Washington legislators held the first of what likely will be several hearings this session on whether farmworkers will have collective-bargaining rights enforced by a state commission. Farmworkers can unionize, but…
Category: Sharlett in the News
They’re back. Here’s what to know as WA Legislature convenes for 2026 session
The Washington state Legislature is back in session. Jan. 12 marked the first day of 2026’s 60-day legislative session. The hallways beneath the Capitol dome buzzed with activity as lawmakers…
Editorial: Lawmakers shouldn’t futz with partisan redistricting
With only a short 60-day session to work with, here’s how state lawmakers can save themselves some time and effort this session, especially as they confront a $2.3 billion budget…
WA Democrats push to redraw congressional map amid national redistricting blitz
Washington Democratic lawmakers are making a push for mid-decade redistricting. House Joint Resolution 4209, prefiled Tuesday by House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon and Tacoma state Rep. Sharlett Mena, would pave…
Washington becomes first state in the nation to ban all formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in cosmetics
Toxic-Free Future applauds landmark ban on cancer-causing chemicals in cosmetics to protect health SEATTLE, WA—Today, Washington became the first state in the nation to adopt a comprehensive ban on all formaldehyde-releasing chemicals…
‘This should have been prevented’: Leaders respond to state slashing ICE database access after KING 5 investigation
SEATTLE — A KING 5 investigation prompted the state of Washington on Tuesday to admit they unwittingly allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hunt down and deport undocumented residents…
The prison shaped loophole in Washington’s sanctuary laws
Governor Ferguson continues to defy demands from the Trump Administration to end Washington’s “sanctuary state” policies. But lawmakers say there’s one place here where protections for immigrants are falling short:…
Washington governor and AG stand by state prison notifications to ICE
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers in the Washington Legislature have pushed in recent months to reassess how the state Department of Corrections shares information with federal immigration authorities. But Washington’s governor…
Rookie lawmakers in retrospect
By: Tim Gruver / The Washington Observer Your first session in Olympia as an elected official often means watching more of your bills die than seeing them signed into law,…
Trump is attacking Washingtonians’ voting rights. We must continue to expand them
The future of our democracy is at a crossroads. The right to vote, a fundamental pillar of our country, is under attack. While federal actions threaten to undermine fair elections,…