OLYMPIA — Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, issued the following statement after the latest state operating budget proposal removed a previously approved public defense funding provision and bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing Washington’s growing public defense crisis stalled this session. Earlier this session, the Senate approved a proposal dedicating seven percent...

OLYMPIA — Legislation introduced by Sen. Nikki Torres to address dangerous crash hotspots on Washington roadways passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support on Friday. The House approved Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6066 on March 6 by a 94–2 vote. The measure creates what Torres calls “crash...

OLYMPIA… Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, and Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, released the following statements after learning that Senate Bill 5977 will not be moving forward in the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 5977 would require the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to publish reports on child near-fatality reviews, bringing those...

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate today unanimously approved Senate Bill 5977, sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres, 15th Legislative District. The legislation would require the public release of child near fatality review reports conducted by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The bill passed the Senate unanimously,...

OLYMPIA — Sen. Matt Boehnke and Sen. Nikki Torres have introduced a comprehensive package of legislation to close dangerous gaps in Washington’s handling of less restrictive alternative (LRA) placements for sexually violent predators, prioritizing the safety of families, neighborhoods, and children across the state. “These are not abstract policy debates;...

The short legislative session is moving at full speed, with packed agendas and important votes happening early and often, and a coffee cup that gets refilled more than once before 8 a.m. With just 60 days on the calendar, every hour counts, and the pace in Olympia reflects that urgency....

Today Gov. Jay Inslee signed a measure sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres that is aimed at making Washington safer and supporting access to criminal justice. The new law joins three additional Torres-sponsored measures signed by Inslee since the 2024 session ended earlier this month. “I am pleased to see these...

Today the Senate approved two measures sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres that are aimed at making Washington safer and supporting access to criminal justice. Senate Bill 5160 would further define the crime of organized retail theft, a step the central Washington lawmaker says is crucial to protecting retailers and consumers,...