Legislative Update: Interim Meetings, Conferences, and Tours
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The 2024 session is almost upon us! This year’s interim flew by, and I am already gearing up for the return to Olympia. Since we adjourned...
Media Advisory: Current Crime Trends: Looking Beyond the Headlines
House Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committee to Host Work Session on Crime Trends with National Scholars and Law Enforcement Experts To get a better understanding of current state and...
Video Update: 2023 Session in Review
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Now that the dust from the 2023 legislative session has settled, we can review some of the major legislation passed in Olympia this year. The Legislature...
Legislature passes special session compromise bill on drug possession and addiction treatment
OLYMPIA— On Tuesday, the first day of a special session called by Governor Jay Inslee, the Washington House of Representatives passed a compromise version of Senate Bill 5536 after extensive...
Video Update: Opposite House Cutoff Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors, We have finally made it! This is the last week of the legislative session. Last week we passed the “Opposite House” cutoff. Bill that have not...
House Passes Bill to Address Addiction Crisis and Update Possession Statute
OLYMPIA – The Washington State House of Representatives passed an amended version of Senate Bill 5536 on Tuesday evening, updating Washington’s statute for possession of controlled substances and creating a...
Legislative Update: Floor Action, Protecting Reproductive Health Care, and Preventing the Adverse Effects of Climate Change
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The 2023 legislative session is now coming down the final stretch. Currently, we are back on the House floor full-time, voting on the bills the Senate...
Legislative Update: Budget Investments and Washington Hospitality Grant
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Thank you to everyone who showed up to the 45th District In-Person Town Hall at Lake Washington Technical College on March 18th with Sen. Manka Dhingra...
House Committee Amends Senate Bill to Create Comprehensive System for Drug Treatment and Possession
The House Community Safety, Justice & Reentry Committee passed an amended version of SB 5536, a bill ensuring access to pre-trial diversion, funding treatment and recovery services, and creating a...
Video Update: House of Origin Cutoff
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Thank you to everyone who turned out on Saturday for our 45th District In-Person Town Hall and who listened in last Thursday for our Telephone Town...
Legislative Update: Town Halls, Moms (& Dads) Caucus, and Empowering Students
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Last week we reached the ‘House of Origin’ cutoff. All bills that have not passed the House they were introduced in are now dead. We are...
Video Update: Protecting Children from Parental Abduction and Town Halls
Dear Friends and Neighbors, This week the Legislature started full time floor action. Over the next couple of days we will consider, debate, and vote on hundreds of bills. However,...
Legislative Update: Sentencing Reform Podcast, Childcare Workforce and ECEAP Expansion, and Town Halls
Dear Friends and Neighbors, This week is the “fiscal cutoff week” here in Olympia. Each year the Legislature sets itself a set of internal deadlines to keep the legislative process...
Video Update: Protecting Abused and Neglected Animals
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Last week, the House unanimously passed my third bill this year. House Bill 1234 is a badly needed update of our animal cruelty laws. I worked...
Legislative Update: Victim-Centered Trauma-Informed Responses to Crime, Health Coverage for Hearing Aids, and Getting Toxic Chemicals Out of Cosmetics
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The Legislature is now in full swing down here at the Capitol in Olympia. We will devote one more week to public hearings and votes on...
Video Update: Supporting Children Who Witness Violence & Working Families Tax Credit
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Children who witness violence are also victims of that violence. That is why I have proposed legislation to create a better system to support and heal...
Media Advisory: Bill to Limit Traffic Stops for Non-Moving Violations to be Heard in House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee Today
WHAT: Hearing on HB 1513, the Traffic Safety for All Act, House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry The Traffic Safety for All Act would improve public safety by...
Legislative Update: Climate Resilience, Senior Meals, and Legislative Page Program
Dear Friends and Neighbors, As the legislative session rolls along, take a look as some of bills that I am supporting this year. The Legislative Page Program is also back...
Video Update: Back in Olympia and How to Get in Touch
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The Washington Legislature is back in session, and we are meeting in person at the Capitol in Olympia! For the first time in two years, the...
Media Advisory: Criminal Sentencing Task Force Presents Final Report on Comprehensive Sentencing Reform
The Washington State Criminal Sentencing Task Force was formed in 2019 by the Legislature to undertake a comprehensive review of state sentencing laws. In a joint session of the House...
Video Update: Session in Review, Protecting Victims of Domestic Abuse, and Striking the Right Balance on Police Reform
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The Legislature has now adjourned for the 2021-22 biennium. In addition to passing the supplemental operating, transportation, and capital budgets, we enacted a transformative new transportation...
Legislative Update: Bringing Films Back to WA, Reducing Homelessness, and the Small Business Agenda
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Yesterday, the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and the 2022 legislative session is now finished. Most of this year’s session has again been held virtually, although some...
Video Update: Addressing Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder, Outdoor School, ADUs, and Preventing Hazing
Dear Friends and Neighbors, With the turmoil of war now gripping Ukraine, my thoughts are with the tens of thousands of Ukrainian-Americans who live right here in Washington State. I...
Legislative Update: Town Hall Video, Catalytic Converters, and Language Access for Prescription Drugs
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Thank you to everyone who attended our Virtual Town Hall this week. As usual, residents of the 45th District brought informed, insightful and topical questions, and...
Legislative Update: Move Ahead Washington, Doulas for All, and Virtual Town Hall
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Last week, Democrats introduced the Move Ahead WA transportation package. This 16-year, almost $17 billion package creates a sustainable, achievable future for our transportation sector. Move...