Newly appointed state senator Randy Gordon has wasted no time making himself known in the Legislature.

The Bellevue Democrat, who took over for Fred Jarret after the former Mercer Island lawmaker became deputy executive of King County, has introduced a bill to raise the interest rate on civil judgements from 2 percent to 12 percent.

The measure, which already passed the Senate with a 29-19 vote, aims to stop defendants in civil cases from using appeals as an investment strategy, Gordon says.

Under current law, defendants ordered to pay a judgement can file an appeal and invest the amount owed, thus earning interest beyond the 2 percent rate that pending judgements currently earn.

The bill exempts small businesses and charities with fewer than 50 employees from paying the higher interest rate, according to a press release from the Senate Democrats of Washington.