With the 2018 Legislative Session set to begin on Jan. 8, the new Democratic majority in the Senate has released a preview of their top priorities.
The top priority is to pass the Voting Rights Act, which has failed to pass the chamber for the past five years regardless of bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, according to the press release. Sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, the bill aims to create more civic engagement and better access to the democratic process throughout the state.
Other Democratic priority bills filed so far include:
• The DISCLOSE Act, a bill to improve transparency in elections by reforming the disclosure of secret money (SB 5991)
• A ban on bump stocks, the device used during the Las Vegas mass shooting in October (SB 5992)
• A bill preventing price gouging of prescription generic drugs (SB 5995)
• A bill encouraging the disclosure and discussion of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace (SB 5996)
• Breakfast After the Bell, a program aimed at reducing childhood hunger in our schools (SB 6002)
“These bills, although not a complete list of our agenda, are a good representation of the values of our state and our caucus,” Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson, Maury Island, said in a press release.
Bills for the upcoming session can be filed beginning the first Monday of December until the beginning of the session. Bills after the session begins are not considered to be pre-filed. To view an up-to-date list of all the pre-filed bills, visit app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/.
— The Reflector
