7 takeaways from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s inaugural address
Ferguson, a Democrat, took the oath of office on Wednesday in front of family, friends and lawmakers in a crowded House of Representatives chamber. The 59-year-old Seattlite began his new role after 12 years as the state’s attorney general. He is Washington’s 24th governor. In his inaugural address, Ferguson mapped out his priorities: building more housing, hiring additional police, protecting reproductive health care, and providing all public school students with access to free breakfast and lunch. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Ryan Berry)
WA lawmakers consider axing child care licensing fees
Senate Bill 5130, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way, would eliminate those fees. She said they can be a barrier as Washington battles a child care shortage. The proposal received a brief public hearing in Tuesday morning’s Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee meeting. An in-home provider must pay $30. A child care center must pay $125 for the first 12 children plus $12 for each additional child. The licensing fee for a center with 40 children would be $461. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)
A look at the Washington Legislature’s 2025 environmental agenda
The biggest environmental bill that could have been on the table for the 2025-2027 legislative session looks unlikely this year. It would have created a new Washington agency to be a watchdog of the state’s oil industry. Without the impetus of climate hawk Gov. Jay Inslee, the Legislature will shift from trying to tame carbon pollution to a list of less paradigm-shifting goals. Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (David Ryder)
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FULL TEXT: Gov. Bob Ferguson’s inaugural address (Jinkins, Davis, Santos, Callan, Reed, Mena, Berg, Senn, Pedersen, Nguyen, Riccelli)
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