Law and Justice

Public-safety bills becoming laws
April 03, 2018
A week ago I traveled to Olympia for the signing of two bills I sponsored. One bill concerned the use of body cameras for law enforcement and the other dealt with pretrial release conditions that trial court judges may impose. There are additional details about both bills later in this... Read More...
Governor signs Padden bills on police body cameras, public safety
March 27, 2018
Measures would clarify rules on body-cam use and restore judges’ ability to protect the public from drunk drivers and other potentially dangerous offenders awaiting trial Today Sen. Mike Padden joined the governor, members of law enforcement and concerned citizens at a ceremony at the Capitol where two of his public-safety... Read More...
VIDEO: The majority’s end-run around the initiative process
March 15, 2018
One of my chief frustrations this session was the way the Majority seemed determined to twist and torture – and sometimes completely circumvent – the constitution of the state in order to get its way. A key example of this was the Legislature’s response to Initiative 940 on police use... Read More...
Padden bill on police body cameras passes House, on to governor
March 02, 2018
Thursday, in a vote of 95-2, the Washington State House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 6408, aimed at clarifying the rules surrounding the use of police body cameras. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley. Legislation approved in 2016 established public-disclosure and other requirements relating to body-worn... Read More...
Padden school-safety bill passes Senate
February 14, 2018
Today the Senate voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 6410, concerning school safety. Under the measure, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, first-responders would be required to notify both public and private schools during any situation in their vicinity that would warrant an evacuation or lockdown. The bill would also create... Read More...