Rep. Drew Hansen

The widespread problem of derelict and abandoned boats and ships would be tackled with strengthened controls and more money, under a bill by Rep. Drew Hansen signed into law today by Gov. Inslee. The measure is designed to address the … Continue reading →

There are bill signings, and there are bill signings. The one for House Bill 1472 was one of the grander affairs of its kind, held “off campus” at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle and bringing together teachers, students and … Continue reading →

Flanked by students, teachers and high-tech execs at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Gov. Inslee signed a bill by Rep. Drew Hansen this week that boosts computer-science education in Washington state to prepare ambitious teens for the 21st-century economy. … Continue reading →

Small businesses will get help equipping employees with the skills they need to do their jobs better under a bill by Rep. Drew Hansen that was signed into law by Gov. Inslee today. House Bill 1247 makes it easier for … Continue reading →

Hello! This week marked the deadline for bills (other than budget bills) to make it through the Legislature, so I’m writing to give you a quick update what I’ve been doing in this legislative session. I’ve been focused on jobs—protecting … Continue reading →

The demand for computer programmers exceeds the supply available to businesses in Washington that want to hire them. That’s an opportunity that high-school students should take advantage of as they think about their future careers. But at the same time, … Continue reading →

High-school students would gain an added incentive to take computer-science courses and prepare for 21st-century jobs under a bill by Rep. Drew Hansen that won overwhelming bipartisan approval Tuesday in the state Senate. “This bill will help students train for … Continue reading →

The widespread problem of derelict and abandoned boats and ships would be tackled with strengthened controls and more money, under a bill approved overwhelmingly Friday by the state Senate. The measure, by Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, is designed to … Continue reading →

Military veterans would get help in pursuing higher education and, when needed, in making ends meet, under two bills by Rep. Drew Hansen that are on their way to the governor for signing into law. “These bills will help our … Continue reading →

The state’s job market would gain strength for the future under five bills by Rep. Drew Hansen that beat Wednesday’s deadline for House approval. The House voted 98-0 Wednesday for Hansen’s House Bill 1109, which calls for state community colleges … Continue reading →

The state’s job market would gain strength for the future under four bills by Rep. Drew Hansen that cleared the state House this past week. “There are signs we’re rebounding from the depths of the Great Recession, but we’ve got … Continue reading →

Protecting our state’s quality of life is the overarching theme of several environmental and natural resource-related measures championed by House Democrats. The House has advanced a package of bills protecting people and the environment from toxic chemicals and pollution, and … Continue reading →

In coming years, Washington state’s health care providers will see an influx of new patients through both the expansion of the Medicaid program and the establishment of Washington Healthplanfinder – our state’s online health insurance exchange. Today, the House of … Continue reading →

A half-dozen measures likely to brighten the state’s employment picture have cleared their first big hurdle to legislative approval with the active support of their sponsor, Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island. The bills all were approved without dissent by state … Continue reading →

A plan for keeping the state’s economically critical waterways free of rusting, sinking hulks won approval today from a state House committee. “This bill gets abandoned boats out of our waters before they sink and cause millions of dollars of … Continue reading →

The widespread problem of derelict and abandoned boats and ships would be tackled with strengthened controls and more money, under a bill heard Tuesday by a state House committee. The measure, by Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, is designed to … Continue reading →

Computer science courses would be strengthened and improved in schools statewide under a bill introduced in the House Monday by Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island.  “We have employers like Avalara, Paladin and the U.S. Navy who need computer science professionals,” … Continue reading →

In recognition of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. Hansen wrote the following article for crosscut.com. He also gave a speech on the House floor as part of the annual commemoration of the day.       Last … Continue reading →

Rep. Drew Hansen of Bainbridge Island has been named vice chair of the influential House Judiciary Committee in the 2013 Legislature by the Democratic majority. Hansen, a practicing attorney in Seattle, is entering his first full term in the House. He … Continue reading →

Democratic legislators succeed in efforts on new boat, Colman Dock, Kingston OLYMPIA – The transportation budget approved late Thursday night by the Legislature buoys prospects for maintaining ferry service between Kitsap County ports and Seattle, thanks to the efforts of … Continue reading →

Olympia – A group of Puget Sound lawmakers is looking to ensure passenger-only ferries continue operating in the Puget Sound. Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien) is working with Rep. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) and Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island) to keep … Continue reading →