Washington Legislature

For a week, NPR has been exploring various solutions to climate change, from quitting fossil fuels to putting coastal homes up on stilts.

Brian Heywood, the founder of Let’s Go Washington, has filed new proposals to curb property taxes, create a new school choice funding program, target trans student athletes, and repeal the state Legislature’s recent changes to the “parents’ rights” law.

A new law signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday toughens the punishment for littering and delays requirements for retailers to offer thicker bags for sale from Jan. 1, 2026 until 2028. 

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the bill on Wednesday, it takes effect immediately and will not allow for hikes of more than 10% in a year.

President Trump’s Department of Justice is investigating a new Washington state law that makes clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse, arguing it violates the First Amendment.

Counties have struggles to recruit and retain attorneys without state’s help.

Washington state lawmakers have ended their legislative session by sending a $78 billion dollar budget to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk. It includes nearly $6 billion in cuts and over $9 billion in taxes. Legislators also passed rent cap increases and a new gun permit system. Olympia correspondent Jeanie Lindsay joins us to share what the Washington Legislature accomplished this session.

On Sunday, the state House and Senate passed the House Bill 1217, which limits rent increase for manufactured homes to 5% per year. The bill now heads to the governor's desk.

The Washington state House and Senate on Sunday, the last day of the legislative session, passed the rent increase limit at 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower.

In the last decade, money spent lobbying in Washington rose more steadily and dramatically than other U.S. states that track lobbying money — from around $41 million in 2014 to more than $90 million last year.