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Tuesday, February 27

Bill to curtail rent increases appears dead in WA Legislature
After a dramatic series of twists and turns throughout this year’s short legislative session, a proposal to cap annual rent increases is likely dead…House Bill 2114 would have limited annual rent increases to 7% but exempted new construction and certain landlords. It also would have limited late fees. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

How “Dreamers” could help ease Seattle’s cop shortage
Washington state may open up police and firefighting jobs to thousands of immigrants who are part of an Obama-era program that shields them from deportation. Making DACA recipients eligible could also increase the number of police and firefighters who speak multiple languages, helping agencies better serve immigrant communities, some state officials hope. Continue reading at Axios. (Lindsey Bailey)

WA legislative session 2024: Which bills passed and which missed vote deadlines
Washington’s lawmakers convened in Olympia on Monday and approved over 50 bills that will move forward to get a final full vote. Monday’s session was the cutoff deadline for bills to get a final Chamber vote, and four major pieces of legislation were dropped from consideration right from the start. Continue reading at Fox 13.

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Associated Press
US sues to block merger of grocery giants Kroger, Albertsons

Auburn Reporter
KC prosecutor’s office supports catalytic converter theft legislation

Axios
Rent hike cap looks dead in Washington Legislature (Robinson, Macri)
How “Dreamers” could help ease Seattle’s cop shortage

Bellingham Herald
WA state bill created to cap statewide rent hikes at 7% dies in Senate (Macri, Cleveland, Robinson)

Capital Press
Washington beekeeper: Insecticide ban won’t help pollinators (Liias)
Irrigator association’s study measures dam breaching disruption

Columbian
HomeShare Clark County, WA wants to pair renters with senior citizens who own homes
Biden administration taps $366M to fund clean energy for Native American tribes and rural areas
Residents in Hazel Dell mobile home park dealt losing hand after rent control bill dies in Washington Legislature

The Daily News
FISH of Cowlitz County reports demand increase
Rep. McEntire will be temporarily replaced by step-daughter
Biden administration taps $366M to fund clean energy for Native American tribes and rural areas

Everett Herald
Plan for 7% statewide cap on rent increases fails in Olympia (Robinson)
North Everett housing project plan gets taller with 15-story buildings
Comment: Focus aid on keeping youths in stable housing

Indian Country Today
Tribal leaders hail ‘historic’ deal to restore salmon runs

News Tribune
Editorial: A downtown park wallows in despair. For Tacoma, it was a bad idea from the start (Fey)

Olympian
WA state bill created to cap statewide rent hikes at 7% dies in Senate (Macri, Cleveland, Robinson)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Rent control bill dies in WA state Senate (Robinson, Macri)
Small businesses have a new reporting deadline. Here’s why.

Seattle Times
Bill to curtail rent increases appears dead in Legislature (Robinson, Mullet)
WA wants school districts to keep better track of truant students
FAA panel finds Boeing safety culture wanting, recommends overhaul
Supreme Court casts doubt on GOP-led states’ efforts to regulate social media platforms
FTC moves to block Kroger-Albertsons merger that could upend Seattle grocery shopping

Spokesman Review
Bill that would limit rent hikes, late fees for tenants across Washington dies in Legislature (Robinson, Billig)
As artificial intelligence aims to transform health care, soon your doctor may consult an AI algorithm before deciding on your treatment

Washington Post
The economy is roaring. Immigration is a key reason.
Biden convenes congressional leaders as federal shutdown deadline nears

WA State Standard
Plan for 7% statewide cap on rent increases fails in Washington Legislature (Robinson, Billig, Mullet, Van De Wege, Cleveland, Peterson, Alvarado)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Renton encampment shooting leaves 2 people injured
Bellingham mayor issues executive order over crime and drugs downtown
Swinomish Tribe saw an 80% drop in the salmon harvest. Now they plan to sue the EPA.
Four women go on the record about what needs to be fixed in Washington’s stripping industry

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New FAA report highlights ‘disconnect’ at Boeing surrounding safety culture

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle residents debate effectiveness of gunshot detection technology
Could Burien’s fatal crash lead to changes in Washington’s police pursuit laws? (Dhingra)

