News

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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,... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

Video Update: Protecting Survivors of Domestic Abuse, Helping Small Businesses, and Giving Voice to Washington Workers

Dear Friends and Neighbors, This year’s “short” legislative session is at its halfway mark, and we’ve already accomplished a lot of important work. We are approaching the “house of origin”... READ MORE

House Passes Goodman Bill to Add “Coercive Control” to Definition of Domestic Violence

OLYMPIA – Legislation to add “coercive control” to the definition of domestic violence passed the Washington State House of Representatives yesterday. House Bill 1901, sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) passed with a bipartisan... READ MORE

Legislative Update: Opportunity for Washington Students, Government Leading by Example, Safe Staffing Standards, Feeding Kids, and Virtual Town Hall

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Growing Opportunity for Washington Students Our colleges and universities, apprenticeships and other credentials give students a path to a more secure future, and these options should... READ MORE

House Passes Bills to Clarify Police Reform Laws

OLYMPIA – The Washington State House of Representatives passed a pair of bills Friday afternoon to clarify portions of the police reform package passed by the Legislature last year. HB... READ MORE

Legislative Update: Session Kicks Off and Police Accountability Clarification Legislation

Dear Friends and Neighbors, This year’s legislative session has begun! For the next two months we will be hard at work drafting a supplemental budget and working on legislation to... READ MORE