WA bans sale of AR-15s and other semiautomatic rifles, effective immediately
Washington has become the 10th state to prohibit sales of AR-15s and dozens of other semiautomatic rifles, as Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed the ban into law, effective immediately. Inslee also was set to sign two other major gun bills Tuesday. One will require proof of safety training and a 10-day waiting period for all gun purchases.The other will allow the state attorney general or private citizens to sue gun manufacturers and dealers under public nuisance laws if they negligently allow their guns to be sold to minors or straw purchasers. All three of the gun bills passed the Legislature on largely party line votes, with Republicans opposing them and most Democrats voting in support. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Elaine Thompson)
2023 session was ‘the year of housing’ for Washington Legislature
Lawmakers and advocates coined the Washington Legislature’s 2023 session “the year of housing.” Sunday marked the deadline to pass the last of an extensive batch of affordable housing, homelessness and rent protection bills. And while rental hike protections died in the final hours of the session, lawmakers approved millions to fund affordable developments while providing additional assistance for youth experiencing homelessness and more middle housing options. Continue reading at Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)
7 things state lawmakers did this session — and 1 they didn’t
State lawmakers figured to close out their 2023 session Sunday night by voting to reset Washington’s approach on illegal drug possession. But that didn’t happen. Instead, a compromise Blake bill sunk under the weight of bipartisan opposition, delivering a chaotic ending to a 105-day session in which protecting individuals’ lives, liberties and pursuits got invoked in many of the year’s legislative debates. This was the first in-person session in three years. Legislators wasted few moments, passing hundreds of bills for Gov. Jay Inslee to consider signing. Here are seven things they did — and the one big one they didn’t that could bring them back to Olympia for an emergency special session. Continue reading at Everett Herald.
Associated Press
Washington lawmakers pass two-year budget, end session
Aberdeen Daily World
State’s final capital budget includes $421M for local districts (Tharinger)
Axios
New Washington law makes medically assisted death easier to access
Capital Press
Pollution lawsuit could curb use of aerial fire retardant
Columbian
2023 session was ‘the year of housing’ for Washington Legislature (Bateman, Gregerson, Taylor)
Clark County legislators see bills, resolutions pass (Stonier, Wylie, Cleveland)
Washington Legislature increases support for free school meals (Riccelli)
Opinion: In Our View: Assault rifle ban step in right direction
The Daily News
What does recent court action mean for abortion pill access in Washington?
Everett Herald
Cities, county look to step in after state balks on Blake bill
7 things state lawmakers did this session — and 1 they didn’t (Berg)
Cabinet secretary visits Tulalip to listen to boarding school survivors
Oh what a final night as Blake fix fails and a GOP leader exits (Berg)
Comment: Carbon offset market is growing, but is it helping?
Editorial: Drug bill’s failure leaves law to cities, counties (Robinson, Dhingra)
Olympian
State to keep Legislative Building closed Tuesday until after Inslee signs weapons bills
Port of Olympia commission votes 2-1 to formally support state’s plan for Capitol Lake
Peninsula Daily News
Drug possession laws in limbo after House rejects Blake bill (Chapman, Tharinger, Robinson, Dhingra, Taylor)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Survey: 90% of WA health care leaders expect staffing concerns to stay
New Washington state program aims to curb carbon emissions
Seattle Times
WA bans sale of AR-15s and other semiautomatic rifles, effective immediately
King County special election: Vote on crisis care levy today
Tribe to fish for salmon on Elwha River a decade after dams fell
Inside the stunning fall of WA’s drug-possession legislation — and what comes next (Jinkins, Simmons, Berry, Pedersen)
Editorial: Call special session of WA Legislature to fix drug possession mess (Jinkins)
Skagit Valley Herald
Funding for Skagit County mental health, addiction treatment facility included in state budget
Sol De Yakima
Nueva unidad de casos sin resolver de WA se centrará en indígenas desaparecidos, asesinados (Lekanoff, Dhingra)
Spokesman Review
Washington legislators didn’t pass new drug possession laws in time. What happens now?
Getting There: Spokane’s City Line will be free for more than eight weeks after July 15 launch
Wilcox leaves post of top House Republican in Washington
With no solution to Washington’s drug possession law reached, local governments look to ward off ‘chaos’ with their own rules (Billig, Jinkins)
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Blue Mountain Action Council food pantry shifts away from federal COVID funds
Wenatchee World
State legislators finalize $85 million budget schedule for Confluence Parkway project
Yakima Herald-Republic
May 5 events planned around the region for missing and murdered Indigenous people
Vantage Bridge repairs will detour some I-90 traffic through Yakima starting in 2024
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Edmonds district says it’s facing $15 million budget deficit, proposing budget cuts
Road built to replace Alaskan Way Viaduct opening within 2 weeks
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington lawmakers pass two-year budget, end session (Pedersen, Pollet)
KUOW Public Radio
Expanded WA free-meal program headed to a school near you
Here’s what Washington lawmakers say is behind drug possession bill’s last-minute failure (Jinkins)
Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington state’s COVID-19 exposure notification app will end May 11
Legislative session ends as WA lawmakers pass two-year, $69 billion budget (Pollet, Pedersen)
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Secretary of State sits down with local college students
Whatcom tribes receive major grants for environmental restoration
Crosscut
WA legislature fails to pass new drug law; special session likely (Jinkins, Robinson)
MyNorthwest
Safety still a concern for Ingraham High School students, parents
New leader for WA State House Republicans selected Monday
Washington State Ferry summer reservations go on sale Tuesday
$60 million in environmental awards headed to WA state
11 Washington counties receive ‘F’ grades for air quality
Kent Mayor wants to keep tougher drug use laws, with legislation stalling
La Raza del Noroeste
El escritorio del gobernador es la próxima parada de legislación de Fey para ayudar a estudiantes sin hogar (Fey)