The National Conference of State Legislatures selected Washington’s retiring House Majority Leader Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, for this year’s Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, the nation’s top legislative honor.

The National Conference of State Legislatures and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation make the award annually.

In her tenure, Kessler and others focused on a "One Washington" approach to unite all the regions of the state.

Kessler is the first woman to be the sole recipient of the award.

In 2007, Kessler received the Freedom Light Award from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association for championing First Amendment and open government laws.