Gov. Bob Ferguson signs election bills into law
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed five election-related bills into law Wednesday, responding to what state legislators described as mounting threats to voting access from the Trump administration....
After shocking revelations, WA leaders reconsider Cesar Chavez recognition
Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state won’t honor the labor leader on March 31. Lawmakers could recast the day to recognize farmworkers. State lawmakers and the governor are rethinking how...
Why farmworker union rights died
The farmworker collective bargaining bill, Senate Bill 6045, made it to the Senate floor calendar, but lacking the votes, never came to a vote before the house of origin deadline. The...
WA residents may soon be able to bet on UW, WSU, Gonzaga sports
OLYMPIA — The only thing stopping local bettors from wagering on the Gonzaga Bulldogs next year is a stroke of Gov. Bob Ferguson’s pen. The Legislature has approved a bill...
Live final day coverage of the 2026 Washington state legislative session
State lawmakers in Olympia are in the final hours of the 60-day 2026 legislative session. Before adjourning sine die, they’ll have to approve operating, transportation, and capital budgets and will...
Washington House approves income tax after 24-hour debate
An income tax on high earners is one step away from final passage in Washington state after the House approved it 51-46 Tuesday, capping a marathon floor debate. Why it...
Next year’s March Madness likely to be even madder: The Washington Legislature approved a bill allowing betting on in-state college teams
OLYMPIA – The only thing stopping local bettors from wagering on the Gonzaga Bulldogs next year is a stroke of Gov. Bob Ferguson’s pen. The Legislature has approved a bill...
WA House heads toward final vote on ‘millionaires tax’
OLYMPIA — Washington’s state House launched into a final debate Monday on a proposed new state income tax on high earners, with a vote expected to stretch late into the...
‘Millionaire tax’ clears House committee despite Republican pushback
Washington’s first-ever income tax cleared a key House committee Friday morning on a 9 to 6 vote. Republicans tried again, but failed to stop the bill from advancing. It passed...
WA governor to fellow Democrats: Income tax bill still misses mark
A House committee approved the latest version of the legislation Friday. The governor insists it doesn’t include adequate tax relief provisions. Washington Democrats’ controversial income tax bill emerged from a...
Executive committee advances millionaires tax bill to full vote
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The first-ever income tax in Washington state is closer to reality after the House Finance Committee voted to advance the bill to a full vote before the...
Eastern Washington farmworkers fight their own legislators to win labor rights withheld for nearly a century
For nearly a century, Washington’s farmworkers have been denied the basic labor rights afforded to nearly all other private sector workers. The results have been poor wages, dangerous working conditions,...
Energy assistance for low-income Washingtonians shouldn’t be controversial
On Valentine’s Day, Washington state House Republicans spent a good portion of House floor debate explaining why they’d decided to vote “no” on a bill to provide energy assistance to...
Tighter rules for challenges to voter registrations clear WA House
Democratic state lawmakers in Washington want to make it tougher to challenge a voter’s registration as organized efforts to knock residents off the rolls are on the rise. The state...
ICE and labor proposals among topics at Latino Legislative Day in Olympia
The finale of the 2026 Latino Legislative Day presentations held before the Legislative Building was a performance of “Viva Mexico,” sung by 11-year-old Noelia Delgado of Yakima. Delgado, who was...