State Senate passes, sends House a bill to cut car-tab taxes, change vehicle valuation system
By a 25-20 vote, the state Senate on Tuesday passed and sent the House a bill that would cut car-tab taxes for those paying the Sound Transit fees and tie car valuations to "true market value," the Senate Majority Coalition said.
By a 25-20 vote, the state Senate on Tuesday passed and sent the House a bill that would cut car-tab taxes for those paying the Sound Transit fees and tie car valuations to "true market value," the Senate Majority Coalition said.
State budget showdown: Republicans pledge ‘it will work out,’ Dems say they’re ready to compromise
After Democrats and Republicans in Olympia failed to come together on a budget during the regular session, something that has become quite common, budget negotiators remained at the Capitol this week to try to hash things out during a costly special session.
After Democrats and Republicans in Olympia failed to come together on a budget during the regular session, something that has become quite common, budget negotiators remained at the Capitol this week to try to hash things out during a costly special session.
Legislatures passes, sends governor REAL ID measure
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers on Thursday gave final legislative approval to a two-tiered licensing system that seeks to bring Washington state into compliance with federal identification requirements.The House passed the measure on a 55-41 vote Thursday, followed by the Senate, which passed it on a 36-13 vote.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers on Thursday gave final legislative approval to a two-tiered licensing system that seeks to bring Washington state into compliance with federal identification requirements.The House passed the measure on a 55-41 vote Thursday, followed by the Senate, which passed it on a 36-13 vote.
New distracted driving bill headed to governor’s desk
State lawmakers have passed a bill intended to crack down on drivers using electronic devices on the road.
State lawmakers have passed a bill intended to crack down on drivers using electronic devices on the road.
Elder abuse cases at 'epidemic' levels in state; bill aims to fight problem
SEATTLE -- Weeks after Mariana Cooper lost her daughter to cancer, a woman who befriended Cooper started exploiting her grief.“She convinced my grandmother to get a reverse mortgage on her house,” Amy Lecoq said.From there, the financial predator convinced the 87-year-old widow to loan her money.“This is a crime based on a relationship so, in a lot of ways, there are grooming behaviors that go into it,” Lecoq said.
SEATTLE -- Weeks after Mariana Cooper lost her daughter to cancer, a woman who befriended Cooper started exploiting her grief.“She convinced my grandmother to get a reverse mortgage on her house,” Amy Lecoq said.From there, the financial predator convinced the 87-year-old widow to loan her money.“This is a crime based on a relationship so, in a lot of ways, there are grooming behaviors that go into it,” Lecoq said.
Washington governor signs theatrical wrestling bill
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov.
Washington state pushes to let kids use sunscreen in school
Washington state lawmakers are pushing forward with a proposal that allows students to use sunscreen at school without a note from a doctor and parent, a rule that six other states also are considering to help protect children from developing skin cancer.
Washington state lawmakers are pushing forward with a proposal that allows students to use sunscreen at school without a note from a doctor and parent, a rule that six other states also are considering to help protect children from developing skin cancer.
Distracted driving bill clears Washington House
The Washington state House has approved a measure that would ban holding handheld devices while driving.
The Washington state House has approved a measure that would ban holding handheld devices while driving.
Legislature passes 12-month birth control refill bill
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that would let women get a 12-month refill of their birth control prescriptions instead of a month at the time.The measure passed the Senate Wednesday on a 48-1 vote after passing the House last month on a 93-5 vote.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that would let women get a 12-month refill of their birth control prescriptions instead of a month at the time.The measure passed the Senate Wednesday on a 48-1 vote after passing the House last month on a 93-5 vote.
Bill seeks to allow tribes to kill salmon-eating sea lions
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Some Northwest Indian tribes would be allowed to kill a limited number of sea lions that prey on endangered salmon in the Columbia River under a bill introduced in Congress.The bipartisan bill was introduced last weekend by U.S. House members Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Washington Republican, and Kurt Schrader, an Oregon Democrat.If passed, the bill would allow the Warm Springs, Umatilla, Yakama, and Nez Perce tribes to kill some sea lions that are decimating endangered salmon runs during their return from the ocean to inland spawning grounds.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Some Northwest Indian tribes would be allowed to kill a limited number of sea lions that prey on endangered salmon in the Columbia River under a bill introduced in Congress.The bipartisan bill was introduced last weekend by U.S. House members Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Washington Republican, and Kurt Schrader, an Oregon Democrat.If passed, the bill would allow the Warm Springs, Umatilla, Yakama, and Nez Perce tribes to kill some sea lions that are decimating endangered salmon runs during their return from the ocean to inland spawning grounds.
