May 20, 2013

Governor signs Padden bill to encourage openness about autopsies

Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation that will let coroners and medical examiners be open – to the point of having immunity from liability – about their conclusions when talking about a death that occurs in connection with a law-enforcement action or inside a correctional facility. “This bill makes it...
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May 20, 2013

Signing ceremony caps work on Padden’s anti-trafficking measure

Sen. Mike Padden’s efforts to thwart those in the human-trafficking trade culminated today when the comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation he introduced this year received the governor’s signature before a crowd of supporters. “The people of our state, especially young girls, deserve whatever protection we can give them from those who view...
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May 16, 2013

Padden’s boating-safety bill ends voyage with governor’s signature

As more than 20 people looked on, many of them outfitted with life preservers for the occasion, the governor this afternoon endorsed Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to align Washington’s boating law with its motor-vehicle law when it comes to driving under the influence. “Boating is understandably a highly popular form...
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May 14, 2013

Padden pleased with committee’s unanimous support for DUI bill

This morning the Senate Law and Justice Committee unanimously backed a bill that would make sweeping changes in state law concerning the crime of driving under the influence. Sen. Mike Padden, committee chairman, is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5912. He said the measure has evolved significantly since the...
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May 14, 2013

Sen. Padden on DUI bill passing committee

Washington State’s 4th District Senator, Mike Padden, Chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, talks about the successful passage of his bill dealing with DUI penalties in Washington State. It’s next stop for consideration is the Senate Ways and Means Committee to determine what the costs will be.
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April 27, 2013

Padden backs measure aimed at protecting religious freedom

Sen. Mike Padden, a sponsor of the Religious Freedom Protection Act, said he’s supporting the measure because it would extend the state’s anti-discrimination laws in a way that should protect practitioners of any religion from discrimination. “State government has no business forcing someone to violate his or her deeply-held religious...
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April 26, 2013

Sen. Padden talks about autopsies bill, DUI legislation

Washington State’s 4th District Senator, Mike Padden, Chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, talks about the successful passage of his bill dealing with autopsies, as well as the future for his comprehensive bill dealing with DUI penalties in Washington State.
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April 25, 2013

Padden bill on autopsy findings receives final legislative approval

The Legislature has wrapped up its work on Senate Bill 5256, Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to make it clear that coroners and medical examiners may speak openly when talking about a death that occurs in connection with a law-enforcement action or inside a correctional facility. “For whatever reason – maybe...
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April 18, 2013

Padden optimistic about DUI bills but knows time to act is short

Rather than count votes, as he typically might when trying to move a bill through the lawmaking process, Sen. Mike Padden is counting days – as in how much time is left for the passage of bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the number of repeat DUI offenders. “The calendar is...
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