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Wednesday, May 3

Inslee announces special legislative session to pass new drug possession law
The Washington Legislature will attempt to wrap up its unfinished business on drug possession this month. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday he’s calling for a special legislative session to begin on May 16, so lawmakers can finalize new drug possession penalties and addiction treatment options. The announcement comes after Republicans and progressive Democrats rejected changes to the state’s drug possession law on the final day of the regular session, after months of back-and-forth negotiations between lawmakers in the House and Senate. Inslee and other leaders say the special session is vital. Washington’s current drug possession statute was initially passed as a temporary solution in response to a state Supreme Court decision in 2021 – commonly referred to as “The Blake Decision” – that struck down the state’s felony drug possession penalties. That temporary law expires July 1. Continue reading at KUOW. (NW News Network)

A pioneering effort seeks new voters anywhere they may be, including prison
Washington appears to be the only state where the person who oversees elections also runs prison libraries. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is planning to start civics education for people in prison. However, it is unusual. Hobbs’ civics-in-prison course will be part of his broad effort to engage populations often overlooked in voter outreach, particularly low-income and Native communities. “We can’t just urge voting,” he told The Seattle Times editorial board last week. “We have to explain how your ballot is processed.” The Legislature passed a law in 2021 allowing the reinstatement of voting rights immediately upon release from prison; 24,650 Washingtonians become newly eligible. But, only 7% had registered to vote by the November 2022 midterms, according to data from Hobbs’ office. Of those, just 414 actually cast ballots. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Colin Mulvany)

Opinion: Capital budget invests in state’s economy
Because it represents the largest chunk of state spending, the biennial operating budget passed by the Legislature draws the bulk of attention. But in many ways, the capital budget provides more insight into the thinking and priorities of lawmakers. Such is the case again this year. Legislators passed an $8.7 billion two-year capital budget to fund construction projects throughout the state, including more than 50 in Clark County. That works out to more than $1,100 for each Washington resident, contributing to construction and repair of public school buildings, prison facilities, parks and recreation facilities, low-income housing and a variety of projects that impact the lives of Washingtonians. In the process, the budget is a lifeline for city and county governments. Continue reading at Columbian.

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Associated Press
Washington state to decriminalize drugs unless lawmakers act (Goodman, Simmons)
Hazing becomes a felony in some cases in Washington state

Aberdeen Daily World
Unhoused chime in on community homeless discussion

Axios
You could soon need a reservation for Mount Rainier

Bellingham Herald
New Wheelhouse building to meet growing Bellingham Community Boating Center demand
WA lawmakers to return to Olympia for special session to address drug possession law (Robinson)

Columbian
Oregon governor pauses toll plans until 2026
Habitat loss brings bears, cougars closer to suburbs, cities in Southwest Washington
Partnership aims to ease barriers for first-time homebuyers in Clark County
Opinion: Capital budget invests in state’s economy

Everett Herald
Marysville presses forward with new drug possession ordinance
After outcry, Hope Church won’t be turned into Everett homeless shelter
Business Briefs: Pandemic recovery aid and workforce support program

News Tribune
Cost of living in parts of America are out of control. How expensive is living in WA?
’Gamble hire.’ Ex-Puyallup cop had training, eligibility issues before rape arrest
Puyallup passes regulations for transitional and emergency housing. Here’s what to know
Op-Ed: WA lawmakers keep undermining public records law. We need an Office of Transparency

Olympian
Washington state crowned the top state in the U.S. for nursing, says new national study
WA state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler will not seek reelection

Peninsula Daily News
Missing, murdered indigenous legislation signed (Lekanoff, Van De Wege)

Puget Sound Business Journal
PUMP Act penalties kick in for business owners
Amazon to move 2,000 employees from Seattle to Bellevue

Seattle Times
Jay Inslee sees greener pastures ahead
Seattle says the bad times are easing. Do you feel it?
Inslee calls WA Legislature special session to address drug possession (Goodman, Dhingra, Robinson)
Editorial: A pioneering effort seeks new voters anywhere they may be, including prison
Opinion: On-site child care would alleviate companies’ return-to-office struggles

Spokesman Review
Spokane police seek authority to arrest people in parks after hours
Inslee calls WA Legislature special session to address drug possession (Goodman, Dhingra, Robinson, Billig)

Tri-City Herald
This Marine survived 5 combat tours. Now a Tri-Cities program is helping him live
3 years later Hanford nuclear waste cleanup negotiators reveal this breakthrough
Flood watch: Rivers rising quickly with mountain snowmelt. What to watch out for

Wenatchee World
Grant helps educate Wenatchee Valley students on proper bike safety
Inslee signs Hawkins’ public facilities district legislation into law

Yakima Herald-Republic
ICE appears to resume using Boeing Field; future operations in Yakima unclear
Opinion: Heritage Connectivity Trails project is a step forward for community safety

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee announces special session for legislators to finalize drug possession law
Modified Washington state police pursuit bill to be signed by Gov. Inslee
Tenino fires officer who made a deal to remove records of past termination from personnel file
Seattle’s Metropolitan Improvement District renewed for another 10-year term

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
UW Medicine works to fill national gap in abortion care training

KNKX Public Radio
Retired Alaska Airlines turboprop to get new life as ‘world’s largest’ hydrogen-powered plane

KUOW Public Radio
Inslee announces special legislative session to pass new drug possession law
End to pandemic food assistance hitting people hard in Washington state
Words In Review: Should we say ‘assault weapons’?
Remote work has changed us, but for good?: Today So Far

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Co. leaders call on governor, legislators to create new drug possession law

Q13 TV (FOX)
Fewer guns reported stolen, yet gun violence amongst teens increasing
‘Gold Rush’ of green aviation tech unfolding in Snohomish County

Web

Cascadia Daily News
State funds arts, crisis care in Whatcom, Skagit (Ramel)
Legislature codifies ‘Transition to Kindergarten’

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee increases affordable childcare access with new bill (Wilson)
Report: Sugary beverages consumption decreases due to Seattle tax

Tuesday, May 2

New law, inspired by WSU student’s death, stiffens penalties for hazing
Washington’s laws against hazing were significantly stiffened Monday, as Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation named in honor of a Washington State University student who died of alcohol poisoning after he was hazed at fraternity events. The new law makes hazing a gross misdemeanor, rather than a simple misdemeanor. It makes hazing a felony if it results in substantial bodily harm. It bumps up penalties for hazing from a maximum of 90 days to up to a year — and up to five years for the felony version. Known as the Sam Martinez Stop Hazing Law, it passed both the House and Senate unanimously. The law, Inslee said in a signing statement, “reflects the inherent danger of hazing rituals that can pressure college students to consume large amounts of alcohol.” Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Courtesy of the family)

WA transgender youth bill targeted in national culture war
Washington state Sen. Marko Liias knew his bill to help unsheltered transgender youth would generate controversy. Approved in the Democratic-controlled House and Senate along party-line votes, Senate Bill 5599 expands an existing law that allows organizations providing services to unsheltered youth to delay notifying a parent or guardian if there is a compelling reason not to, such as abuse or neglect. SB 5599 adds to these reasons youth who are seeking protected healthcare services, which include gender-affirming treatment and reproductive health care. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)

Washington’s regular legislative session is over. Here are some of the highlights
Washington’s legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session with a new two-year state budget, alongside dozens of policy changes focused on housing, health care and public safety – and a surprising last-minute bill failure. It was the first session with lawmakers back in-person since the pandemic hit, and legislators talked for weeks about how collaborative the session felt as they worked on bills together in person for the first time in years. “We’re able to have more thoughtful conversations,” said Rep. Joe Nguyen (D-West Seattle). “There’s been a significant amount of work being done across the aisle.” But echoes of pandemic-era sessions remained, with hybrid committee hearings allowing the public to testify on bills remotely and weekly news conferences with legislative leaders held online. Continue reading at NW Public Radio. (Jeanie Lindsay)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Ocean Shores gives Corps access for jetty repairs

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham REI employees announce plans to unionize, file paperwork seeking an election

Columbian
Open House Ministries gains grant to build more affordable housing
Apartments proposed near Washington State University Vancouver

The Daily News
WSU first university to produce gene-edited meat for human consumption

Everett Herald
‘Zero Emissions’: New breed of plane gets spotlight at Paine Field
In visit, DelBene warns GOP bill could slash food assistance
Comment: After state failure, county must act on drug law

News Tribune
Developer shares plans for new behavioral health campus envisioned for Tacoma
‘Negligent and reckless.’ Family of man shot by Pierce deputy files wrongful death claim

Peninsula Daily News
Wilcox steps down from House Republican leadership position

Port Townsend Leader
Gov. Inslee announces he won’t seek another term

Puget Sound Business Journal
How economic turmoil is shaping growth plans for small businesses
As money pours into clean energy companies, leaders look to the future

Seattle Times
May Day Seattle: Hundreds march for worker, immigrant rights
New law, inspired by WSU student’s death, stiffens penalties for hazing
Service providers losing confidence in Regional Homelessness Authority

Spokesman Review
Spokane City Council to move forward with local drug use, possession law

Tri-City Herald
WA AG’s Office admits to withholding 100,000 additional records in lawsuit
Kids with hearing loss in Eastern WA often must travel for care. Tri-Cities lab is helping

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Port of Walla Walla accepts $2M loan for new Life Flight Network hangar
Whitman College to build $30M student residential village
Transitional kindergarten, special education bills make progress in legislative session

Wenatchee World
Opinion: Legislature approves funding and timeline for Confluence Parkway

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima comes together to recognize workers and immigrants at May Day march

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Guemes Island ferry workers stage one day strike
Washington is 15th state to make hazing a felony under new law
Gov. Jay Inslee announces he won’t seek reelection in Washington state
Alaska Airlines plane to be retrofitted with hydrogen-electric propulsion system
Gov. Inslee plans to announce special session for legislators to finalize drug possession law
What does it mean to be Asian American? Community members from the Seattle area weigh in

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Toxic chemical train derailments spark safety concerns in Washington

KNKX Public Radio
Federal regulators want public input on Goldendale Energy Storage Project

KUOW Public Radio
Were you ‘wrong’ during the pandemic?: Today So Far
What will Jay Inslee’s legacy be after 12 years as governor?
Walla Walla ferry is ready for a comeback just weeks after running aground

NW Public Radio
New online toolkit to provide help, comfort to families with missing loved ones
Washington governor signs new gun bills into law, including ‘assault weapons’ ban (Peterson)
Washington’s regular legislative session is over. Here are some of the highlights (Nguyen, Cortes)

Q13 TV (FOX)
New state law cracking down on hazing honors WSU student who died in 2019 (Leavitt)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Legislature unanimously passes Nooksack adjudication bill (Timmons, Lekanoff, Rule, Ramel, Lovelett, Duerr)

Crosscut
WA transgender youth bill targeted in national culture war (Liias)

MyNorthwest
Westlake Station closed this week as disruptions continue

The Stranger
Inslee to Set Date for Special Session on Drug Possession Law (Goodman, Dhingra)
New Police Pursuit Law Requires Less Evidence to Give Chase (Goodman, Dhingra, Farivar)

Monday, May 1

Student, family homelessness funding doubles in state budget
State lawmakers more than doubled the funding for a program that helps homeless students and their families across Washington connect to housing and services, answering advocates’ calls for greater financial support. The Homeless Student Stability Program grew by $4.6 million to total $9 million — an unprecedented increase for a 7-year-old program whose funding has generally hovered around $4 million. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

State budget includes $21 million for ‘safety net’ abortion providers
State lawmakers allocated $21 million for safety net abortion providers to cover the costs of care, increase their workforce and enhance security. Planned Parenthood is one of these safety net providers, serving uninsured and underinsured patients. In a press release, state Planned Parenthood leaders hailed the money as the “largest investment in abortion services in recent memory.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Lindsey Wasson)

Legislative report card: A mix of achievements, progress and failures
The Washington Legislature ended its 105-day session on April 23 with long-fought achievements, some misses and some incomplete work. Gov. Jay Inslee says he wants lawmakers to come back in special session to try again to reach an agreement on the state’s expiring drug possessions law. Here are The Seattle Times editorial board ratings on only a few of the issues The Times has followed closely. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Legislative Support Services)

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Associated Press
Washington creates missing Indigenous people cold case unit (Lekanoff)

Aberdeen Daily World
Mobile health van touring Pacific County

Axios
With Washington state set to decriminalize drugs, cities may step in

Bellingham Herald
Former House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox reflects on his time in leadership as he steps down (Billig, Jinkins)
Bellingham is buying 20 acres near Lake Whatcom. This is what’s planned
Attorney General’s Office won’t defend Legislature in public records lawsuit

Columbian
Habitat loss brings bears, cougars closer to suburbs, cities in Southwest Washington
Little White Salmon watershed project aims to prepare area for effects of climate change

Everett Herald
Gun sale spurs protest outside Everett’s Angel of the Winds Arena
State budget includes $21 million for ‘safety net’ abortion providers (Robinson)
After outcry, Hope Church won’t be turned into Everett homeless shelter
Editorial: Assault weapons ban can withstand legal challenge

International Examiner
Future of Filipinx History and Ethnic Studies in Limbo Amid SPS Budget Deficit

News Tribune
Pierce County sheriff reflects on 2022 SWAT operation that left deputy, suspect dead
As youth violence grips Tacoma, could safe space for kids to talk mental health help?
Op-Ed: Tacoma is beautiful — but there’s too much trash. Here’s what the city is doing
Op-Ed: How Sound Transit loses people — even in liberal cities like Tacoma
Op-Ed: The NW Seaport Alliance is like a marriage. Tacoma and Seattle are stronger together

Olympian
E. Washington ‘geological wonder’ named one of Earth’s top significant sites. Why?

Port Townsend Leader
State announces opening days for spot shrimp fishing

Puget Sound Business Journal
Biofuel repository in Snohomish County awarded $6.5M from state

Seattle Times
WA Gov. Jay Inslee won’t seek reelection for fourth term
Student, family homelessness funding doubles in state budget (Rolfes, Fey)
How WA seeks to stem flow of people from jails to state hospitals (Dhingra)
WA ferry fares increase for peak season
EPA pitches $290 million cleanup for Duwamish Superfund site
Supreme Court to decide important case on government power
Legislative report card: A mix of achievements, progress and failures
Multiple benefits from WA’s decision to support local news (Keiser)
WA lawmakers deadlocked as drugs ravage Snohomish County, rest of state (Dhingra, Robinson)

Skagit Valley Herald
Seattle City Light commits to fish passage over Skagit River dams
Mount Vernon Library Commons to get another $2.1 million, nearly fully funded

Spokesman Review
Does Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy Plant fit into the city’s climate goals?
Survey indicates Spokane’s homelessness increased by 36% since last year
Glaring uptick in anti-trans laws nationwide felt by Washington’s trans community
Bill extending tax break to Washington business that use wood waste for energy awaits signature for final passage (Tharinger, Nguyen)
Getting There: WSDOT reminds Spokane it could close local access to U.S. Highway 195 if safety issues aren’t addressed
Gov. Jay Inslee visits Crosswalk shelter in Spokane on Friday to acknowledge successes, needs to address youth homelessness
Opinion: Rural pharmacies at risk without reform

Tri-City Herald
Can your neighbors turn their house into a duplex? What new WA laws mean for Tri-Cities
Opinion: WA legislators must get back to work. Drug law needs statewide fix and it can’t wait

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Capital budget: Walla Walla Public Library gets $2 million for renovation, expansion
US 12 Walla Walla corridor gets $183 million in WA transportation budget
WSDOT crews to use drones to apply herbicides along section of US 12

Wenatchee World
Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment receives $19.6 million for new facility

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima council members address airport plans, crime
Pedestrian safety is goal of trail project in Lower Yakima Valley
Efforts to unionize agricultural workers in WA face long-standing hurdles
Editorial: Lawmakers’ work isn’t done yet — we need a permanent Blake fix

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Amazon’s return-to-work policy has employees anxious, businesses hopeful
Over 100 guns surrendered at giveback event in Tacoma
‘It’s bittersweet’: Inslee to sign law increasing penalties for hazing
After years of conflict, Seattle City Light agrees to tribal demands on Skagit River

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington creates missing Indigenous people cold case unit (Lekanoff)

KUOW Public Radio
In the absence of state law, Washington cities seek bans on public drug use
Week in Review: drugs, guns, and housing
Can fish and dams coexist on the Skagit River? New plan may be first step

KXLY (ABC)
Crosswalk Youth Center getting new shelter through state funding
“A problem in public areas”: Spokane residents react to possible emergency ordinances

Web

Cascadia Daily News
New state laws pave way for more housing density (Shewmake, Ramel)
Study: New boating distance rule no cure-all for Southern Residents (Lovelett)
Western academic student employees earn right to bargain

MyNorthwest
1 in 6 Pierce Co. children don’t have enough to eat

Friday, April 28

Inslee signs abortion-related bills into law. Here are other key bills also signed so far
Gov. Jay Inslee signed five new pieces of legislation into law on Thursday aimed at protecting reproductive health-care rights in the state of Washington. “We are here to proclaim very vocally and very forcefully that we will not allow any state, or any Trump-appointed judge, to jeopardize a woman’s right of choice in the state of Washington,” Inslee said. “We know, when it comes to a woman’s freedom of choice, the Evergreen State is ever-vigilant in protecting this freedom right.” Democratic Washington lawmakers announced early in the 2023 session that bills protecting reproductive and gender-affirming care would be one of the biggest priorities. Here are the bills signed Thursday: Continue reading at News Tribune. (The Office of the Governor)

Bipartisan push to build more homes marks ‘year of housing’
Washington state lawmakers passed legislation this session that will result in more than $1 billion in housing investments between the capital and operating budgets. Though efforts to improve the state’s housing stock were bipartisan, Republicans and Democrats often had different ideas of how to achieve those goals. A hotly contested bill proposing to increase the real estate excise tax did not pass. Bills backed by the business community related to lot splitting, transit-oriented development and multifamily tax exemptions also failed. However, the adoption of nine bills designed to boost the housing stock were celebrated on both sides of the aisle. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Karen Ducey)

Lawmakers push for inspections at Tacoma’s ICE detention center
A couple years ago, the Washington state legislature passed a bill outlawing private detention facilities. That law is tied up in legal proceedings. Lawmakers have now passed new legislation that will mandate privately owned or operated detention facilities meet the same standards as public ones. “The legislature finds that profit motives lead private prisons and detention facilities to cut operational costs, including the provision of food, health care, and rehabilitative services, because their primary fiduciary duty is to maximize shareholder profits,” state lawmakers wrote in the legislation. “This is in stark contrast to the interests of the state to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of Washingtonians.” State Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, who sponsored the bill said, “we can’t let people make money off of inhumane practices, not in this state.” Ortiz-Self added that once released, detainees can also sue based on violations in the facility. Continue reading at KNKX. (Ted S. Warren)

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Associated Press
Washington state shields people seeking abortion, transgender medical care (Hansen)

Aberdeen Daily World
Summit Pacific shifts funding strategy for expansion

Axios
Washington enacts abortion protections to counteract red state laws

Capital Press
Hydropower rep hopes for ‘apolitical’ study on Snake River dams

Everett Herald
As Snohomish County sees spike in syphilis, new clinic gets funds
4 Denney Juvenile Justice Center employees sue claiming discrimination, hostile workplace

News Tribune
‘Sense of pride and new spirit.’ Tacoma Dome celebrates 40 years of being a city asset
‘Just a really good human being’ — Thomas Dixon, a Tacoma civil rights icon, has died
Five new abortion bills signed into law by Inslee Thursday (Slatter, Hansen, Cleveland, Keiser, Riccelli)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Bipartisan push to build more homes marks ‘year of housing’ (Heck)
After state proposal stalls, Seattle leaders move to ban open drug use

Seattle Medium
Drug Possession Bill Voted Down (Jinkins)
Cost Of Living In Washington Is High

Seattle Times
Congressional dads call for more changing tables in House office bathrooms
Abortion bans fail in conservative South Carolina, Nebraska
New public drug use legislation proposed in Seattle

Spokesman Review
Inslee signs into law bills to boost abortion access while protecting providers and patients
Whitworth continues to delay decision on protections for LGBTQ faculty and staff as students organize ‘Queer Church’
Republicans say Montana ‘deserves better,’ but Zephyr said ‘decorum’ used as ‘tool of oppression’
Low-income, racially diverse Spokane residents more affected by extreme heat, Gonzaga study finds

Yakima Herald-Republic
Camp Hope and Comprehensive Healthcare team up on behavioral health center in Yakima

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee hopes lawmakers return to Olympia before drug possession law expires
Seattle senior living community at the crossroads of homelessness crisis
Lummi launch new ‘stabilization and recovery’ center

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
What is Tacoma’s plan when state drug possession law expires July 1?
Proposed legislation would make public drug use in Seattle a misdemeanor

KNKX Public Radio
EPA proposal starts a new chapter in Duwamish Superfund cleanup
Housing, gun control and a failed drug vote: What happened in WA’s 2023 legislative session
Lawmakers push for inspections at Tacoma’s ICE detention center (Ortiz-Self)

KUOW Public Radio
Will increased density through HB-1110 actually lower WA home prices?
Seattle leaders propose ban on public drug use, but others oppose the idea
Corrections Corner: HB 1110 and small communities
Do townhomes drive down housing costs? Social science has an answer
Washington’s regular legislative session is over. Here are some of the highlights (Nguyen, Cortes, Gregerson)

Q13 TV (FOX)
Proposed bill aims to prevent hospital mergers, citing more costs on patients

Web

Cascadia Daily News
State funds WWU Peninsula expansion, student success center

Crosscut
Seattle’s historic Pacific Hospital could house unsheltered youth
SCOTUS ruling on abortion pill isn’t a victory, WA advocates say

Thursday, April 27

In rebuke to fall of Roe, Gov. Inslee signs WA abortion legislation
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a suite of five bills Thursday to shore up access to abortion in Washington, a ceremonial flourish demonstrating how blue states are reacting as the demise of Roe v. Wade approaches its anniversary. “We are here to proclaim very vocally and very forcefully that we will not allow any state or any Trump-appointed judge to jeopardize a woman’s right of choice in the state of Washington,” Inslee said Thursday, flanked by lawmakers and advocates on the roof of the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health at the University of Washington. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

With assault weapons ban, Washington enters a new era of gun reform
Ten years ago, control of Washington’s government was split between the two major political parties; the National Rifle Association was one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in America; and even some Democratic state lawmakers wouldn’t support stricter firearms legislation. Contrast these events with Tuesday’s bill-signing ceremony in the state reception room at the Capitol building and you’ll see just how much the conversation around guns has changed in Washington. Flanked by dozens of advocates and Democratic elected officials in a Capitol closed due to security cautions, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law shortly before noon a trio of ambitious firearms restrictions. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)

Wash. adopts ‘most significant privacy legislation’ this decade
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) will sign a bill Thursday that aims to protect the data privacy of people seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care but has the potential to do much more. Privacy attorneys say the language, definitions and scope of the “Washington My Health My Data Act” are uniquely broad, making it, in the words of one lawyer, “a transformative privacy law for the United states.” The Washington measure, introduced in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, has drawn the most attention. Continue reading at Pluribus News.