OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed a 2018 supplemental operating budget (SSB 6032) that directs nearly $1 billion toward K-12 education to finally resolve the McCleary litigation and bring the state into […]

OLYMPIA – A package of bills to improve the lives of women throughout the state were signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The “Putting Women First” package runs the gamut from equal pay, […]

TUKWILA – Five bills aimed at increasing voting access, representative government and exposing hidden money in elections were signed into law Monday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The Access to Democracy package – which includes The […]

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed a bill to eliminate the fees that credit bureaus charge customers who want to freeze their credit reports to protect their personal information.

Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, sponsored […]

OLYMPIA — With Democrats back in control, Washingtonians saw a Legislature that fought for their values, putting the focus on issues that will leave a lasting, positive impact on people in communities throughout the […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate today approved an approximately $400 million property tax cut, giving homeowners a break on their 2019 tax bill to offset the large increase in this year’s taxes that was passed […]

OLYMPIA – Budget leaders in the House and Senate today announced a 2018 supplemental operating budget plan that will provide property tax relief while directing additional funding to K-12 education, mental health care and […]

OLYMPIA – The 2018 supplemental operating budget (SSB 6032) passed today by the Senate directs additional funding to make critical investments in education and mental health.

“Supplemental budgets were intended to make modest updates […]

OLYMPIA – A bill to eliminate the fees that credit bureaus charge customers who want to freeze their credit reports to protect their personal information is headed to the governor following passage yesterday by […]

Property owners might be wise to delay paying their 2018 property taxes until after the close of the 2018 legislative session in March, Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, said today.

“Democrats are working hard […]

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats unveiled their 2018 supplemental operating budget plan on Monday—a budget that will cut property taxes by $403 million while still meeting the critical needs of our state with significant investments […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate yesterday unanimously passed legislation introduced by Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, to provide property tax relief to those who can least afford an increase—senior citizens, persons […]

OLYMPIA – With lightning-fast Internet and 5G service just around the corner, the Washington Senate approved a sweeping bill Wednesday that paves the way for expansion of high-speed broadband services in rural and underserved […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate today overwhelmingly approved three bipartisan measures to help children and youth who are in foster care or experiencing homelessness.

Senate Bills 6222 and 6223, sponsored by Sen. Reuven Carlyle, […]

OLYMPIA — Legislators will be holding town hall meetings with constituents in person across the state in February. Town hall meetings are chance for community members to meet with their state leaders, ask questions, […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate today passed legislation introduced by Sen. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, to implement automatic voter registration at Washington state agencies.

“Voting is a right, not a privilege,” Hunt said. “We need to make […]

OLYMPIA – Sen. Bob Hasegawa’s, D-Beacon-Hill, released the following statement today following passage of legislation to allow non-residents to receive compensation in wrongful death incidents.

“Washington is one of three states in the nation that […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate today passed legislation introduced by Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, to increase protections for victims of domestic violence.

Senate Bill 6298 would add harassment to the list of domestic violence crimes […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate today passed legislation introduced by Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, to bring state law into the 21st century and help protect our children.

Washington law currently makes no distinction between minors who […]

OLYMPIA — Future legislative proposals will be assessed for disproportionate or unintended impacts on racial and ethnic populations, under legislation passed today by the Senate.

“Passing this bill is an important step towards understanding if […]

OLYMPIA – Landmark legislation to phase out detention of minors for status offenses such as truancy, running away from home, and other non-criminal behavior today passed out of the Washington state Senate.

Washington currently incarcerates […]

Watch Sen. Reuven Carlyle’s remarks on Thursday as chair of the Senate Energy, Environment & Technology Committee ahead of its vote on Thursday on Senate Bill 6203, Gov. Jay Inslee’s carbon tax proposal.

“The […]

OLYMPIA — As we reach the mid-point of the 2018 session, Senate Democrats remain focused on policies that put people first. Last week, the Senate passed several measures that protect and improve women’s health […]

OLYMPIA – A bill designed to expand access to broadband services in rural communities throughout the state was approved Thursday by the Senate Energy, Environment and Technology Committee.

Senate Bill 5935, sponsored by Sen. […]

OLYMPIA — As the midpoint of the 60-day session approaches, Senate Democrats continue to pass priority legislation with bipartisan support, including votes last week to help sick Hanford workers, reduce gun violence, and expand […]

Watch Sen. Steve Conway’s remarks from the floor of the Washington Senate on Senate Resolution 8464 honoring Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel McCartney, who was killed in the line of duty on Jan. […]

OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats ended the second week of the 2018 session by passing a list of long-delayed priority legislation with bipartisan votes, including:

• $4 billion capital construction budget (Passed the Senate 49-0)
• Washington […]
  

The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee will hear three pieces of legislation sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

When: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Senate Hearing Room 4.

Where […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate today approved a bill to eliminate the fees that credit bureaus charge customers who want to freeze their credit reports to protect their personal information.

Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, sponsored Senate […]

OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson released the following statement after the death of former Gov. John Spellman.

“Gov. Spellman cared deeply for our state and devoted a large part of his life to […]

Last week Senate Democrats moved quickly on key policy priorities such as voting rights and equal pay — issues that had been bottled up by Republican committee chairs over the last five years. The pace won’t slow this week […]

OLYMPIA — The Senate Law & Justice Committee will hear several gun-related bills on Monday. Gun violence is a public health crisis in our state and nationwide, and it’s time to impose reasonable restrictions […]

OLYMPIA – A bill passed today by the Senate Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee would eliminate the fees that credit bureaus charge customers who want to freeze their credit reports to protect their personal […]

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats have introduced a package of higher education bills to ensure access and opportunity for all Washingtonians. The Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee will begin work to ensure DREAMers […]

The Senate Members of Color Caucus welcomes Senator Manka Dhingra; lays out an agenda focused on inclusion

A package of elections reform bills to reduce barriers, increase transparency and boost turnout in elections statewide will be heard Wednesday by the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee.

