The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today recognized Sen. Mike Padden with its highest public-service award for his “tireless and unending work to end tragedies related to alcohol abuse and DUI.” NHTSA’s acting chief, David Friedman, announced the honor for Padden during the 32nd annual Lifesavers conference being held in...

Sen. Mike Padden’s efforts to make Washington a friendlier place to do business took another step forward today with the signing of his bill to reform regulations concerning a new way of selling food. Senate Bill 6388 puts the state Department of Agriculture in charge of overseeing companies that offer...

A bill introduced by Sen. Mike Padden to help get fresh food to consumers with a minimum of governmental interference is on its way to receiving full approval from the Legislature. The House of Representatives easily approved Senate Bill 6388 on Friday; Padden said the Senate will agree to minor...

Senators hear from the public on ways to combat human-trafficking By Annaliese Davis Staff writer February 24, 2014 Human-trafficking is no longer an issue reserved for seedy back alleys in far-off countries. Recent estimates show that roughly 500 children are sold for sex every night in Seattle, and the Legislature...

The Legislature’s ongoing fight against human trafficking will move back to a familiar venue Monday afternoon: the Senate Law and Justice Committee, where a work session will focus on the challenge of identifying those who have been pressed into sexual slavery, and how they may be rescued. “Most people probably...

Sen. Mike Padden today assured members of the state’s Latino Civic Alliance that he and other lawmakers remain committed to the fight against sex traffickers. “After your visit in 2013 the Legislature made our state’s already-substantial laws even stronger, so law-enforcement officers would have even more tools to use against...

Washington State’s 4th District Senator Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, talks about Senate Bill 5156 – which has been approved by the Senate Committee on Health Care – that would require parents of underage girls be notified if the girls request abortions.

Sen. Mike Padden will devote the Senate Law and Justice Committee’s Jan. 29 meeting to public hearings on the two gun-rights initiatives before the Legislature. His panel will begin taking testimony about Initiative 591 and Initiative 594 at 1:30 p.m. that day in Senate Hearing Room 1. Padden, R-Spokane Valley,...

Washington State’s 4th District Senator Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, talks about the 2014 March for Life held annually on the steps of the state capitol building, as well as the effort in recent sessions to pass a bill mandating that insurance companies that provide maternity coverage also provide abortion coverage.