Public Safety

July 29, 2019

Inmate-health scandal at Corrections more evidence of Inslee leadership failure, say GOP senators

Padden will propose expanded package of reforms in 2020 session As yet another major scandal rocks the state Department of Corrections, Senate Republicans who have been urging sweeping reforms for the agency since 2016 say enough is enough, and it’s far past time that Gov. Jay Inslee show some leadership...
Read More
June 25, 2019

Accused rapist puts new sanctuary state law under the microscope

Last week, Brandi Kruse, a reporter for Seattle’s Fox Q13, tweeted: “If you’re an elected leader in our state who fought for sanctuary policies, be willing to step up and answer the hard questions when those policies hurt people. Not shirk away as if one woman’s pain and suffering is...
Read More
February 07, 2019

Podcast: Senator Mike Padden on longer “look-backs” for DUIs

Sen. Mike Padden wants the courts to be able to consider previous DUI convictions over a longer period of time – as long as 25 years.
Read More
April 03, 2018

Public-safety bills becoming laws

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
February 14, 2018

Padden school-safety bill passes Senate

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
February 09, 2018

Padden bill on police body cameras wins Senate vote, goes to House

Today the Senate unanimously 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 camera recordings and created the Joint Legislative Task...
Read More
February 08, 2018

Senate unanimously approves Padden public-safety bill restoring judicial authority to set pretrial-release conditions

The state Senate today approved a measure aimed at restoring judicial authority to set pretrial bail determinations and conditions of release. Sen. Mike Padden, the lead Republican on the Law and Justice Committee, sponsored Senate Bill 5987 to again let judges make “common-sense” decisions to save lives and protect the...
Read More
February 07, 2018

Padden school-safety bill clears committee deadline

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously late Tuesday to advance 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...
Read More
January 29, 2018

Padden bill on police body cameras receives hearing in Senate committee

Today the Senate Law and Justice Committee received public testimony on 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, the ranking member on the committee. In 2016, the Legislature passed House Bill 2362,...
Read More