The bill is named after our client, Sam Martinez, who died in 2019 after a night of hazing at a fraternity at Washington State University.

The “Sam Martinez Stop Hazing law” increases the penalty for hazing from a misdemeanor to a felony. It’s the second hazing bill that Sam’s family has advocated for, with the first bill passing into law last year.

Sam would be graduating from college next week, and it’s heartbreaking that his family won’t get to see him do that.

Since his death, Sam’s parents Houtz and Hector Martinez, have fought to eliminate hazing.

Washington is now the 15th state to make hazing a felony. The bill made its final passage in the Senate three weeks ago.