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,...
WA, Oregon sue over Trump’s exec order on mail-in voting: ‘We don’t want to go backward’
For state Rep. Sharlett Mena, the fight for voting rights is a personal one. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she remembers growing up in the majority-Latino city of Pasco and...
Rep. Sharlett Mena sets the record straight: No gaps in our voting system
Seattle Times Mar 4, 2025 WA lawmaker wants federal review of state’s voter registration practices By Sofia Schwarzwalder OLYMPIA — A Republican lawmaker hopes to draw the attention of U.S....
Lawmakers propose $25 statewide minimum wage in 2031
When it comes to money, Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much in Olympia. But there’s a common consensus when it comes to the cost of living — constituents across...
TVW Legislator Profile: Representative Sharlett Mena
Watch Rep. Sharlett Mena on TVW’s Legislator Profiles series:
Seahawks fans may get a state-recognized day
One of the loudest crowds in the NFL – Seattle Seahawks fans – could soon get a day of their own to celebrate as Washington lawmakers look to make Dec....
Bill to ban concentrated sodium nitrite heads to Washington Senate after overwhelming House vote
The Washington state House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at outlawing a poison that dozens of young people have used to die by suicide. House Bill 1209 passed out of the House...
Washington State Legislature To Consider Making 12/12 The Day Of The 12s
On Friday, a state House Committee will first hear a bill that could make December 12 “Day of the 12s” in honor of Seahawks fans, who are known as the...
Washington bill targets National Guard role in deportation plans
Washington state lawmakers are considering a measure that would restrict other states’ National Guard units from entering Washington without permission, unless President Trump mobilizes them. Why it matters: The proposal is intended to stop states from...
Washington lawmakers consider banning lethal chemical after Amazon sales linked to youth suicides
Washington state legislators are considering a bill that would prohibit the sale of highly concentrated sodium nitrite, a chemical compound that has been linked to multiple youth suicides across the United States....