WA Government

OLYMPIA – People with autism and other neurodivergence could receive help interacting with police officers under a new bill unanimously advanced by the state House Transportation Committee on Wednesday.

OLYMPIA – Washington could soon become the second state to adopt a stricter standard for driving after consuming alcohol.

OLYMPIA – A bill that would bar law enforcement officers from wearing masks to conceal their identities while engaged in public duties passed the Washington Senate on Wednesday.

OLYMPIA – A treatment center in Spokane caring for infants born to mothers struggling with addiction is at the center of a new bill that aims to fund studies for neonatal health.

OLYMPIA – A legislative committee likely still will consider a bill to restrict cities from enforcing anti-camping ordinances after a vote was delayed Monday.

The price of the drug kratom in Washington state could nearly double under a new bill proposed in the Legislature.

OLYMPIA – A state committee has delayed a vote on legislation that would stop local jurisdictions from enforcing anti-camping ordinances when no shelter space is available.

OLYMPIA – A typical day at the Capitol for some lobbyists may be full of meetings and long hearings with little interactions with lawmakers.

OLYMPIA – State officials have begun preparations in case the federal government boosts immigration enforcement in Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown said during a news conference Monday.

Washington state lawmakers have tried and failed to erase Tesla’s status as the only electric vehicle maker allowed to sell directly to consumers in the state.

OLYMPIA – While the U.S. Supreme Court often garners the most media attention, the vast majority of cases are determined in state courts, newly appointed state Supreme Court Justice Colleen Melody noted in an interview last week.

OLYMPIA – Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer heard similar stories from homeowners as she traveled the state.

Washington state has sought to grow as a hub for data centers, but now state lawmakers are considering setting new requirements for them. Data centers are physical facilities that hold various IT infrastructure to process, store and deliver data for various purposes including artificial intelligence, streaming services and online banking. Such centers can generate sizable revenue and job ...

OLYMPIA – Washington lawmakers so far appear unconcerned about President Trump’s latest threat to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that restrict local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Spokane Public Radio and KSPS-PBS abruptly lost all of their federal funding Jan. 5 following the dissolution of the national Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but Washington lawmakers aim to restore the revenue for local outlets.

OLYMPIA – Former Secretary of State Sam Reed and current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs differ in many ways.

As current and former colleagues of newly appointed Washington Supreme Court Justice Colleen Melody spoke during her swearing-in ceremony Wednesday, they came to the same conclusion: she was among the most skilled legal minds with whom they have ever worked.

OLYMPIA – Spokane officials traveled to the state Capitol Tuesday in search of grace and to ask lawmakers to allow the city’s Waste-to-Energy Plant to operate without spending millions on carbon credits from a state auction.

OLYMPIA – Washington may soon join an increasing number of states that regulate the use of – and data collected by – automated license plate readers.