Senate Transportation Chairman Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, issued the statement below following today’s tragic passenger train derailment near DuPont, WA:

OLYMPIA – Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Kitsap County, incoming chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, released the following statement after the release of the governor’s 2018 operating supplemental budget proposal.

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats offered a preview of their 2018 legislative agenda Thursday with the introduction of several bills during the start of the pre-filing period.

SEATTLE – Manka Dhingra was sworn in Wednesday as the state senator for the 45th Legislative District. Dhingra’s swearing in gives Democrats a 25-24 majority in the Senate ahead of the 2018 Legislative Session.

OLYMPIA – Democratic leads on K-12 Education on Wednesday reacted to the state Supreme Court’s latest order on the McCleary decision:

OLYMPIA – Brad Hendrickson, a veteran of the Legislature with more than 30 years of service to the state, was nominated unanimously this week by Senate Democrats to serve as the next Secretary of […]

OLYMPIA – Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Kitsap County, was chosen to chair the crucial Senate budget committee, Ways & Means, on Monday. This appointment follows the 2017 election results, which shifted control of the state […]

OLYMPIA – Democrats in the state Senate on Monday announced new committee structures, members and chairmanships following a switch in control of the Senate from Republican to a Democratic majority.

OLYMPIA – Following the results of the 2017 election and a shift in the Washington State Senate from Republican to Democratic control, leadership within the Senate Democratic Caucus will continue mostly unchanged.

OLYMPIA – Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson released the statement below following the Trump administration’s announcement Tuesday it will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program:

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson issued the statement below on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the wake of the racist violence in Charlottesville, VA and the unacceptable and inadequate response from the […]

Originally published by the Center for American Progress’ Talk Poverty blog – July 31, 2017

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson issued the statement below following the conclusion of the 2017 legislative session:

Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, released the statement below following a four-corner agreement on a Capital Budget:

Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, released this statement today following a four-corner agreement late Tuesday on a Capital Budget:

OLYMPIA – In the final hours before a state government shutdown, the Legislature passed a landmark bill that adds billions of dollars to public schools in Washington state over the next four years. Passage […]

Key lawmakers say Democrats in the state Capitol will do everything in their power to provide Washingtonians continued access to affordable health care if the U.S. Senate should advance the bill that was passed […]

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson on Friday issued the statement below following a Senate Republican move to change their own two-thirds tax rule to hold an intentionally doomed vote on two tax bills with two […]

Senate Democrats today requested a formal opinion from Attorney General Bob Ferguson on the state’s ability to condition ballot access on whether presidential candidates release their federal tax returns.

OLYMPIA — Insurance carriers will be required to reimburse refills for birth control for 12 months at a time instead of monthly under legislation passed today by the Senate. Having already passed the House, […]

Last week Senate Republicans passed their budget proposal on a straight party line vote. The Republican plan eliminates local school levies and imposes a $5.6 billion, statewide property tax. Currently, our existing local property tax funds can be […]

OLYMPIA – Senate Democratic leader Sharon Nelson released the statement below Tuesday following the announcement of the Senate Republican budget:

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson released the statement below following the long-awaited passage of the levy cliff bill:

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson issued the statement below on the Senate Republican’s decision to adjourn rather than bring the levy cliff bill to the floor Monday:

Legislators will be holding town hall meetings with constituents across the state in March. Town hall meetings are chance for community members to meet with their state leaders, ask questions, and get an update […]

The members of the Washington State Legislature’s LGBT caucus jointly released the following statement on Washington’s commitment to ensuring all students have the right to a discrimination-free environment:

OLYMPIA –  The following is a statement from the Members of Color Caucus of the Washington State Senate 

The goal of ending homelessness is a noble one and must be addressed in a serious, evidenced-based way. The bill below takes a punitive approach to the problem of homelessness and does little to […]

OLYMPIA – The Senate Democratic Caucus on Monday delivered a letter to Majority Leader Mark Schoesler calling on Senate Republicans to pass legislation that would allow local school districts to […]

Seven months ago, eight lawmakers representing each legislative caucus were asked to examine nine outstanding questions related to the basic education funding problems that remain and make recommendations to the Legislature on what should […]

OLYMPIA – Democratic education leaders on Wednesday released final recommendations on a K-12 school funding package to ensure competitive wages for teachers and to resolve the McCleary case before the state Supreme Court.

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats on Wednesday announced their committee assignments for the upcoming 2017 legislative session.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Senate Democratic caucus held leadership elections on Tuesday, electing Sen. John McCoy, D-Tulalip as caucus chair, and Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynwood, as floor leader. Sen. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, […]

State Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, released the following statement in response to recent actions by members of the Senate Republican Caucus following the presidential election:

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson issued the statement below following Wednesday’s news that state revenue is expected to rise $334 million this biennium and $125 million in 2017-19:

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson on Friday released the statement below following the party-line passage of the Senate Republican budget:
“All year we have seen Senate Republicans focused on politics. Maybe that’s why their budget […]

Senate Democratic Leader Sharon Nelson issued the statement below following the unveiling of the Senate Republican budget: