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Friday, March 10

Rifle ban, housing bills and more advance in the WA Legislature
Housing, firearms and drug-possession laws have all kept Washington lawmakers busy during the first half of the 2023 legislative session, with some surprising results so far. Washington may soon do away with some single-family zoning in cities to push back against the deepening housing-affordability crisis. The House has passed a ban on the sale of many semi-automatic rifles, in a historic first for advocates of tighter firearms restrictions. And the Democratic-controlled Senate advanced controversial proposals to reshape Washington’s drug-possession law and ease restrictions on when law enforcement can engage in vehicle pursuits. Washington’s 105-day scheduled legislative session is just past its midpoint, with a lot of big proposals in play. These and other big-ticket bills have survived a trio of deadlines that put them on a path toward Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)

Rep. Duerr: Sprawl is cheap for developers and costly for everyone else. This would help fight it
If we don’t change things, new homes and strip malls will replace farms and forests. People will spend more time sitting in traffic to get to work. Suburban sprawl is cheap for developers — and expensive for everyone else. It’s expensive for taxpayers who will pay more to build roads, schools, fire stations and other services where none exist today. It’s expensive for families and businesses rebuilding after wildfires, floods and rising sea levels. And it’s expensive in terms of our quality of life. Where we live, how we build and how far we drive are all related to climate change. In the last few years, our state withstood a catastrophic heat dome, aggressive wildfires, devastating flooding and a debilitating drought. That extreme weather will only get worse as the climate warms. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Washington House Democrats)

Biden budget has $250M for Lynnwood light rail
President Joe Biden’s proposed budget includes a potential windfall for light rail projects in Snohomish County. The budget includes $250 million for the Lynnwood Link light rail expansion from Northgate to Lynnwood. It would accelerate funding and could mean the project can shave $40 million in borrowed money when combined with last year’s federal boost for the Federal Way extension, according to Sound Transit. The federal infusion coming earlier would mean less money paid for other loans on the project, leading to the potential $40 million in savings. That cash could go toward other light rail extensions in development across the Sound Transit system in Ballard, Everett, Issaquah, Kirkland, Tacoma and West Seattle. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

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Associated Press
Washington state House votes to ban assault weapons (Farivar)
Washington Senate OKs bill to change police pursuit law (Dhingra, Lovick)

Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor jumps to 8.8 percent unemployment; 7th highest statewide

Axios
Ban on selling assault weapons clears state House (Berry)

Capital Press
La Nina steps aside after three-year run; El Nino on horizon

Columbian
Former state, Vancouver political leader Jim Moeller dies (Wylie)
Washington’s at-home COVID-19 testing program to end May 11

Everett Herald
Push to lower legal limit to 0.05 for driving drunk falls short (Lovick, Liias, Billig)
House Democrats push Washington closer to assault weapons ban (Peterson)
Biden budget has $250M for Lynnwood light rail

News Tribune
Rep. Duerr: Sprawl is cheap for developers and costly for everyone else. This would help fight it

Peninsula Daily News
Death with Dignity waiting period shortened in proposed bill (Pederson)
Swap in Lost Mountain Land Exchange increases access to DNR-managed lands

Puget Sound Business Journal
WA homeowners had nation’s 2nd-steepest equity loss last year

Seattle Medium
Tacoma To Seattle Light Rail Project Delayed Again
House Passes Entenman’s Student Basic Needs Act (Entenman)

Seattle Times
WA Legislature forges ahead on assault weapons ban, new drug law (Jinkins)

The Skanner
Washington House OKs Bill Requiring 10-day Wait for Guns (Berry)

Spokesman Review
Republican Legislators say assault weapons ban won’t hold up in court if passed (Billig)

Tri-City Herald
Walla Walla schools host Spanish book fairs
Survey: Walla Walla residents want glass recycling, retail options and more

Yakima Herald-Republic
State Senate approves bill to increase Astria Toppenish Hospital funding
Opinion: Attorney shortage poses serious risks for Yakima County

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee, police organizations hope pursuit bill will become law (Jinkins)
Where Washington stands on making Daylight Saving Time permanent

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Inslee points to housing plans as solution to immediate and long-term homelessness issues

KNKX Public Radio
Citing wildfire risk, Spokane to thin 1,000 acres of urban forest

KXLY (ABC)
90 Central Valley School District teachers facing layoffs due to low enrollment
‘Going to at least boost them’: What you need to qualify for the Working Families Tax Credit

NW Public Radio
Washington’s McMorris Rodgers pushing for more hydropower, questioning ‘Big Tech’
Electron Hydro dam could face largest fine for environmental crime in Washington history

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Rent cap bill dies, housing density lives on in Legislature (Ramel, Lekanoff, Shewmake, Lovelett, Timmons)
Opinion: Go figure: A dam removal, followed by clearcut?

