Thursday, October 1, 2026
State News

OLYMPIA — The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has announced the statewide transition to a universal online High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) platform, a move aimed at …

Senate passes Goehner bill to reduce red tape for water-sewer districts

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate approved a bill that seeks to streamline the process for water-sewer districts to sell surplus property, reducing administrative hurdles and increasing …

Washington could exempt medical debt from credit reports

OLYMPIA - When Kristopher Shook was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at age 42, his only concern was beating it, no matter the cost. As a result, he accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars in …

OLYMPIA - An infant in King County was identified as the first confirmed measles case in Washington in 2025, following increases in cases in other parts of the United States, county officials said. …

Ferguson proposes $4B in cuts to Washington state budget

OLYMPIA - Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has a plan for about $7 billion in budget cuts, but he and Democrats in the Legislature have a ways to go before they solve a shortfall that may be more than …

Senate passes Goehner bill to expand local housing options

OLYMPIA — Sen. Keith Goehner's work to give counties more options for promoting affordable housing received a big boost last Wednesday when the Senate gave overwhelming bipartisan support to …

Are Washington lawmakers about to tax storage unit rentals?

OLYMPIA - Washington Democrats are looking at taxing storage units as a way to help bridge the state’s multibillion-dollar budget shortfall and raise new money for housing.  House …

Falling student performance fuels school funding debate

OLYMPIA - Holly Koon struggles every day in her 9th-grade biology classes to help students achieve, but sometimes it seems like a losing battle. Chronic absenteeism, growing class sizes and fewer …

Committee proposed to redesign state flag

OLYMPIA - Is Washington’s State flag a relic of days gone by and should it be redesigned? A bill in this year’s Legislature says the question is worth considering and proposes …

Bill proposes higher fees for Discover Pass

OLYMPIA - It will cost more to visit a state park next year, if a proposal in the state Legislature wins approval. SB 5390, proposed by Sen. Derek Stanford, R-Bothell, increases the cost of a …

Washington lawmaker proposes regulations for self-checkout machines

OLYMPIA - Proposed legislation could change the way customers shop at grocery stores, as one Democratic lawmaker is pushing for regulations on self-checkout machines. House …

OLYMPIA - Legislation to update last year’s parental “bill of rights” initiative is heading to the Washington state House of Representatives amid a host of disagreements over what …

Why a WA lawmaker wants to collect data on cow farts and burps

OLYMPIA - The latest beef in Olympia? Cow burps, farts, and poops. Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that seeks to gather better data on the scale and scope of methane emissions released by …

Washington lawmakers renew push to make clergy report child abuse

OLYMPIA - Two Democratic state lawmakers are trying again to require clergy members in Washington to report child abuse or neglect, including when it is disclosed to them by a congregant during …

Washington lawmakers look for ways to build more housing in rural areas

OLYMPIA - Building more housing in rural parts of Washington is again top of mind for some state lawmakers. Bills to allow backyard cottages in new areas, to expand where developers can receive …

Debate revived in WA Legislature over unemployment benefits for striking workers

OLYMPIA - When workers go on strike, they’re often making a bet to temporarily lose their wages to fight for better ones.  This year, the Washington Legislature is again trying to …

Washington farmers want agritourism law reforms

OLYMPIA - Farmers across the state say regulations are getting in the way as they develop products they can sell directly to the public. From pumpkin patches to u-pick berry farms, the impacts …

Proposal loosens controls on birth control prescriptions

OLYMPIA - Insurance companies will be required to fill up to a 12-month supply of birth control pills, if a bill by Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, is approved.  “I experience …

OLYMPIA - Following an arson attack ahead of last November’s election that torched hundreds of ballots in a southwest Washington drop box, state lawmakers are looking at modest ways to better …

In tight budget year, pressure builds to boost WA school funding

OLYMPIA - Lawmakers have begun another hard conversation on what it may cost the state to amply fund basic education in public schools as required by Washington’s constitution. A state …

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