They’re back. Here’s what to know as WA Legislature convenes for 2026 session
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins emphasized that Washington state will continue welcoming immigrants, also blasting the use of masks by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “That can’t happen here,” she said to applause from her caucus, adding that a bill to ban the use of face coverings by law enforcement, including federal immigration officers, would receive a hearing on Jan. 13. The state’s tax code, Jinkins continued, needs updating to ensure its fairness. She said that “nothing in politics is permanent,” be it good or bad, and that lawmakers are working to boost the good and stop the bad as quickly as possible. “That job feels more urgent today than it has in many of our lifetimes. And sometimes, it feels impossible,” she said. “It is not.”
Continue reading at The Olympian. (Liesbeth Powers)
Could Washington state sue over ICE?
Minnesota and Illinois have filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “enforcement surges.” The legal move is drawing attention in Washington state as ICE activity has increased over the past year, though not at the same scale as in those Midwestern states…Legal experts say Washington could plausibly bring claims similar to those raised by Minnesota and Illinois. Continue reading at KING 5. (KING 5)
WA court won’t stop counties from suing for public defense funding
The Washington State Supreme Court won’t stop Washington counties from suing the state for more public defense funding, the court has decided, ratcheting up pressure on the Legislature as its new session began Monday. On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to review a 2025 appeals court ruling that found counties had sufficient legal standing to sue. Friday’s decision means the appeals court ruling will hold and the counties’ lawsuit can play out, giving them some leverage as lawmakers debate funding bills. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)
Aberdeen Daily World
Mixed bag for Grays Harbor County government in state audit
Axios
Wi-Fi pilot to launch on Bremerton ferry
Why ICE agents face far less accountability than police
Bellingham Herald
These new laws and taxes just went into effect in Washington state. What to know (Gregerson)
Capital Press
Upper Snake reservoir system volume improves
Now is the time for immigration reform, lawmakers tell Farm Bureau
Washington tree fruit leader helps workers become supervisors, managers
Everett Herald
Editorial: A win for vote-by-mail, amid gathering concern
New Snohomish mayor shake-up eliminates director position
In Snohomish County, new year brings changes to health insurance
Comment: DOJ’s voter info demand a data breach waiting to happen
Federal Way Mirror
What’s on the agenda for Washington’s 2026 legislative session (Robinson, Ormsby, Jinkins, Fey, Liias, Pedersen)
Kitsap Sun
WA gets $181 million to support rural health care
SK Helpline now in new home, serving meals as well as emotions
Column: Emulating the ‘happiest country,’ in totally the wrong way
Ferry fixes restoring capacity on Bainbridge, 2 boats to Bremerton
New York Times
Food Prices Were Stubbornly High Last Year
Live Updates: Supreme Court Hears Challenges to Bans on Transgender Athletes
Olympian
They’re back. Here’s what to know as WA Legislature convenes for 2026 session (Jinkins, Mena, Doglio)
These new laws and taxes just went into effect in Washington state. What to know (Gregerson)
Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles City Council sets its legislative priorities
Jefferson County officials highlight legislative priorities for this session (Tharinger)
Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle housing market may be poised for shift
City braces for HQ relocation in major corporate departure
Seattle Times
Opinion: Here are real solutions to WA’s child care crisis
WA court won’t stop counties from suing for public defense funding
Microsoft swears off local subsidies as worry over AI power crunch looms
Renton eyes Auburn’s ‘accountability’ over ‘housing first’ homeless model
Editorial: Remain wary even as feds resume review of research grant applications
Skagit Valley Herald
Idaho murder victims’ families sue in Skagit County
Community protests ICE, demands justice for Renee Good
Washington Post
Trump seeks to quell data center rebellion
A West Virginia teenage trans athlete’s case goes to the Supreme Court
DOJ’s top civil rights prosecutors depart as office is cut out of key probes
Latest price data shows persistent inflation — a potential liability for Trump
WA State Standard
2026 Washington state legislative session begins (Jinkins)
Road damage from WA flooding to cost at least $40M
Democrats clash with Noem over new limits on oversight visits to immigration facilities
Many states considered safe for affordable housing saw the highest rise in rents, analysis shows
‘Teaching us how to grow with our babies’: How prisons allow mothers and infants to nest for months
Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunnyside to pay $1.1 million to settle state’s crime-free rental housing lawsuit
Broadcast
KING 5 TV (NBC)
Could Washington state sue over ICE?
Delta places order with Boeing for up to 60 787 Dreamliners
Gov. Ferguson to deliver ‘State of the State’ to Washington legislature on Tuesday
Jury finds Washington man not guilty of assaulting federal immigration agents during arrest
KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New bill would regulate Flock license plate cameras across WA (Trudeau)
Seattle-based FidaLab pays $2M to settle Medicare overbilling case
The CCA, ferries, and a highway user fee; key transportation discussions this session (Fey)
‘Record amount of babies and toddlers dying’: WA rep. pushes to change Keeping Families Together Act
KNKX Public Radio
Marvin Oliver’s totem poles are set to return to Steinbrueck Park
KUOW Public Radio
LISTEN: New year, new Washington laws, new legislative session
KXLY (ABC)
Hospitals implement visitor restrictions as flu cases surge across region
Washington legislature considers bill that would expand health insurance coverage for life saving treatments
NW Public Radio
Legislators get back to business in Washington and Idaho on Monday (Jinkins, Fitzgibbon, Scott, Liias)
There’s no glass recycling facility east of Washington’s Cascades. So, groups are shipping used containers to Portland, Oregon.
Web
Cascadia Daily News
Flood watch issued for Whatcom, Skagit after ‘excessive rainfall’
Only a fraction of water right holders filed court documents in 2025
Hearings this week could decide fate of controversial Bellingham development
InvestigateWest
HUD says homeless services program overhaul on pause after federal injunction
MyNorthwest
WA Legislature opens 2026 session facing budget crisis, tax fight (Liias, Fey, Pedersen)
The CCA, ferries, and a highway user fee; key transportation discussions this session (Fey)
The Urbanist
Op-Ed: How to Close Sound Transit’s 35-Billion-Dollar Gap Without Breaking the System
Washington Observer
Old friends?
Gassing up climate action
The “millionaires’ tax” it is
Student restraint and isolation (Callan)
New powers for the AG’s office (Obras)
Foreign national contributions (Fitzgibbon)
Stripmining strip malls for housing (Alvarado)
Rewriting the maps? Not happening (Fitzgibbon, Pedersen)
Legislative leaders snub Let’s Go Washington initiatives (Jinkins, Pedersen)
West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Tuesday info
CITY COUNCIL: Committee chaired by District 1’s Rob Saka expands scope beyond transportation