Crosscut
Rifle ban, housing bills and more advance in the WA legislature (Bateman, Peterson, Berry, Lovick, Robinson, Jinkins, Pederson, Paul, Hansen, Riccelli, Morgan, Saldana, Dhingra, Leavitt, Wellman, Ramel)

MyNorthwest
Stine challenges success of WA’s first ever carbon emission auction
Bellevue School District revise consolidation plans, only closing 2 schools
New mental health center announced by Governor in Kirkland

Thursday, March 9

WA House votes to ban assault weapons
The state House approved an assault-weapons ban Wednesday night, advancing a measure long sought by gun control advocates that has stalled in the Legislature for years. After a couple hours of debate before a deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin, the assault-weapons ban, House Bill 1240, made it through on a largely party-line 55-42 vote shortly before 8:30 p.m. It now heads for the state Senate for consideration. If the measure is approved by the Senate and signed into law, Washington would join nine other states that have enacted laws generally banning the sale, manufacture and transfer of assault weapons, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Gov. Jay Inslee watched the vote in the chamber and shook hands with supporters of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, clad in orange shirts and watching from the gallery. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

In surprising move, state Senate advances changes to police pursuit law
A controversial bill giving police greater ability to undertake pursuits narrowly passed the Senate on Wednesday, a stunning move pulled off less than two hours before a critical cutoff for action on the legislation. The measure, Senate Bill 5352, allows a law enforcement officer to initiate a chase with reasonable suspicion a person in a vehicle has committed or is committing a crime. It passed 26-23 with 16 Democrats and 10 Republicans pushing it across. Thirteen Democrats and 10 Republicans dissented. By beating a 5 p.m. deadline for action on a non-budget bill originating in its chamber, the Senate keeps alive a conversation on one of the session’s most divisive pieces of legislation. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)

First-of-its-kind program helps unhoused kids in Washington state
Washington state’s eviction moratorium was set to expire the next month. In response to rising numbers of homeless youth here, state legislators passed a bill in 2016 that freed money to enable schools to identify more students as homeless and get them into stable housing — even if they aren’t viewed as homeless by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In other parts of the country, though, the picture for homeless students is starkly different. Public schools identified 1.1 million kids as homeless in 2020-21, the most recent school year for which data was available. But roughly 85 percent of these children didn’t qualify for public housing assistance. Research continues to show the harmful impact of housing instability on kids’ learning. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Neal Morton)

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Associated Press
Washington House OKs bill requiring 10-day wait for guns (Berry)

Bellingham Herald
World’s 1st carbon-free fertilizer plant to be built in Richland, WA. Price tag is $1B
Washington’s Climate Commitment Act auction sets price for allowances

Capital Press
Washington House passes bill to sell carbon credits to reforest state land (Reeves)

Columbian
State funding for 179th street project might be delayed

Everett Herald
Will vehicle pursuit crash? Is WRAP Act done? We’ll know soon (Fey, Street)
With funds for dike repair, Stanwood steps toward reducing flood risk
In surprising move, state Senate advances changes to police pursuit law (Dhingra, Lovick)
Bill moves forward requiring safety course to buy a gun in Washington
Editorial: Best option for addiction moves more into treatment (Robinson)

News Tribune
More people are dying in crashes than 30 years ago. Are WA roads historically unsafe?
Editorial: WA should protect domestic violence survivors. But eroding records law isn’t the way (Mena)

Olympian
Here’s how WA House handled bill to scrap new airport in rural Pierce, Thurston counties (Fey)
DNR pauses proposed timber cut in Thurston County after commission weighs in
WA police a step closer to resuming pursuits under bill passed Wednesday by Senate (Dhingra, Lovick)
Assault weapon ban passed by WA House members Wednesday. Bill now heads to the Senate (Peterson)
WA House votes on mandating a 10-day waiting period for all firearms. Here are the details (Berry)