KUOW Public Radio
Washington rent stabilization bill hits dead end in Senate — again (Robinson)
FTC and 9 states sue to block Kroger-Albertsons supermarket merger

FOX13 TV
WA legislative session 2024: Which bills passed and which missed vote deadlines

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham will play a bigger role in rental inspections
Already common, e-bikes get official OK on Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham

The Stranger
Senate Democrats Stiff Renters for the Third or Fourth Time, It’s Honestly Difficult to Keep Track (Macri, Alvarado, Mullet, Van De Wege, Cleveland)

West Seattle Blog
SUPERMARKET MEGA-MERGER: Feds sue to stop Kroger/Albertsons deal

Monday, February 26

Snohomish County has the highest rent in the state. Could this bill help?
House Bill 2114, a proposal to limit how much landlords can increase their tenants’ rents every year, comes as rents across the state skyrocket. To afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in Snohomish County, you would need to work three full-time minimum wage jobs. If the rent stabilization bill passed, a $2,455 per month rent couldn’t rise more than $171 in a year. Continue reading at The Herald. (Ryan Berry)

House passes $14.3 billion supplemental transportation budget
The Washington State House of Representatives passed a supplemental transportation budget of $14.3 billion this week. Most of the increase is for the Department of Transportation. The increase is made possible by cap-and-invest auction revenues, federal funding, and Move Ahead Washington spending from available balances. The Senate is expected to pass its version of the budget on Tuesday. The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 7. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

Washington lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers
The Washington state Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to make harassing election workers a felony, three months after four county election offices received envelopes containing suspicious powder — including three testing positive for fentanyl — and had to be evacuated. Twenty-three states are considering bills addressing protections, according to the nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Gregory Bull)

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Axios
Washington’s prison population is down 30% since 2017

Bainbridge Island Review
Good, bad, but mostly ugly of the state’s ferry system
Frank statue a reminder of Boldt decision 50 years ago

Bellingham Herald
With just two weeks left in the legislative session, lawmakers will consider 3 initiatives (Frame)
Western Washington University plans to vacate, demolish several rental homes north of campus

Capital Press
Tribes, officials sign Columbia River Basin Agreement on Snake River dams

Columbian
Seattle’s Lake Washington getting warmer
Holocaust education requirement fails in Washington Legislature (Wellman, Hunt, Pedersen, Nobles, Wilson, Mullet)
Housing affordability dominates two town halls by legislators from 17th, 49th districts (Wylie, Stonier, Cleveland)

Everett Herald
Ninth-grade program gets money, initiatives to get hearings (Cortes, Lovick)
‘We cannot keep up’: Mill Creek Starbucks workers file for unionization
Snohomish County has the highest rent in the state. Could this bill help? (Ramel, Cleveland)
Sen. Murray seeks aid for Snohomish County’s fentanyl, child care crises
Meth cleanup at Edmonds motel-shelter made matters worse, report says
Comment: Federal cuts to wildfire crews may hit at worst time
Editorial: Wildfire threat calls for restoring full funding

International Examiner
New proclamation recognizes February 19 as Day of Remembrance for Japanese American incarceration

News Tribune
US government worried about Chinese ‘spy cranes.’ What does that mean for Port of Tacoma?
Opinion: Student debt saddles you for life. This would let you know what you’re getting into
Opinion: Solitary confinement is torture and Washington state needs to end it

New York Times
Supreme Court Hearing Free Speech Challenges to Social Media Laws

Puget Sound Business Journal
A generational tug-of-war is hampering the housing market
Opinion: Why we need pay transparency laws
Opinion: Increasing real estate taxes is counterproductive

Seattle Medium
Seattle Police Officer Who Struck And Killed Graduate Student From India Won’t Face Felony Charges

