Law & Justice

July 20, 2023

Four Padden-sponsored laws take effect July 23

On Sunday (July 23) many new laws passed this year by the Legislature will take effect. Four of these new laws are based on bills prime-sponsored by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden: Senate Bill 5033, SB 5058, SB 5096 and SB 5218. ‘Kimberly Bender’s law’ The law created by Senate...
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May 31, 2023

Honoring fallen soldiers during Memorial Day ceremony

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 31, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, I hope all of you enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend. While the three-day weekend provides a great opportunity for us to gather with family and...
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May 17, 2023

New drug-possession law is better but still does not go far enough to address state’s drug crisis

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 17, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, Although the Legislature concluded its 2023 session on April 23, its work was not finished. An important issue – passing a new law about possessing...
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May 16, 2023

Padden believes drug-possession bill passed by Legislature not strong enough to deal with state’s drug crisis

During a one-day special session today, the Legislature approved a bill enhancing penalties for possession of hard drugs, but 4th District Sen. Mike Padden was among the “no” votes in the Senate. Padden, the ranking Republican on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, believes the compromise version of Senate Bill...
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April 27, 2023

Legislature fails to pass bill addressing drug-possession penalties

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 27, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The Legislature ended its 105-day session Sunday night. As usually happens, the final days of the session focused on passing the final versions of the...
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April 24, 2023

Padden laments Legislature’s lack of progress to address impaired driving

The day after its annual session at the state Capitol ended, 4th Legislative District Sen. Mike Padden is criticizing the Legislature’s inability to pass a meaningful bill that would help combat impaired driving. “The Legislature missed a golden opportunity to start reversing the disturbing increase in traffic accidents caused by...
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April 13, 2023

Senate Democrats pass two bills that limit gun rights

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 13, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The rights of law-abiding Washingtonians to buy and use firearms took another step backward late last week when the Democrat-run Senate passed two measures, both...
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April 06, 2023

Senate unanimously passes Padden bill providing tax exemption for mobility equipment

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 6, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, Someone suffering from multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) or some similar ailment often must rely on motorized wheelchairs or other high-tech equipment to have...
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March 30, 2023

Governor signs Padden bill raising penalties for sexually abusive jail guards

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers March 30, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, I am pleased that my public safety bill that imposes longer sentences on sexually abusive jail and prison guards was signed today by Governor Inslee...
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