Puget Sound Business Journal
State report sounds alarm for housing production in Washington

Seattle Times
WA House votes to ban assault weapons (Farivar, Berry)

Skagit Valley Herald
Northwest Straits Foundation receives grant for eelgrass restoration
Return of Sidney ferry likely years away

Spokesman Review
Bill creating magic mushrooms regulation task forces passes the state Senate (Salomon)
Washington Senate passes police pursuit bill, increasing when law enforcement can chase (Lovick, Dhingra, Trudeau, Nobles)
State House passes bills to ban assault weapons and require background checks, safety training for gun purchases (Peterson, Senn, Berry, Farivar)

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
$100M available in grants to support Washington hospitality, lodging businesses
Walla Walla school board strategic plan tackles early literacy

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Bill banning assault weapons passes Washington state House
Bellevue Fire Department to purchase electric fire truck with help of grant

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WA House passes bill banning sale of assault weapons
House passes bill that would restart search process for new airport site in Washington (Fey)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Senate hearing scheduled Thursday for bill that would tax wealthy Washingtonians (Frame)

KNKX Public Radio
WA lawmakers address critical shortage of forensic pathologists

KUOW Public Radio
How WA food banks are handling a hunger cliff

KXLY (ABC)
WA Senate votes to lift some restrictions on police pursuits; now moves to House

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County reaches agreement on Cherry Point expansion

Crosscut
First-of-its-kind program helps unhoused kids in Washington State (Fey)
Three years in, five Washingtonians a day are still dying of COVID

MyNorthwest
WSP cracking down on ‘move over, slow down’ law
Three-decade high in WA teachers leaving profession as burnout soars
Online sexual, reproductive health care now available in Washington

Wednesday, March 8

Commissioner Franz & Rep. Chapman: Allow sale of credits for carbon stored in WA-owned lands
Since we became a state in 1889, Washington has used our working forests and farms and other public lands to build up and support our communities. These lands have produced billions of dollars of revenue that have built our schools, hospitals, universities, fire stations, libraries and even our Capitol dome itself. But we no longer live in 1889, and the model by which we manage our public lands needs to be updated to reflect the tremendous advances we have made in understanding the full value of our forests, farms and aquatic lands. Indeed, these lands provide the most valuable tools we have to address the challenges climate change poses for everyone in our state. And it’s past time we capitalize on that value to increase revenues for our schools and communities, reduce costs to taxpayers, and improve the health of our forests, farms and aquatic lands. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)

State Senate passes safe staffing standard, in compromise between hospitals, unions
Hospitals may soon have to follow safe staffing standards, including staff-patient ratios, if a bill that passed the state Senate on Tuesday becomes law. The bill reflects a compromise between hospitals and nurse unions across the state that have long disagreed over the best way to address workforce shortages. Nurses have pushed for staff-to-patient ratios, while hospitals have said they don’t have the staff to follow the ratios. The proposal, which passed the state Senate 35-15, is one of many being discussed in the Legislature this year to help address workforce shortages in health care. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (David Ryder)

WA bill aims to increase access to Death with Dignity Act
In 2008, Washington voters passed the Death with Dignity Act, a measure allowing terminally ill patients to seek physician-guided assistance with ending their lives. Under the current law, only physicians can carry out a dying patient’s request. A proposed bill making its way through Olympia, ESSB 5179, would allow nurse practitioners to become more involved in the process. Washington is among nine states, along with the District of Columbia, that have enacted a death with dignity statute. Continue reading at KUOW. (Charles Lenhart)

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Aberdeen Daily World
County testing “ombud” model to help veterans

Axios
Black homeowners gain less ground in Seattle than elsewhere

Capital Press
Washington’s first cap-and-trade auction collects more than forecast

Columbian
Clark County gains 1,600 jobs in January
Editorial: State must continue to protect abortion rights

Everett Herald
State eyes $300M haul from first-ever carbon emission auction
A handshake, a deal then hospital staffing bill emerges from Senate (Mullet, Robinson, Riccelli)
Mental health evaluation delays preceded Lake Stevens police killing
A presidential visit and a Blake bill passes in the Senate (Liias, Robinson)

The Facts Newspaper
Washington state receives $163.4 million to fund innovative small business loan programs

Kent Reporter
State of the County: Constantine discusses homelessness, environment, cameras for deputies

