Washington Legislature Archives - Page 7 of 8 - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Washington Democratic Lawmaker Restricted From Staff Contact After Unspecified Allegation

By Austin Jenkins February 21, 2018

An allegation against Washington state Rep. David Sawyer of Tacoma has led House Democrats to restrict his contact with staff. House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan said he can’t speak to the specifics or seriousness of the allegation, but that “it appears” it’s not “sexual in nature.” Read More

Washington House Democrats Propose $1B Property Tax Relief, New Capital Gains Tax

By Austin Jenkins February 20, 2018

CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

Washington House Democrats have proposed nearly $1 billion in short-term property tax relief, followed by a longer-term tax cut funded by a new state capital gains tax on a minority of wealthier residents.Read More

Should Washington Prohibit Juvenile Detention For Truant Students?

By Austin Jenkins February 19, 2018

Grays Harbor County uses its juvenile detention facility to lock up non-criminal status offenders for contempt of court more than any other county in the state.

In recent years, Washington has led the nation in locking up kids for running away, skipping school and other non-criminal behavior. Now state lawmakers are considering whether to ban juvenile detention for "status offenses."Read More

Washington Legislative Leader Timm Ormsby Calls DUI Arrest And Wreck ‘Error In Judgment’

By Austin Jenkins February 15, 2018

The chief budget writer in the Washington state House of Representatives says it’s up to Democratic leaders whether he keeps his chairmanship following a rollover crash and his arrest for intoxicated driving last Saturday.Read More

Washington House Votes To Ban Atlantic Salmon Farms

By John Ryan February 15, 2018

What appears to be a destroyed net pen at Cooke Aquaculture's facility on Cypress Island is shown on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. CREDIT: MEGAN FARMER/KUOW

The Washington House of Representatives has voted to phase out farming of non-native fish in state waters, drawing the end of Atlantic salmon farming in Puget Sound one step closer.Read More

Washington Senate Votes To Repeal Death Penalty, House To Consider Next

By Austin Jenkins February 15, 2018

Washington Gov. Inslee speaks with reporters alongside Democratic state Sen. Reuven Carlyle after the Senate voted to abolish the death penalty.

In a vote unprecedented in modern times in the state of Washington, the state Senate voted Wednesday to abolish the death penalty and instead impose life in prison without the possibility of parole for those convicted of aggravated first degree murder. The measure now moves to the House.Read More

Net Neutrality Protection Passes Washington House

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa February 9, 2018

Washington lawmakers vowed to protect net neutrality after the Federal Communications Commission rolled back the Obama-era regulations. Now that effort is making progress.Read More

Atlantic Salmon Grower Calls Banning Fish Farms In Puget Sound ‘Foolishness’

By Tom Banse February 9, 2018

Cooke Aquaculture's Atlantic salmon farm near Bainbridge Island, Washington. CREDIT: WASHINGTON DNR

The head of Cooke Aquaculture says he's furious about "scare tactics" that he says are driving a push to end Atlantic salmon farming in Puget Sound. The Washington Senate voted 35-12 Thursday to phase out aquatic leases for net pens holding non-native fish.Read More

Future Washington Teachers May Need More Training On Native American Culture, History

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa February 8, 2018

Washington State Capitol in Olympia. PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA USER JAY8G / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Future teachers in Washington may have to get more training in the history, culture, and treaty rights of Native American tribes. That’s a requirement of a bill currently before the state Legislature.Read More

Addressing Sexual Harassment At Washington Capitol Isn’t As Easy As Hoped

By Austin Jenkins February 8, 2018

Washington Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson

Efforts to address sexual harassment in the Washington state Capitol have suffered a setback. Legislative leaders had pledged to improve the workplace climate following reports late last year that revealed a history of misconduct at the Capitol. But finding a solution has proven more difficult than expected.Read More

Washington House Considers State Campaign Finance Reform Bill

By Emily Schwing February 7, 2018

A bill making its way through the Washington state House of Representatives would make campaign contributions more transparent. It passed the state Senate last month.Read More

Washington State Terminates Lease For Atlantic Salmon Farm In Puget Sound

By Tom Banse February 5, 2018

Washington state has tightened the screws—again—on an Atlantic salmon farming operation. The state Department of Natural Resources Saturday terminated the lease for Cooke Aquaculture's Cypress Island fish farm near Anacortes.Read More

Back In Control, Democrats Fast Track Priorities In Olympia

By Austin Jenkins February 5, 2018

File photo of the Washington Senate gallery. CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE

Washington’s 60-day legislative session is approaching the halfway mark and majority Democrats are flexing their one-party control of Olympia. That’s especially evident in the state Senate where several priority Democratic bills have been put on a fast track.Read More

Washington Bill Aims To Clarify Sex Offender Restrictions At Community Colleges

By NWPB News February 1, 2018

Community colleges in Washington should be able to bar level three sex offenders from enrolling in classes when minors are present. That's the upshot of a bill under consideration by the state legislature.Read More

