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The News Tribune
Washington State House Democrats
Leavitt bill to protect election workers signed into law.
One in four election workers experience abuse, harassment or threats, according to the Elections and Voting Information Center at Reed College and the non-partisan Democracy Fund. A bill sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, will continue the legislature’s work to crack down on these threats. House Bill 1241 makes it a class C felony to threaten an election worker in writing or in person. This builds on legislation passed in 2022 that made it class a C felony to cyberstalk election officials or threaten them through electronic communications.
Washington State House Democrats
Leavitt bill to help the vulnerable during extreme weather signed into law.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, to protect vulnerable individuals during extreme weather, has been signed into law by the governor. House Bill 1012, the Extreme Weather Protection Act, tasks the Washington Military Department with helping communities better protect their residents during extreme weather events.
Washington State House Democrats
Governor signs Leavitt bill – the Lucas Petty Act – to protect students from opioids and fentanyl.
The governor has signed the Lucas Petty Act (House Bill 1956) to educate students about the dangers of fentanyl and opioids. Opioids represent the largest percentage of overdose deaths in Washington, a staggering 68 percent. Nationally, Washington has the second-highest percentage increase — 65 percent — in fentanyl poisoning deaths over a one-year period.
Washington State House Democrats
Leavitt bills to support military families and veterans headed to the Governor’s desk.
The Washington state legislature has passed a series of bills, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, University Place, that will help veterans and military families gain access to resources, workforce training and physician assistant certification.
Washington State House Democrats
House passes Leavitt bills to support National Guard families and veterans with disabilities
The Washington State House of Representatives has passed a pair of bills that will help National Guard family members get workforce or college education and help non-profits serve veterans with disabilities.
Washington State House Democrats
Leavitt’s Lucas Petty Act passes the House unanimously
The opioid and fentanyl crisis has hit our communities hard. Sadly, a whopping 68 percent of overdose deaths in Washington are from opioids and fentanyl. Even more alarming, our state had the second-highest percentage increase—65 percent—in deaths from fentanyl poisoning over a one-year period.
Washington State House Democrats
House passes Leavitt bill to accelerate construction of affordable workforce housing.
The Washington House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation designed to address aspects of the housing crisis by building more affordable workforce housing at a faster rate. House Bill 1892, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, would establish a workforce housing accelerator program to be administered by the Washington Housing Finance Commission. The program would create a loan program to speed up affordable housing across the state.
Washington State House Democrats
Rep. Leavitt recognized as 2023 Outstanding Service to Veterans Legislator of the Year
Last month, Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-University Place) was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Service to Veterans Legislator of the Year by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) and the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA).
Washington State House Democrats
Leavitt Receives Multiple Appointments
Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, is privileged to receive five appointments: one appointment is to the Dept. of Children, Youth and Families’ (DCYF) Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice (WA-PCJJ); the second appointment is to DCYF’s Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC); the third is to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Education Standing Committee; the fourth is the Council of State Governments’ (CSG) Housing Committee; and the fifth is to the CSG Western Region Executive Committee.