News Tribune
‘He wanted to die.’ Pierce County deputy lawfully shot armed 70-year-old, prosecutor says
Tacoma motel row on Hosmer next to I-5 could see another property turned into apartments
Opinion: I’m a renter in Puyallup. But without help, I won’t be able to afford it for long

New York Times
Five Women Sue Texas Over the State’s Abortion Ban
The Abortion Pill Fight

Olympian
Cold cases involving Indigenous people would get special team under WA legislation (Reeves)
Olympia elementary school closures on the table due to budget deficit, officials say

Peninsula Daily News
Bridge closures prompt Port Townsend letter
Proposal aims to keep power on during extreme heat (Mena)

Puget Sound Business Journal
WA House passes bill nixing single-family zones in much of the state (Bateman)
Homeownership gap between Black, white Americans continues to widen
Constantine proposes redeveloping King County’s Seattle campus

Seattle Times
Seattle is now building more ADUs than single houses (Gregerson, Senn)
Rep. Chapman & Commissioner Franz: Allow sale of credits for carbon stored in WA-owned lands

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County considers changes to homeless aid application program
Sauk-Suiattle lawsuit against Seattle City Light headed back to trial court

Spokesman Review
Spokane International Airport receives $15 million grant to help expansion
Bill to limit single-family housing in Washington picks up steam with House passage (Bateman)
State Senate passes safe staffing standard, in compromise between hospitals, unions (Mullet, Riccelli)
Column: Probe details extensive communications, favors between police chief and business group

Suburban Times
Bronoske bill to require AEDs for lineworkers passes House (Bronoske)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Program aims to make college acceptance process easier in Washington
Editorial: State’s taking a wrong turn with misguided public records legislation

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
More University of Washington students are in need of food assistance
For workers on H-1B visas and their families, more tech layoffs threaten a future in the United States

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bill to amend police pursuit bill on life support; must pass legislative session by Wednesday
WA House passes bill to aid in protection of domestic violence victims

KNKX Public Radio
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warns inflation fight will be long and bumpy

KUOW Public Radio
WA bill aims to increase access to Death with Dignity Act

KXLY (ABC)
From Camp Hope to the classroom
Washington’s unemployment report for January released

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington House passes bill that would legalize duplexes, fourplexes (Bateman)

Tuesday, March 7

Rep. Doglio & Sen. Conway: WA Legislature can protect warehouse workers when employers won’t
In 2020, 23.9 out of every 100 workers in Amazon’s DuPont distribution center in Pierce County fell victim to a serious injury. Let us say that again. Nearly a quarter of all workers at the warehouse were injured seriously. That’s one of the highest injury rates in the country. Those injuries range from carpal tunnel to back sprains to more debilitating musculoskeletal disorders from doing strenuous tasks and repetitive motions for hours. These are our friends, family members and neighbors living in our state. They should not experience life-threatening injuries, constant pain, and punishing health care costs just for trying to make a decent wage and provide for their families. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

Rep. Leavitt: Washington election workers still face violent threats. We need to protect them
The belligerent threats against Washington’s state elections director in fall of 2020 still shock the system. A state official — a constituent of Rep. Leavitt — had publicly challenged lies about elections, and as a result had their personal information put on a website, which had a photo of the official’s face in crosshairs. In the two years since, the situation on the ground for election workers has gotten no easier. Successful elections depend on professional, experienced staff who understand the nuances of this important process. The Legislature is now considering Rep. Leavitt’s bill, House Bill 1241, which sends a strong message that the major issue of harassment of election officials is completely unacceptable. Continue reading at News Tribune. (Peter Haley)

WA House passes bill banning single-family zoning
The Washington state House of Representatives late Monday passed a bill that would legalize duplexes and fourplexes in almost every neighborhood of every city in Washington, potentially bringing an end to local zoning rules that limit large swaths of cities to only single-family homes. The bill (HB 1110) passed overwhelmingly on a bipartisan 75-21 vote. It aims to increase housing supply and density in cities across the state without increasing sprawl. Supporters say that increasing housing supply is critical to easing the housing crisis that has seen home prices and homelessness climb throughout the state. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

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Axios
Ferry glitches show fragility of service restoration plan

Columbian
Service providers, survivors say human trafficking underreported in Clark County
Vancouver Police Department launches body-worn cameras program
How will state’s Climate Commitment Act affect Clark County?

