March 07, 2024

Legislature approves initiative restoring police pursuits, plus 2 other initiatives

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers March 7, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, This year’s 60-day legislative session is on track to end later today. During the past two days, the Legislature approved final versions of the state...
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March 06, 2024

Legislature keeps Padden policy in bill passed to combat impaired driving

With traffic deaths in Washington reaching their highest point in over 30 years, 4th District Sen. Mike Padden applauded the Legislature’s passage of House Bill 1493, a measure that would combat impaired driving and includes policy he has proposed for years. The final version of HB 1493 was passed tonight...
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March 05, 2024

Padden bill requested by Girl Scout to help pollinators passed by Legislature

Last fall, a Mount Spokane High School student working to earn a major Girl Scout award approached 4th District Sen. Mike Padden to help with part of her pollinator project. Several months later, what began as a request is now a bill to help bees and pollinators that has been...
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March 04, 2024

Padden applauds Senate’s passage of initiative restoring police pursuits

The Senate’s 36-13 passage today of Initiative 2113, which would restore police pursuits in Washington, is a major step toward making Washington communities safer, said 4th District Sen. Mike Padden. Padden, the Republican leader on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said I-2113 would help reverse the growing crime problem...
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March 04, 2024

Legislature OKs second Padden bill removing red tape from construction of smaller condominiums

For the second year in a row, the Legislature has unanimously approved a bill introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that helps encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier to construct smaller condominium buildings. Senate Bill 5792 would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are...
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March 01, 2024

Legislature OKs Padden bill that could lead to more psychiatric beds

The Legislature has approved a bill introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that would increase access to mental-health care in Washington. The House of Representatives last night voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 5920, Padden’s measure allowing the state Department of Health to create more psychiatric beds in the...
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February 29, 2024

Nearly 97% of those testifying on I-2113 support it

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 29, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, After constant pressure from citizens across the state, three of the six initiatives sent to the Legislature this session finally received public hearings before joint...
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February 23, 2024

State Senate honors former legislator Linda Smith

The Washington State Senate today passed a resolution honoring Linda Smith, a former state legislator and member of Congress who began and continues to lead a world and nationwide fight against child sex trafficking after she left politics. Senate Resolution 8680 is sponsored by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden, who...
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February 22, 2024

Three initiatives to Legislature to receive hearings next week

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 22, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, After weeks of no action on any of the six initiatives sent to the Legislature early this session, Senate Democratic Leader Andy Billig of Spokane...
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