Seattle Times
Holocaust education requirement fails in WA Legislature (Alvarado, Wellman, Hunt, Pedersen, Nobles, Wilson, Mullet)
WA bill to eliminate child marriages may soon become law (Stonier)
SeaTac federal detainees grow desperate amid lack of medical care
WA’s public defender system is breaking down, communities reeling
WA bill to build community through neighborhood cafes faces roadblock (Lovelett)
WA public universities give applicants more decision time amid FAFSA woes
Could WA lawmakers end developments like this one: a massive warehouse project in South Tacoma? (Mena)
Editorial: Two WA gun bills are spot-on but a third is unfair to dealers
Opinion: Pass bill that would hold police accountable and make us all safer
Opinion: How we can halt the erosion of government transparency

Spokesman Review
From a neighbor’s farm to your table: Spokane food system gets state grant backing
A bill to preserve historical files and artifacts starts with Lakeland Village, which once was a school
Editorial: State may test out new ways to battle highway graffiti (Paul)
Opinion: Infants and toddlers need mental health support too
Opinion: Bill would help put check on police violence

Tri-City Herald
Financial literacy may soon be required in WA to graduate. Meet the Tri-City teen behind it

Washington Post
Sales of EVs slow as skeptical consumers turn to hybrids, plug-ins
U.S. launches probe into possible fraud by organ collection groups
Supreme Court hears arguments in cases that could transform social networks
Deal to dodge government shutdown appears to stall amid GOP policy demands

WA State Standard
Ban on child marriages in Washington could soon be law (Trudeau, Dhingra)
Governors, tribes ratify Columbia River Basin pact at White House signing ceremony

Wenatchee World
USDA allots $22 million to wildfire prevention in Washington

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
In Session: Rebates, rents, initiatives highlight legislature’s final weeks (Fitzgibbon)
State receives $75,000 to survey, document important sites in LGBTQ+ history
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center set for 35th annual ‘BE LOUD’ advocacy event

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
House passes $14.3 billion supplemental transportation budget (Fey)
State Legislature passes bill to ban child marriages in Washington (Dhingra, Stanford)
KCPAO decision to not file criminal charges in Kandula case sparks Seattle protests

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Yakima looks at funding options for crime-free rental housing program
Washington’s apple exports blossom again following India’s lifting of 20% tariff
White House, tribal leaders hail ‘historic’ deal to restore salmon runs in PNW region

KNKX Public Radio
WA state Senate moves to make harassing election workers a felony (Dhingra)
Budgets, initiative hearings top agenda in week 7 of Washington’s legislative session

KUOW Public Radio
Time, money runs low for asylum-seekers sheltering at Seattle area hotels
Week in Review: book bans, grade inflation, and the Seattle Police Department
Budgets, initiative hearings top agenda in week 7 of Washington’s legislative session (Leavitt)
Seattle police captain was moved to nights after suing chief. ‘Retaliatory act,’ her attorney says
Grocery worker protections move forward in Washington in preparation for merger disruptions (Fosse)
Cleared of felony, Seattle cop who killed Indian student Kandula could end up in municipal court

NW Public Radio
Institutions to help students navigate new FAFSA application
Study: as the climate changes, the desert Tri-Cities is actually getting cooler

FOX13 TV
Washington lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers (Dhingra, Leavitt)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Black History Month event brings organizers together, calls to action

Friday, February 23

A New ‘Holy Grail’ in the Housing Crisis: Statewide Rent Caps
Washington residents have converged in recent weeks on Olympia, the state capital, to lobby legislators about one of the most closely watched housing bills in the country: A measure that would cap residential rent increases at 7 percent a year. If it is enacted, Washington would become the third state in the country to adopt statewide rent regulations, after Oregon and California — and all within the last five years. Continue reading at New York Times. (Grant Hindsley)

Five takeaways from WA’s proposed 2024 budget
In the past week, legislators have unveiled their initial proposals on how to update the budget. You can think of the ongoing short session, which ends March 7, as the halfway mark in the state’s two-year budget cycle. “The new investments that we’ve been able to make in this budget are relatively modest,” said Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, about the Senate’s proposed operations budget, especially compared to recent budgets where the state had an influx of federal funds because of the pandemic. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Bill that would ban ‘stealthing,’ or lying about sexual protection, may soon become a law
Stealthing is the act of damaging or removing sexually protective devices such as condoms during intercourse without the consent of a partner. It is considered a form of rape in some countries. Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom already have laws banning stealthing. In the United Kingdom, the crime can carry a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. A bill moving through the Washington Legislature right now would make stealthing punishable with a $5,000 fine. The bill would also mandate the reimbursement of costs and “reasonable” attorney’s fees for the prevailing party. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Jesse Tinsley)

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Axios
Why King County’s youth jail won’t close by 2025, as pledged

Capital Press
Washington’s snowpack small; warm spring in forecast
Washington wildlife commission praised and panned at hearing

Columbian
Legislation requiring clergy to report child abuse stalls again in Olympia (Senn, Frame, Walen)
Chinook Indian Nation hails decision granting it access to land claim trust funds

The Daily News
Longview schools ditch past reading model for science-backed approach. So far, teachers say attention spans are up.

Everett Herald
Months after strike, nurses reach contract with Providence Everett
Jails had ‘immunity’ to lawsuits over overdoses — so her family settled
To save salmon from pollution, volunteers sample Everett’s stormwater

Indian Country Today
The 50th anniversary of the Boldt Decision is a celebration of Native leadership

The Inlander
A sweeping homeless camping ban that passed by 75% of voters in November isn’t being enforced — city leaders say it poses too big of a legal risk

News Tribune
Congressman’s speech on civility disrupted by protesters in Tacoma. Here’s what we know

New York Times
A New ‘Holy Grail’ in the Housing Crisis: Statewide Rent Caps (Jinkins, Alvarado)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon’s Seattle workforce is down by 5,000 since last year
Seattle construction industry shed thousands of jobs last year
Regulators likely to sue to block Kroger’s massive deal, report says
Companies with AI bots on their websites face unintended consequences

Seattle Times
Five takeaways from WA’s proposed 2024 budget (Robinson, Fey, Liias, Bergquist)
How a bill could affect health care consolidations, patient care in WA (Randall)
Why some King County home values dropped while taxes on them rose
Swinomish tribe files notice of intent to sue EPA over warming WA streams
WA lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers (Dhingra, Leavitt)
Once curbed in Seattle, tiny apartments poised for big boost from Legislature (Salomon, Reed, Hasegawa)
Editorial: Include all players in Mayor Harrell’s public-safety forum
Opinion: WA Cares is not the solution for the state’s graying population
Opinion: WA’s farcical ferry fleet

Sol De Yakima
El Distrito 15 podría tener nuevos límites electorales a tiempo para estas elecciones

Spokesman Review
Bill that would ban ‘stealthing,’ or lying about sexual protection, may soon become a law (Berry)
Highway work zone speed cameras could cost you a hefty fine, but lawmakers are considering different penalties
Spokane site begins checking drugs to reduce overdoses: ‘People will look at this as enabling, but we’re saving lives’
Washington State University faculty members publish open letter calling on WSU President Kirk Schulz, other administrators to step down
‘You pay rent and you don’t get to shower’: The conditions at one Spokane apartment building underscore some residents’ desperation for housing
Opinion: Bill would help put check on police violence

Wahkiakum County Eagle
Lawmakers propose minimum age of 25 for high potency cannabis purchases (Salomon, Keiser)

Washington Post
Air pollution tied to signs of Alzheimer’s in brain tissue, study finds

WA State Standard
WA Senate passes legislation pushing back on book bans (Nobles, Trudeau, Randall)
Legislators throw a life ring to Washington’s ‘other’ ferries (Fitzgibbon, Liias)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma Public Schools prepares for budget cuts
Protesters push back against Lacey’s plans for so-called ‘Cop City’
Gig workers split on who’s to blame for Seattle’s ‘PayUp’ law not working
Effort to bring high-speed rail line to western Washington remains on track
Gov. Inslee defends procedures at the state’s maximum security detention center

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
KIRO 7 investigates Kent police response times going up

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle gig workers urge app companies to lower fees
Does Seattle’s budget move signal a big change on regional homelessness response?
Snohomish County halts gravel yard work next to Mukilteo school over health concerns

KNKX Public Radio
WA state Sen. Sam Hunt to retire after 24 years in Legislature (Hunt, Bateman, Doglio, Billig, Jinkins)

KUOW Public Radio
Can rent stabilization help Washington residents?
Micro-apartments are poised to become legal in Washington state
Banning books in Washington state schools could become harder if bill becomes law (Nobles, Randall)
Will it be illegal for fertility doctors to secretly inseminate patients in Washington state? (Orwall)

KXLY (ABC)
Special Report: Unpacking the snowpack and the threat from climate change

FOX13 TV
Legislative battle over prison sentencing
Washington tribes push for legislative change over prison sentencing

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WTA seeks developer for affordable housing in Lynden

Crosscut
WA health officials throw away millions of pandemic supplies

Thursday, February 22

Pass bill limiting rent hikes to help stabilize households
About a third of Washingtonians are living as renters and many communities are facing an affordable housing crisis with frequent and sizable rent hikes. The Washington Legislature is poised to intervene to keep rent increases more manageable. House Bill 2114 is not rent control. Rather it would limit how much a landlord could increase rent charges to 7% each year, still almost double the recent rates of inflation. HB 2114 also addresses the economic pressures surrounding housing, with studies, including a Zillow-sponsored study, that found rising rents are pushing more and more people into homelessness. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Rep. Ortiz-Self: Tacoma’s private detention center is at it again. The pain won’t end until it closes.
The recent standoff between Washington state and GEO Group, the private company operating the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, is more than just a local dispute. It shines a spotlight on a deeply troubling national issue: the lack of transparency and accountability in immigration detention centers. This isn’t just about one facility; it’s about ensuring basic human rights are upheld, regardless of immigration status. The fundamental right to fair treatment and basic human dignity should never be contingent on immigration status. Washington state recognizes this, taking a stand for these fundamental rights. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Dean J. Koepfler)

Sen. Claudia Kauffman, Rep. Chris Stearns: Racial disproportionality in ‘juvenile points’ sentences
Right now, 422 Indigenous people incarcerated in Washington’s state prisons are serving longer sentences because they were involved in the juvenile system as children. No one should be penalized twice for crimes committed when they were young. Our focus must be on healing and rehabilitation, not punishment. House Bill 2065 would remedy that by giving those people the opportunity to have their sentences recalculated without double-penalizing people for juvenile mistakes. We urge our colleagues to support this necessary reform bill, so we can begin to rectify the vast racial disparities in our prison system. Continue reading at ICT News. (Martin Kraft)

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Columbian
Former Vancouver Fire Department captain sues city for negligence

Courier-Herald
Does climate change affect your health? Short answer — yes | Public

Everett Herald
Feds fine Everett test lab for alleged animal welfare violations
WA boost in student homelessness funding reaches more districts
Mining company ordered to stop work next to school south of Everett
How will climate change affect you? New tool gives an educated guess

Indian Country Today
Sen. Claudia Kauffman, Rep. Chris Stearns: Racial disproportionality in ‘juvenile points’ sentences

The Inlander
West Plains residents can now apply for free PFAS water testing from environmental agencies

News Tribune
Rep. Ortiz-Self: Tacoma’s private detention center is at it again. The pain won’t end until it closes
Opinion: Cougar trophy hunters in WA are desperate. It’s why they rely on ‘alternative facts’

New York Times
Abortion Shield Laws: A New War Between the States
Anti-Trans Policies Draw Scrutiny After 16-Year-Old’s Death in Oklahoma
Support for Teaching Gender Identity in School Is Split, Even Among Democrats

Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle proclamation confronts discrimination against Chinese Immigrants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small businesses twice as likely to face cyberattacks
Boeing replaces 737 Max head amid leadership shake-up

Seattle Medium
Seattle Reports Reductions In Street Tents And Homeless Encampments

Seattle Times
Seattle police officer who struck Jaahnavi Kandula won’t face charges
Seattle to take back part of Regional Homelessness Authority’s funding
Long-awaited drinking water testing available for residents near Spokane
Editorial: Pass bill limiting rent hikes to help stabilize households
Opinion: Higher reimbursements will help our mental health crisis in WA

Skagit Valley Herald
Schools running short of bus drivers

Spokesman Review
West Plains residents can now sign up for free PFAS drinking water testing
State hearing highlights divergent fortunes of WSU and UW in new era of college athletics
‘It’s going to be a long process’: Local leaders caution that federal fire aid will take time to arrive
Health district predicts more cases of measles following Spokane County’s first patient since 2015
Bill that would make financial education a high school graduation requirement in Washington passes out of committee (Ormsby, Riccelli)

Vancouver Business Journal
PAL of Southwest Washington receives major grant

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Catching up with Vashon’s legislators (Nguyen, Fitzgibbon, Alvarado, Fey)

WA State Standard
Two people honored with Washington’s top awards for civilians
How WA lawmakers are looking to improve K-12 special education (Pollet, Stonier)
Legislation requiring clergy to report child abuse stalls again in Olympia (Senn, Frame, Walen)

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee School Board undecided on Columbia Elementary closure

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Stand Together: A father and son talk about Black history, identity
Juvenile crime rates in Washington returning to pre-pandemic levels
Faculty at Washington State University say school is declining, points finger at leadership

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Former Boeing employee comes forward alleging he was targeted
SPD officer that hit and killed Jaahnavi Kandula in crosswalk will not face charges

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
200k pounds of debris removed from encampments along I-5 in Seattle’s U-District
Washington lawmakers explore bill to omit juvenile crimes from adult offender scores

KNKX Public Radio
Legislators throw a life ring to Washington’s ‘other’ ferries (Fitzgibbon, Liias)

KUOW Public Radio
Could a broken WA ferry system help cities grow more sustainably?
Some USDA programs have been mired in inequity. A panel’s final report offers changes

KXLY (ABC)
Faculty members at WSU are calling for new president, leadership
Free water-testing for PFAs is now available for West Plains residents
Gonzaga researchers win $850,000 grant to study wildfire impacts on drinking water in Washington, Oregon

NW Public Radio
Pollution causing problems for nighttime pollinators
About 60 people evacuated when potentially explosive chemical found at Hanford site laboratory
Mr. WSDOT — the man who’s helped make road alerts interesting and ‘artistic’ — is heading to a new job

FOX13 TV
Washington utility rebate proposal to support low-income families (Fitzgibbon)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: Whatcom farmers already sound stewards of water

Crosscut
Gas prices too high? WA residents may get $200 back for utilities (Robinson, Nguyen, Fitzgibbon, Liias, Billig)

The Stranger
The Five Anti-Trans Bills That Didn’t Survive This Session
Seattle’s LGBTQ Communities Demand Rent Stabilization (Pedersen, Cleveland, Mullet, Billig, Conway, Wellman, Hunt, Van De Wege, Jinkins)
King County Prosecutors Decline to Charge SPD Officer for Killing Pedestrian

Wednesday, February 21

WA Cares, if it survives, could benefit people who retire elsewhere
State legislators are advancing a proposal that would let Washingtonians access benefits through the state’s new long-term care insurance program, WA Cares Fund, even if they left the state for a new job or to retire. But the proposals are moving forward as WA Cares faces questions over its survival. A petition-backed initiative to the Legislature would make optional a requirement that most Washington workers pay into the program. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Gregerson state bill aims to improve immigration support
A House bill introduced by State Rep. Mia Gregerson, whose 33rd District includes parts of Kent, aims to modernize and improve support for immigrants and refugees arriving in Washington. House Bill 2368 is designed to support the economic and social integration of immigrants and refugees, as well as the basic needs, an issue that recently popped up in Kent when asylum seekers from Venezuela briefly settled at a local hotel before moving to a SeaTac hotel. Continue reading at Kent Reporter. (Legislative Support Services)

WA debates bill on ‘stealthing,’ or lying about sexual protection
House Bill 1958, prime-sponsored by Berry, would create a civil cause of action for the nonconsensual removal or tampering with sexually protective devices like condoms and dental dams, as well as for misleading someone about the use of such protection. The bill proposes monetary damages of $5,000 per violation, as well as the reimbursement of costs and “reasonable” attorney’s fees for the prevailing party. A 2019 study found that roughly 12% of women have experienced stealthing, with nearly 1 in 10 men reporting engaging in stealthing, according to a study conducted in Seattle. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)