Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 9, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke signs landmark tribal legislation

OLYMPIA - Native singers from the Squaxin Island Tribe celebrated as Gov. Gary Locke today signed two pieces of tribal legislation sponsored by Sen. Margarita Prentice. The bills resolve key cigarette taxation and gambling issues between the tribes and state government.

"I'm pleased that Washington state and the tribes are taking the initiative to resolve longstanding issues with these two very significant pieces of legislation," said Locke. "I appreciate the energy the Legislature and the tribes have put into these bills and I'm glad to see us all working together."

SSB 5372 allows the governor, through the Department of Revenue, to enter into cooperative revenue sharing agreements with the tribes for the sale of cigarettes to non-Indians on reservations.

SSB 5905 provides a limited waver of the state's sovereign immunity allowing it to resolve in federal court, disputes with tribes that have gambling compacts with the state.

Washington is home to 28 federally recognized tribes. Federal recognition of an additional three tribes is pending. Twenty-five tribes have gambling compacts with Washington. The state has gained national recognition for the Centennial Accord government-to-government agreement signed with tribes in 1989.

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive