Thursday, October 1, 2026
State News

Are Washington lawmakers about to tax storage unit rentals?

OLYMPIA - Washington Democrats are looking at taxing storage units as a way to help bridge the state’s multibillion-dollar budget shortfall and raise new money for housing.  House …

Falling student performance fuels school funding debate

OLYMPIA - Holly Koon struggles every day in her 9th-grade biology classes to help students achieve, but sometimes it seems like a losing battle. Chronic absenteeism, growing class sizes and fewer …

Committee proposed to redesign state flag

OLYMPIA - Is Washington’s State flag a relic of days gone by and should it be redesigned? A bill in this year’s Legislature says the question is worth considering and proposes …

Bill proposes higher fees for Discover Pass

OLYMPIA - It will cost more to visit a state park next year, if a proposal in the state Legislature wins approval. SB 5390, proposed by Sen. Derek Stanford, R-Bothell, increases the cost of a …

Washington lawmaker proposes regulations for self-checkout machines

OLYMPIA - Proposed legislation could change the way customers shop at grocery stores, as one Democratic lawmaker is pushing for regulations on self-checkout machines. House …

OLYMPIA - Legislation to update last year’s parental “bill of rights” initiative is heading to the Washington state House of Representatives amid a host of disagreements over what …

Why a WA lawmaker wants to collect data on cow farts and burps

OLYMPIA - The latest beef in Olympia? Cow burps, farts, and poops. Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that seeks to gather better data on the scale and scope of methane emissions released by …

Washington lawmakers renew push to make clergy report child abuse

OLYMPIA - Two Democratic state lawmakers are trying again to require clergy members in Washington to report child abuse or neglect, including when it is disclosed to them by a congregant during …

Washington lawmakers look for ways to build more housing in rural areas

OLYMPIA - Building more housing in rural parts of Washington is again top of mind for some state lawmakers. Bills to allow backyard cottages in new areas, to expand where developers can receive …

Debate revived in WA Legislature over unemployment benefits for striking workers

OLYMPIA - When workers go on strike, they’re often making a bet to temporarily lose their wages to fight for better ones.  This year, the Washington Legislature is again trying to …

Washington farmers want agritourism law reforms

OLYMPIA - Farmers across the state say regulations are getting in the way as they develop products they can sell directly to the public. From pumpkin patches to u-pick berry farms, the impacts …

Proposal loosens controls on birth control prescriptions

OLYMPIA - Insurance companies will be required to fill up to a 12-month supply of birth control pills, if a bill by Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, is approved.  “I experience …

OLYMPIA - Following an arson attack ahead of last November’s election that torched hundreds of ballots in a southwest Washington drop box, state lawmakers are looking at modest ways to better …

In tight budget year, pressure builds to boost WA school funding

OLYMPIA - Lawmakers have begun another hard conversation on what it may cost the state to amply fund basic education in public schools as required by Washington’s constitution. A state …

OLYMPIA - Washington’s recycling system may soon get a makeover.  A proposal to require companies to reduce unnecessary packaging and fund statewide recycling services is making its …

Reykdal says Washington risks lawsuit if school funding isn’t hiked

OLYMPIA - Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal warned Thursday that Washington is not living up to its constitutional obligation to cover the cost of basic education and faces the …

People think the state should reduce spending but some programs deserve more support, poll shows

OLYMPIA - Washington State voters want legislators to cut spending but also support spending more on specific programs, according to a recent poll. “People are not anti-government,” …

State and gun shop clash at WA Supreme Court over high-capacity magazine ban

OLYMPIA - The fate of Washington’s ban on the sale of high-capacity firearms magazines now rests with the state Supreme Court.  On Tuesday morning, attorneys for the state and a …

Goehner named ranking republican on Senate Housing Committee

OLYMPIA — Washington State Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, has been selected as the ranking Republican member on the Senate Housing Committee as he begins his first term in 2025, following three …

Burnett takes oath, receives committee assignments

OLYMPIA — State Rep. Brian Burnett, R-Wenatchee, was sworn in Monday during opening ceremonies of the 2025 Legislature, officially beginning his term representing Washington's 12th Legislative …

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