Chris Stearns has two distinct memories from his childhood in the late 1960s. The first is somewhat hazy: a crowded New York City picnic for white families who had adopted Native American boys and girls, somewhere at a hilly park. Mr. Stearns had never seen so many people — he was an onlyRead More

Two Republicans are seeking the position in the 47th Legislative District, Position 2 — Brian Lott and Ted Cooke. Neither made the case to replace the incumbent. Democrat Chris Stearns is the unequivocal choice. Before his election in 2022, Stearns was an attorney for a national law firmRead More

OLYMPIA – Between 800 and 1,500 Washington residents are sitting behind bars, serving extra time for their juvenile records – offenses state law says should not add additional time onto sentences for crimes committed as adults. Of those incarcerated people, 422 are Indigenous, saidRead More

Right now, 422 Indigenous people incarcerated in Washington’s state prisons are serving longer sentences because they were involved in the juvenile system as children. No one should be penalized twice for crimes committed when they were young. Our focus must be on healing and rehabilitation,Read More

Rep. Chris Stearns (D) HB 2211: Granting local taxing authority to fund criminal justice This bill, if passed, would provide a county legislative authority until Jan. 1, 2027, to impose a criminal justice sales and use tax without voter approval. It also would provide a city within a countyRead More

Prompted by a request from two state lawmakers, the Washington State Auditor’s Office will wade into why a state program designed to turn low-income renters into homeowners failed to do so. The audit will access the promises broken. With the use of low-income housing tax credits, WashingtonRead More

Lawmakers in Washington state believe a proposed $25 million effort to build a next-generation nuclear reactor is crucial to help reach climate goals. However, the proposal has sparked a debate, with environmentalists and Native American leaders expressing concerns the facility will do more harmRead More

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Leadership representing 20 tribal organizations in Washington state are among the voices pushing for a new law that could reduce sentences for inmates currently serving time. State Rep. Chris Stearns, a lawyer and member of the Navajo Nation, is advocating for a newRead More

OLYMPIA, Wash — A bill that would impose harsher penalties for sexually abusive jail and prison guards passed the Washington state Legislature Wednesday. The State House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass “Kimberly Bender’s Law.” The bill was prompted by a 2022Read More

(From left to right: Representative Chris Stearns (D-Auburn 47th), Nisqually Vice Chair Antonette Squally, Puyallup Tribal member and treaty rights activist Nancy Shippentower, and Nisqually Chairman Willie Frank III stand next to the maquette of Billy Frank Jr.) Seeing the design of aRead More