Washington State Legislature

425 Stories

Government

Micro-apartments are poised to become legal in Washington state

A bill that would allow “micro-apartments” anywhere normal apartments are built has passed both chambers of the Washington Legislature.
Joshua McNichols
Government

Will it be illegal for fertility doctors to secretly inseminate patients in Washington state?

Washington could become the 10th state in the country to make it illegal for doctors to use their own genetic material to inseminate patients without their consent.
Diana Opong
Can WA legislators fix high rents?

It’s no secret that Seattle is an expensive place to live. A big part of the problem is high rent costs. In the past few years, local housing activists have pushed the idea of a rent cap. One version is getting a hearing in Olympia today on its way to potentially becoming state law. Mike Wilkerson, an urban economist and thedirector of analytics at ECOnorthwest, breaks down the different kinds of rent caps and where the proposed law would fit in.
Patricia Murphy

Clare McGrane
Politics

Strippers say Washington state is terrible for dancing. They want a 'bill of rights' to fix that

Washington’s ban on alcohol in strip clubs made it difficult to attract customers. That meant dancers paid higher “house fees” or “rent” to use the stage.
Monica Nickelsburg
Government

Washington's ferry system has a trust problem

Officially, the Washington State Ferries had a 99% reliability rating in January. But in waterfront communities hurt by too few boats and ferry-run cancellations, people remain skeptical. During the legislative session, elected leaders are working to address the problem.
Joshua McNichols
Does Washington state need an independent prosecutor to charge police with misusing deadly force?

This year, a proposal to create a new, independent prosecutor at the state level is advancing at the Washington Legislature. House Bill 1579 would establish a unit within the Attorney General’s office to pursue charges against police officers accused of misusing deadly force.
Amy Radil
Business

Washington grocery workers hope for protections if Kroger-Albertsons merger goes through

Grocery workers concerned about the Kroger-Albertsons merger’s impact on their jobs, are hoping a bill in Olympia will offer some protection.
Ruby de Luna
Politics

How will Washington state Democrats handle GOP-backed voter initiatives?

Washington state Democrats say they're closer to knowing which voter initiatives will receive hearings in the Legislature.
Jeanie Lindsay
Environment

Washington bottle deposit proposal fizzles out in Legislature

Washington state lawmakers proposed a bill that would create a bottle deposit program in the 2024 legislative session. While the bottle bill proved popular in committees, it ultimately did not have support on the House floor.
Dyer Oxley
Government

Is Washington really 'The Evergreen State'? The question remains

State lawmakers have launched efforts over the years to make "The Evergreen State" Washington's official nickname. Apparently, we've been using it unofficially for generations.
Dyer Oxley

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