Tag search results for '2020-washington-legislature' page 1

Shea billed $4,700 for olive oil poured on Capitol steps in response to Satanist demonstration

Thu., May 14, 2020

Spokane Valley Rep. Matt Shea is being billed $4,700 for the cleanup of olive oil he poured on the steps of the domed Legislative Building in early March, part of a Christian group’s response to an earlier demonstration by Satanists who had marched around the building.

State agencies told to find almost $2 billion in savings, freeze hiring

Wed., May 13, 2020

Washington agencies will look for some $1.9 billion in budget cuts to accompany a freeze on hiring and equipment purchases ordered Wednesday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

State to study Washington State Patrol stops and searches for possible bias

Tue., May 5, 2020

Washington will spend $50,000 to study possible biases in the Washington State Patrol after an investigation found troopers search people of color, particularly Native Americans, at much higher rates than white drivers.

4 GOP lawmakers call for a special session to deal with pandemic’s effects

Tue., April 21, 2020

Four Republican legislators made a pitch Tuesday for a special session in the near future to help bring the state back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that lawmakers should call themselves back to the Capitol if Gov. Jay Inslee won’t.

Inslee cuts state budget, expecting pandemic to cause revenue to drop

Fri., April 3, 2020

With Washington facing a sharp drop in revenue from closed businesses and homebound consumers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Jay Inslee cut some $235 million in state spending for the next 15 months.

Cost of insulin capped while state studies reason for inflation

Fri., April 3, 2020

Health insurance plans will have to limit a person’s out-of-pocket costs for a month’s supply of insulin to $100, under a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday.

New law protects victims of abuse with alerts

Thu., April 2, 2020

Victims of domestic violence or abuse can receive real-time alerts of when their abuser is near, under a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday, three years after it was first introduced.

Transportation budget signed but projects still paused

Tue., March 31, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee signed the state transportation budget lawmakers rewrote to fill a hole in revenue created by the passage of Initiative 976.

Sexual health education bill signed but could be on ballot this November

Fri., March 27, 2020

A controversial bill requiring comprehensive sexual health education be taught at various points in a student’s years in public schools was signed into law Friday, but opponents will try to get voters to reject it in November.

Plastic bags banned, paper bags to cost 8 cents after Inslee signs bill that takes effect next year

Wed., March 25, 2020

Single-use plastic bags at stores will be banned statewide starting next year and customers without reusable carriers will be charged 8 cents for paper bags under a bill signed Wednesday.

New laws would cut greenhouse gases, further restrict asbestos in buildings

Thu., March 19, 2020

Washington will reduce greenhouse gases faster than previously planned and extend the ban on asbestos materials to non-residential buildings under laws signed Thursday.

Cyrus Habib retiring as Washington lieutenant governor to become a Jesuit

Thu., March 19, 2020

Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib, who presided over the Senate for the last three years as part of his duties as the state’s No. 2 elected official, will not seek re-election, his office announced this morning.

New laws include everything from students in tribal regalia to bicyclists

Wed., March 18, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee signs dozens of pieces of legislation on a wide range of topics.

Teen shelter, nature preserve among $30 million in Spokane-area projects funded in state budget

Sun., March 15, 2020

Spokane County is set to receive $29,937,000 from the capital budget for construction projects, including park restoration and shelter expansion services.

Legislature tackled other issues along with COVID-19

Sun., March 15, 2020

Along with addressing the COVID-19 outbreak, the Legislature tackled climate change, gun control, data privacy and sex education – with mixed results.

Legislature offers protections to undocumented residents

Sun., March 15, 2020

Washington’s undocumented residents would have more protections under bills that passed the Legislature this year.

Legislature moves to reduce homeless numbers

Sun., March 15, 2020

Lawmakers want to reduce the number of homeless people in Washington by spending some $160 million over a wide range of programs to expand shelters, support for homeless youth and boost affordable housing programs.

Transportation budget passes, could end ‘pause’ on major highway projects

Wed., March 11, 2020

A $10.3 billion budget designed to resume work on transportation projects on “pause” because of last year’s initiative to reduce fees and taxes for vehicle license tabs passed the Legislature Wednesday with overwhelming majorities by both chambers.

High school seniors could graduate in 2020 even if school shuts down for COVID-19

Wed., March 11, 2020

High school seniors who can’t complete core classes because their school is shut down due to the novel coronavirus would still be able to graduate this year under legislation expected to be approved Thursday.

With a day left before session ends, Washington legislators cut nearly $1 billion from proposed spending plan to prepare for possible downturn

Wed., March 11, 2020

Facing uncertainty over a possible economic downturn from the novel coronavirus outbreak and the need to fight the outbreak that has claimed more than two dozen lives, lawmakers said they significantly rewrote the budget plan they expect to pass quickly by Thursday evening.