Biography

Sen. Tina Orwall, M.S.W.

Tina has represented the 33rd district since 2009. She was appointed to the Washington State Senate in 2024 after serving 15 years in the House of Representatives. Tina’s legislative accomplishments include:

• Rape kit reform, which resulted in finally clearing the backlog in 2023, and creating a trauma-informed response for survivors.
• Suicide prevention measures, including training requirements, K-12, higher education, Safer Homes, and implementing the 988 system in Washington.
• Anti-trafficking laws and protections for victims.
• Foreclosure Fairness Act and other consumer protections for homeowners.
• Criminal offenses and civil remedies to protect minors and combat the dissemination of fabricated intimate images.
• Improving language access in schools.
• Coverage for hearing aids and drivers’ education for deaf/hard of hearing youth.
• Ensuring accountability of assisted reproduction health care providers.
• Port mitigation measures, including air quality in South King County.
• Compensation for those wrongly convicted.
• Adoptee rights.

Tina has worked with all levels of government to help embrace best practices to better serve the community. Her 20 years of experience working in the public mental health system, as well as her expertise in strategic planning in workforce development and affordable housing, have established her as a valued legislator and community leader.

Tina is an active member of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, Honorary Rotarian, an appointed PCO, and a State Director for Women In Government. She has also served on the following: PTSA, Art docent, United Way Out of the Rain board, and Judson Park Retirement Community board.

Educational Background

University of Washington: Bachelor of Science Degree of Psychology 1988; and Master of Social Work in Administration, 1991.

Senate Leadership & Committee Assignments

• Senate Democratic Caucus Vice Chair
• Health & Long-Term Care Committee (Vice Chair)
• Rules Committee
• Human Services Committee
• Joint Committee on Veterans’ & Military Affairs
• Housing Committee

Legislative Appointments

• Washington State Institute for Public Policy Board of Directors, Co-Chair, June 2025
• Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Advisory Committee, March 2025
• Crisis Response Improvement Strategy Committee, July 2021
• Sexual Assault Coordinated Community Response Task Force, 2020
• Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, 2019
• Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE) Best Practices Advisory Group, 2015
• Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons, 2015
• Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee, July 2013
• Statewide Coordinating Committee on Sex Trafficking, July 2013
• National Conference State Legislators (NCSL) Veteran’s and Military Affairs Committee, April 2012
• Washington Consumer Foreclosure Remedies Fund Committee, April 2012
• Washington State Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, June 2011

Governmental Experience

Tina worked for the City of Seattle Office of Housing as coordinator for the Washington State Taking Health Care Home Grant, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She convened a Funders Group to coordinate funding between housing and service entities, resulting in the creation of 1,000 units of Housing First, low barrier housing for individuals who were chronically homeless.

She has also worked for King County and Pierce County governments, and was formerly active in governmental partnerships, including the Washington State Policy Academy on Co-Occurring Disorders, and the King County Veteran’s Group Consortium Steering Committee; Co-Chairing the Supportive Housing Alliance for Veterans (SHAVET).

Awards and Recognition

• Access to Justice Community Partnership Award, Access to Justice Board, September 2025
• Behavioral Health Champion Award, NAMI Washington, June 2025
• Disability Champion Award, Open Doors for Multicultural Families, May 2025
• Economic and Community Vitality Champion, Independent Colleges of Washington, March 2025
• Community Excellence Award, Muslim American Youth Foundation (MAYF), March 2024
• Hearing Loss Advocacy Award, Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), March 2024
• Behavioral Health Champion Award, NAMI Washington, August 2023
• Legislative Champion Award, Mental Health America, December 2022
• Excellence in Medicine Award, King County Medical Society, November 2022
• Legislative Award, National Association of the Deaf, July 2022
• ANEW’s Advocate of the Year, November 2021
• Behavioral Health Champion, NAMI Washington, June 2021
• Public Citizen of the Year Award, NASW-WA, March 2020
• Shero Award, National Organization for Women (NOW), Seattle Chapter, October 2019
• UW School of Social Work’s Moya M. Duplica Distinguished Alumni Award, October 2017
• Allies in Action State Award, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, May 2015
• Outstanding Legislator Award, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, November 2014
• Innocence Champion Award, Innocence Project Northwest, May 2014
• Washington State Psychological Association Legislative Service Award, September 2013
• Washington State Chapter of the National Association of Social Work Unsung Hero Award, September 2013
• Forefront’s Tina Orwall Policy Award for Outstanding Leadership in Suicide Prevention, September 2013
• Youth Suicide Prevention Program Hero’s Award, April 2013
• Parent Trust for Washington Children Laura Smith Brown Children’s Champion Award, November 2012
• Early Learning Action Alliance Gold Crayon Award, September 2012
• Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness King County Legislative Champions Award, July 2012
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Washington Legislator of the Year Award, June 2012
• Washington Mediation Association State of the Art Award, May 2012
• Tacoma/Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium Excellence in Affordable Housing Award for Advocacy, October 2011
• Statewide Poverty Action Network Legislative Champion Award, September 2011
• Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Housing Hero Award, June 2011
• South King Council of Human Services Kathy Keolker Leadership Award, June 2010
• Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Legislator of the Year, March 2010
• VA Partnership Award, March 2008
• Democrat of the Year Award, 2006
• Washington State Coalition for the Homeless Advocate Award, May 2004
• CODIAC Recognition Award, 2003
• DASA and MHD CODIAC Leadership Award, 2001