every year the Legislature passes laws that wind up getting adjusted and updated with clean-up legislation in subsequent years, and it’s no different with the ...

Van De Wege , Chapman, Wellman cry foul on Seattle crosswalk cameras

by sdcadminNov 29 20211 Comments

A trio of state lawmakers is uneasy that their constituents and other visitors to Seattle might unknowingly be recorded on camera violating a new law unlike any traffic laws outside the city limits. Beginning Jan. 1, Seattle will install cameras in up to 20 intersections and crosswalks to launch a pilot ...

Van De Wege bill to allow lower-cost generic drugs becomes law

by sdcadminMay 13 20211 Comments

Costly prescription drugs could become available to Washingtonians in the form of far less expensive generic products, thanks to legislation signed into law Wednesday by the governor. “It’s common knowledge that Americans pay far more for everyday prescription drugs than our neighbors to the north and south,” Sen. Kevin Van De ...

It’s the law: Van De Wege bill bans destructive seabed mining

by sdcadminMay 03 20210 Comments

Seabed mining, a growing industry that destroys natural habitat to extract minerals and deposits from the ocean floor, is prohibited in offshore Washington waters by legislation signed into law today by the governor. “This will ensure that our offshore habitat and marine life will never be subject to seabed mining, a ...

Van De Wege bill to maximize salmon recovery funds takes effect

by sdcadminApr 26 20210 Comments

Effective immediately, grants to boost the state’s salmon population are exempt from sales and B&O taxes. Senate Bill 5220, which took effect upon being signed today by the governor, codifies that nonprofits do not need to pay sales-and-use tax on grants for salmon recovery and extends the business-and-occupation tax deduction ...

Van De Wege bill to maximize salmon recovery funds passes House

by sdcadminApr 09 20210 Comments

Legislation passed unanimously today by the House will ensure that grants to boost the state’s salmon population cannot be subjected to sales or B&O taxes. Senate Bill 5220, which already passed the Senate, codifies that nonprofits do not need to pay sales-and-use tax on grants for salmon recovery and extend ...