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Hansen’s New Hope Act removes barriers; provides hope for second chance

OLYMPIA – On a bipartisan vote, the House Committee on Public Safety moved forward legislation today providing rehabilitated, formerly incarcerated individuals a chance to rebuild their lives after leaving prison.... READ MORE

Stonier’s student nutrition bill wins Senate approval

OLYMPIA – The Washington Kids Ready to Learn Act, sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, received a strong 43-5 vote in the Senate today and is one step closer to becoming law.... READ MORE

Net neutrality bill advances in state legislature

OLYMPIA – Protecting net neutrality in Washington state took a major step forward today with advancement of legislation by the House Committee on Technology & Economic Development. On a bipartisan... READ MORE

Small Business Tax Reform Proposed by House Democrats

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s tax code unfairly burdens small businesses and for years Democrats and Republicans have proposed changes. The underlying issue is requiring a business to pay taxes on... READ MORE

Bill protecting DACA recipients from losing college aid advances

OLYMPIA – On a bipartisan vote, the House Higher Education committee moved legislation forward today that would protect state financial aid eligibility for undocumented students. In particular, House Bill 1488... READ MORE

Car Tab Relief Bill Passes House

OLYMPIA – House lawmakers passed legislation that will return $780 million to car tab taxpayers by updating and correcting the way cars are valued for ST3 taxes. HB 2201 is... READ MORE

Capital budget means millions for JBLM, Western State, Lakewood, and rest of region

OLYMPIA – Local projects important to the region will finally get the funding they need now that the Legislature has passed the $4 billion capital budget from 2017. Lawmakers were... READ MORE

WATCH: Rep. Drew Hansen on the New Hope Act

Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, is the sponsor of the New Hope Act (House Bill 2890), which would provide rehabilitated, formerly incarcerated individuals a chance to rebuild their lives after... READ MORE

MEDIA ADVISORY: Public hearing on legislation giving formerly incarcerated individuals a second chance upon re-entry (HB 2890)

Who: Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, prime sponsor of HB 2890, and Tarra Simmons, law school graduate and formerly incarcerated person who successfully appealed the Washington State Bar Association’s decision... READ MORE

Honoring a lifetime of public service: House passes measure naming State Route 395 after late Speaker Tom Foley

OLYMPIA – Former Speaker of the House Tom Foley spent 30 years representing his eastern Washington district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He eventually became the first Speaker from... READ MORE