New minimum wage, gun waiting period begin Jan. 1. Here’s what else takes effect in new year.
Washington residents will experience several changes at the start of the new year including a higher state minimum wage, and the effects of new laws that were adopted during the 2023 legislative session. Workers can expect other changes as well, such as a 4.9% increase in average workers’ compensation premiums for 2024. Jointly, workers and employees will pay an additional $65 per year for each full-time employee. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tony Overman)
More WA students will be eligible for college financial aid next year
Nearly 15,000 Washington students will be newly eligible to receive federal financial aid money in 2024 under a plan that also expands the federal Pell Grant fund and makes it easier to apply for aid, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said this month during a virtual news conference. The financial aid is awarded on a sliding scale based on a family’s income. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)
Washington caps insulin costs at $35/month. More reforms may come
In the United States, the average cost of insulin per unit is more than 10 times the price internationally. The price to consumers varies depending on the type of insulin and mode of delivery, but an analysis from the drug pricing website GoodRx found that per-package costs for mixed insulin — a combination of long- and short-acting insulins — ranged from $42.96 to $704.41, based on claims from October 2022 to September 2023. In Washington, a $35 cap on monthly supplies of insulin is now making the drug more affordable and more accessible to people who need it — and who were paying enormous sums previously. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)
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New minimum wage, gun waiting period begin Jan. 1. Here’s what else takes effect in new year
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