Mike Padden

Today is Day 72 of the 2021 regular session, which is scheduled to last 105 days and end on April 25. The pace of the session has picked up, with Senate bills moving (or dying) in the House, and vice versa. This week, we will see the majority propose its...

One of the most baffling things in this session is the majority’s insistence on raising and creating new taxes. Despite predictions to the contrary, we have continued to see additional revenue come into the state. In the largest positive quarterly forecast change on record, the March forecast released yesterday increased...

The 2021 legislative session is at the halfway mark. We spent the past week voting on legislation, moving toward yesterday’s 5 p.m. deadline for both chambers to pass their own bills – or they are considered off the table for the remainder of the session. …Unfortunately, the very troubling bills...

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are down, vaccinations are up and now is the time to reopen Washington and bring lawmakers back to Olympia, says Sen. Mike Padden. Pointing to technology difficulties during the remote session, the lawmaker on Wednesday attempted to address the matter to his colleagues during a point...

We’ve just started the eighth week of the legislative session. We are still keeping a busy pace, with several days continuing well into the evening as we take votes on a variety of bills. Many of the measures passed so far are worthwhile and reflect the needs of our state....

Spokane Valley lawmaker calls on the House to follow suit quickly OLYMPIA… Today the Senate voted 41-7 to approve Senate Bill 5054, a measure aimed at strengthening the state’s felony-DUI law and reducing the pain and suffering faced by victims of impaired drivers. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden,...

Uniform Public Expression Protection Act would restore critical free-speech protections Today the Senate voted 46-0 to approve Sen. Mike Padden’s measure to help protect citizens, whistleblowers and members of the news media from frivolous lawsuits aimed at stifling freedom of speech and the discussion of legitimate public issues. “The right...

Last week the Legislature moved on a number of bills – some good, but unfortunately, many not so good. On February 15, Senate Bill 5438 received a hearing in the Senate labor committee. The measure would create a benefit program for illegal aliens, who are not legally authorized to work...

In this legislative update I will tell you about some of the bills that survived this deadline, including some of my bills to help those with hearing disabilities, protect the public from repeat drunk drivers, increase affordable housing, address the nursing shortage, reform police use of force and defend the...