Law & Justice

March 04, 2024

Fortunato introduces updated immigration cooperation bill amid border crisis

Amid a national frenzy over immigration during the Trump administration, Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order that barred cooperation with federal immigration authorities for certain state agencies. Washington then became one of 11 “sanctuary states” with the passage of Senate Bill 5497 in 2019. That same year, Washington was...
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February 14, 2024

Legislature fails domestic violence survivors, no path forward for needed reforms

Earlier in the 2024 legislative session, Sen. Phil Fortunato, domestic violence survivors and advocates held a news conference outlining stark problems in the state’s family courts.  The package of bills aimed to train judges, provide more protections for abuse victims – mostly women and children – and set improved standards...
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January 19, 2024

Fortunato, local and national advocates push family court reforms

Flanked by victims and advocates at a news conference in Olympia on Thursday, state Sen. Phil Fortunato outlined his vision to reform the state’s failing family courts. Included in the package are bills aimed at training judges, providing more protections for abuse victims – mostly women and children – and...
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April 11, 2023

Protecting our Rights and our Children

Banning some rifles won’t protect kids, according to a state Senator, but increasing security at schools will. I voted against the Democrat “assault weapons” bill that passed out of the Senate, but first tried to amend the legislation. Among other things, my amendment would have spent $50million to improve safety...
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April 06, 2023

Senate Freedom Caucus ready for last stand in attack on Second Amendment rights

Senators remember Alamo, face overwhelming odds, prepare to defend U.S. Constitution As the Washington Senate readies for debate on Democrat-sponsored bills imposing severe new restrictions on gun ownership statewide, members of the Senate Freedom Caucus vow a last-ditch defense of Second Amendment rights. Members of the Freedom Caucus, a group...
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March 11, 2023

Second Amendment Watch

I want to thank everyone for sharing their concerns and any efforts being made to slow or stop these unnecessary infringements on law-abiding citizens. Here is a brief update on where some of these proposals are in the legislative process. I share the frustration and oppose efforts to further restrict...
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March 06, 2023

Fortunato calls Senate’s Blake solution ‘50% carrot & 50% stick’

This past Friday, state Sen. Phil Fortunato voted in favor of the Senate’s proposal to mostly fix the so-called Blake Decision drug possession fiasco. In 2021, the state Supreme Court issued its ruling on a 2016 case over the arrest of Shannon Blake for possession of drugs. Blake contended she did...
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February 09, 2023

More Restrictions on Law-abiding Citizens

My office is being inundated with constituents concerned about what is going on in Olympia with respect to our Second Amendment rights. I want to thank everyone for sharing their concerns and any efforts being made to slow or stop these unnecessary infringements on law-abiding citizens. I thought I’d share...
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February 09, 2023

Fortunato bill would restrict sex offender placement after Enumclaw debacle

Residents in the city of Enumclaw are outraged after learning that the state is placing unsupervised sex offenders in their community. As part of legislation that was approved in 2021, local jurisdictions have to provide what is called “less restrictive alternative” or LRA housing to accommodate offenders where they were...
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March 24, 2022

New gun restrictions signed into law

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a package of bills Wednesday tightening the state’s gun laws, including a measure that bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Washington joins nine other states, including California and New Jersey, that...
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