Everett Herald
In Olympia, Finnish president makes case for NATO, strong ties with WA (Liias)

News Tribune
Tacoma low-income housing waiting list opens soon. Here’s when and how to apply
WA law would protect residents with unpaid utility bills during heat advisory. Here’s how (Mena)
Rep. Mari Leavitt: Washington election workers still face violent threats. We need to protect them
Opinion: Washington has a history of racist housing policies. This would help right the wrong

Northwest Asian Weekly
WA state could get a Chinese American Heritage month — Local community groups working on making January the official month (Santos)

Peninsula Daily News
Bills out of committee
Legislative page from Sequim (Tharinger)
Wrestling grant billed named for late Sequim firefighter (Van De Wege)

Seattle Times
Is Washington a rich state? That depends where you look
WA House passes bill banning single-family zoning (Bateman, Senn)
Rep. Doglio and Sen. Conway: Legislature can protect warehouse workers when employers won’t

Spokesman Review
Washington Senate passes bill making drug possession a gross misdemeanor (Robinson, Frame, Salomon)
Opinion: A permanent Clean Energy Fund would unlock Washington’s full innovation potential

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington State Senate passes bill removing penalties for retired nurses returning to workforce (Cleveland)

KNKX Public Radio
Finland’s president addresses WA Legislature on historic visit

KUOW Public Radio
Racist covenants excluded many from homeownership. WA lawmakers seek to remedy ‘decades of direct harms’ (Peterson, Taylor)
Washington’s next drug law could let accused choose treatment, services over jail time

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘Our streets are so unsafe now’; Bill addressing illegal street racing passes Washington Senate (Lovick)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom’s tree stands named by ‘deadheads’ at DNR

Crosscut
Washington state considers banning over-the-counter rape kits

MyNorthwest
New Amtrak departure increases daily trips across Cascadia region

Monday, March 6

Washington lawmakers are trying to protect out-of-state abortion patients. Here’s what you need to know:
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, Democrats in Washington have made it a priority to protect access to abortion. As other states, like neighboring Idaho, begin passing laws to restrict abortion access, the Washington Legislature this year is looking at a number of ways to increase protections for providers and patients. One idea: shielding patients who travel for an abortion or gender-affirming care from criminal investigations in other states. “If other states are going to be creative and aggressive in restricting abortion, we will be creative and aggressive in fighting back,” sponsor Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bremerton, said during a floor debate. Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho saw a 25% increase of abortion patients this January compared to January of last year. The number of patients coming from Idaho, where an abortion ban went into effect in August, increased by 75% in the last year. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Jim Camden)

Bill passes to require landlords to substantiate damage claims to retain deposits
House Bill 1074 is sponsored by Rep. My-Linh Thai, D-Bellevue, and was passed with a 57-40 vote. It will now head for the Senate. The bill does several things, including extending the timeline landlords have to provide documentation showing that they are right in retaining all or part of a tenant’s deposit. That timeline would be extended from 21 days to 30 days. Additionally, landlords must provide documents or receipts to substantiate damage costs withheld from a tenant’s deposit. It also prohibits landlords from keeping a deposit in certain instances, such as normal wear and tear, or replacement of fixtures, appliances and equipment if the condition of those items was not documented during the tenant’s move-in. Thai said in a press statement released after the bill passage. “As a landlord myself, this is about setting a precedent for landlords to stop charging tenants thousands of dollars in uncorroborated damages.” Continue reading at The Olympian. (Getty Images)

Comment: Justice requires change in how we view juveniles’ pasts
As a former elected county prosecutor and longtime child advocate, I have seen the evolution of our response to the public safety needs of our community over the years, particularly when it comes to kids and the law. Past progress aside, there is more to be done to advance justice for our community’s children. Democrats in the legislature — and any brave Republicans willing to join them — should embrace an opportunity for truly transformative change in juvenile justice policy by ending a particularly harmful and outdated vestige of the “tough on crime” era. House Bill 1324 would retroactively and prospectively stop the practice of automatically sentencing adults to longer sentences because of crimes they committed as children. Convictions for the most heinous crimes — crimes where a juvenile is convicted in adult court or for sexual assault adjudications in juvenile court — would still count against an adult defendant. HB 1324 should become law. The current policy is neither based on evidence, nor in the interests of justice. Continue reading at Everett Herald.