Driving Without A License In Washington Could Soon Be Decriminalized

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 29, 2018

Washington lawmakers are considering reducing the penalty for driving with a suspended or revoked license. Right now, it’s a gross misdemeanor and can lead to fines, hefty court fees and even jail time.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Consider Lifting Affirmative Action Ban

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 26, 2018

Pedestrians walk in the rain near the Legislative Building, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., as cherry trees display their spring blossoms. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN/AP

Affirmative action has been forbidden in Washington for the last 20 years, but now state senators are considering repealing the ban. After a vote of the people in 1998, state government bodies have been barred from giving preferential treatment to minorities in public education, hiring and contracting. Read More

Former Washington DFW Official Convicted Of Rape; Current Director Resigns

By Austin Jenkins January 24, 2018

A former top official at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has been convicted of breaking into the home of a colleague and raping her. The verdict Wednesday follows a lengthy trial in a case that revealed a sexualized workplace culture at the agency.Read More

Mind Your Boat Speed, Leave Drone At Home Around Endangered Killer Whales

By Tom Banse January 24, 2018

File photo. A bill in the Washington Senate would require boats to slow down when they are in the vicinity of endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. CREDIT: RUTH HARTNUP

In Olympia, state lawmakers are considering stronger protections for the critically endangered population of resident killer whales.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Propose Banning Controversial Type Of Chemicals

By Emily Schwing January 23, 2018

Washington State Capitol Building. CREDIT: WSDOT / FLICKR

The Washington House Environment Committee hosted public hearings Tuesday on two bills that would restrict a class of chemicals found in everything from firefighting retardant to food wrappers.Read More

Washington Bill Aims To Cover Abortion, Birth Control For Undocumented Residents

By Liz Jones January 23, 2018

Immigrants without legal status are not eligible for government healthcare plans like Medicaid. So some Washington lawmakers want to create a program to cover some of their reproductive healthcare needs, including abortions, contraceptives and family planning.Read More

Washington May Raise Minimum Age To Buy Tobacco

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 22, 2018

Young smokers in Washington may have trouble getting a pack of cigarettes in the near future. Lawmakers are considering raising the minimum age to buy tobacco and vapor products from 18 to 21.Read More

News Outlets Sue, Judge Agrees: Washington Lawmaker Records Open To Public

By Austin Jenkins January 19, 2018

A coalition of news outlets have won a partial victory in a public records lawsuit against the Washington Legislature. A judge in Thurston County said lawmakers are subject to the state’s public disclosure law.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Reach Deal On $4.5 Billion Construction Budget (At Long Last)

By Austin Jenkins January 18, 2018

After a months-long standoff, Washington lawmakers say they’ve reached a bipartisan deal on a thorny water rights issue that will pave the way for quick passage of a $4.5 billion capital construction budget that’s been held up since last spring.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Propose $300 Million For Rural Broadband Access

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 17, 2018

While Washington lawmakers have vowed to protect net neutrality, thousands of people in rural communities still lack access to high speed internet. That may change if a big budget proposal goes through this year.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Tackle Opioid Epidemic, But Much Work Remains

By Deborah Wang January 16, 2018

File photo. Distributors of opioids and other prescription drugs in Washington kept their better-than-Boeing tax break this year, despite a lawsuit against the industry's three largest players. CREDIT: Kevin Mooney/N3

The opioid crisis is front and center at the Washington Legislature this week. On Monday, lawmakers heard testimony on three bills aimed at preventing and treating opioid addiction and reducing overdose deaths.Read More

Bump Stock Ban Faces Uncertain Future In Washington Legislature

By Austin Jenkins January 16, 2018

A ban on firearm bump stocks has passed out of a Washington state Senate committee. But it faces an uncertain future.Read More

Proposed Health Care Bill Would Help Pacific Islanders In Washington

By Doug Nadvornick January 15, 2018

A Washington House committee took up a bill today that could mean a chance to access health care for Pacific Islanders who live in Washington. The bill applies to U.S. residents who come from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.Read More

Las Vegas Shooting Victims Testify In Olympia On Proposed Washington Gun Legislation

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 15, 2018

Washington legislature Gun Legislation Hearing - 011518

Hundreds of people crowded hearing rooms in the Washington state Capitol Monday to testify on proposed gun control legislation. Several of the people who testified in favor of a ban were victims of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas.Read More

Gun Rights Advocates Rally In Olympia Against Bump Stock Ban, Background Checks

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 13, 2018

Washington state Rep. Representative Matt Shea, R-Spokane, speaks at the ''Rally 4 UR Rights'' gun rights rally in front of the state Capitol steps in 2018. CREDIT: ENRIQUE PEREZ DE LA ROSA / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

Gun rights activists from across Washington state rallied in Olympia recently. They came to protest proposed gun control legislation that supporters say will reduce mass gun violence. Most were openly carrying weapons including pistols and semi-automatic rifles.Read More

Ban On ‘Gay Conversion Therapy’ Could Make Progress In Olympia This Year

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 11, 2018

A bill to ban the controversial practice of trying to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ people is making its way through the Washington Senate. It considers so-called "conversion therapy" for people under 18 "unprofessional conduct” for health care providers.Read More