News Releases

  OLYMPIA – Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) has won a seat on the Senate Rules Committee, the entity that determines whether a bill will receive a vote of the full Senate or die in committee. “Education is one of our most important priorities, both for our children’s futures and for the overall health of our communities, but there’s tremendous competition in Rules ...

Two new laws signed today by Gov. Inslee will ensure the delivery of full childcare benefits for eligible households under the Working Connections Childcare (WWC) program and will improve teen parents’ chances of attaining the education and graduation credentials to position them and their children for more successful lives. “Childcare has never been more needed or less accessible than it is ...

Juvenile holding facilities may no longer subject teens to solitary confinement, except in extraordinary circumstances, under a law signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee. “Solitary confinement is damaging to youth. It traumatizes them and hinders their ability to learn, grow and reintegrate into society,” said Rep. Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds), the sponsor of House Bill 2277. “Subjecting kids to solitary confinement ...

A new law signed today by Gov. Inslee allows childcare providers the additional time some need to make remedial improvements that improve quality of care. Senate Bill 6483, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), updates the state’s Early Achievers rating requirements to allow certain childcare providers 12 months instead of 6 to complete remedial activities necessary to satisfy requirements. The ...

A law signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee extends to childcare facilities the same prohibitions on deadly weapons that apply to K-12 schools. “Our younger children deserve the same degree of safety as our school-age youths,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the bill’s sponsor. “Whether it’s school or childcare, when parents see their kids off in the morning, they expect them ...

The expansion of science-based, age-appropriate sexual health education to all public school districts and grade levels was signed into law today by Gov. Jay Inslee. “This curriculum has been taught in many of our school districts for years, but kids in other districts haven’t had access to the same information and protections,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the vice chair of ...

A bill requiring comprehensive sexual health education (CSHE) in all public schools by the 2022-23 school year received final approval from the Washington State Senate on Saturday, and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk to be signed into law. The Senate had previously passed the bill, but because the House passed the bill with an amendment, it required another vote ...

Legislation passed unanimously late Thursday by the House will ensure that a child who qualifies for 12 months of Working Connections childcare receives the full 12-month benefit. “If a household qualifies for 12 months of childcare, that’s what they should receive,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 6540. “The current system starts the clock as soon ...

Legislation passed today by the Senate will bar juvenile holding facilities from subjecting teens to solitary confinement. Having already passed the House, the bill now goes to the governor to be signed into law. “Solitary confinement is damaging to youth. It traumatizes them and hinders their ability to learn, grow and reintegrate into society,” said Rep. Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds), the sponsor ...

Legislation passed today by the Senate would improve teen parents’ chances of attaining the education and graduation credentials to position them and their children for more successful lives. “Helping a young parent complete high school results in a more successful parent and a healthier household,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), vice chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. ...