State Senate passes, sends House a bill to lessen car tab taxes for Sound Transit
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate passed a measure Thursday aiming to relieve concerns over the recent car-tab fee increase for Sound Transit 3, a nearly $54 billion initiative voters approved in November.Widespread outrage over the formula used to calculate car tab fees — which are based on a depreciation schedule that overvalues newer cars in parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties — has prompted a bipartisan, bicameral response.Numerous bills have been introduced in the House and Senate in response.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate passed a measure Thursday aiming to relieve concerns over the recent car-tab fee increase for Sound Transit 3, a nearly $54 billion initiative voters approved in November.Widespread outrage over the formula used to calculate car tab fees — which are based on a depreciation schedule that overvalues newer cars in parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties — has prompted a bipartisan, bicameral response.Numerous bills have been introduced in the House and Senate in response.
Sexual assault protection order bill heads to Gov. Inslee
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Legislature has passed a bill that would allow the courts to issue permanent protection orders for victims of sexual assault.The Democratic-controlled chamber passed the measure on a 75-22 vote Thursday.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Legislature has passed a bill that would allow the courts to issue permanent protection orders for victims of sexual assault.The Democratic-controlled chamber passed the measure on a 75-22 vote Thursday.
Push to give out free lock boxes to marijuana users
Online they are everywhere -- marijuana lock boxes -- for sale in every shape and size. They are perfect for the parent who doesn’t want their kids to have access to their stash of marijuana products, including edibles.
Online they are everywhere -- marijuana lock boxes -- for sale in every shape and size. They are perfect for the parent who doesn’t want their kids to have access to their stash of marijuana products, including edibles.
House passes two-year $44.9 billion state budget
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The House has passed a two-year $44.9 billion state budget that seeks to spend an additional $1.9 billion on education to address a court mandate on education funding.The spending plan passed the Democratic-controlled chamber on a 50-48 vote Friday.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The House has passed a two-year $44.9 billion state budget that seeks to spend an additional $1.9 billion on education to address a court mandate on education funding.The spending plan passed the Democratic-controlled chamber on a 50-48 vote Friday.
Lawmakers push to allow medical marijuana in schools
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Meagan Holt sat in the front row of a committee hearing earlier this week holding her 4-year-old daughter Maddie in one arm and a syringe filled with cannabis oil in the other."Cannabis is what's kept her alive all this time," Holt said. "She isn't supposed to be here."Maddie was born blind, deaf and has many health complications from a rare terminal disease called Zellweger Syndrome.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Meagan Holt sat in the front row of a committee hearing earlier this week holding her 4-year-old daughter Maddie in one arm and a syringe filled with cannabis oil in the other."Cannabis is what's kept her alive all this time," Holt said. "She isn't supposed to be here."Maddie was born blind, deaf and has many health complications from a rare terminal disease called Zellweger Syndrome.
Student free speech bill dies in Washington Legislature
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A measure aimed to protect high school and college students' rights to publish and speak freely in school-sponsored media did not make it out of the House Education Committee before a key Wednesday deadline.Republican Sen.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A measure aimed to protect high school and college students' rights to publish and speak freely in school-sponsored media did not make it out of the House Education Committee before a key Wednesday deadline.Republican Sen.
House budget proposal seeks $3 billion in new revenue
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- House Democrats on Monday released a two-year budget plan that proposes $3 billion in additional revenue — including a tax increase on some businesses and a new capital gains tax — to address a court mandate on education funding.However, Democrats said while they plan to pass their spending plan on the House floor Friday, they won't likely take a vote in that chamber on any of the tax bills that pay for it before completing negotiations with Senate Republicans, who passed their own budget plan last week.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- House Democrats on Monday released a two-year budget plan that proposes $3 billion in additional revenue — including a tax increase on some businesses and a new capital gains tax — to address a court mandate on education funding.However, Democrats said while they plan to pass their spending plan on the House floor Friday, they won't likely take a vote in that chamber on any of the tax bills that pay for it before completing negotiations with Senate Republicans, who passed their own budget plan last week.
Bills aim to aid job seekers with criminal history
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Tarra Simmons says she knows all too well what it's like to have to check a box on a job application that reveals her criminal history to an employer before she has a chance to explain."I was at the lowest point in my life," she told The Associated Press.Simmons, 39, said she began using methamphetamines after her father's death in 2010.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Tarra Simmons says she knows all too well what it's like to have to check a box on a job application that reveals her criminal history to an employer before she has a chance to explain."I was at the lowest point in my life," she told The Associated Press.Simmons, 39, said she began using methamphetamines after her father's death in 2010.
Senate passes $43 billion state budget proposal
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Senate on Friday passed a $43 billion two-year state budget proposal that relies, in part, on a statewide property tax earmarked for education, while also making cuts to some social services.The spending plan, which cleared the Republican-led Senate on a 25-24 vote after a multi-hour, middle-of-the-night debate, would raise property taxes for some, while lowering taxes for others in the state.
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Senate on Friday passed a $43 billion two-year state budget proposal that relies, in part, on a statewide property tax earmarked for education, while also making cuts to some social services.The spending plan, which cleared the Republican-led Senate on a 25-24 vote after a multi-hour, middle-of-the-night debate, would raise property taxes for some, while lowering taxes for others in the state.
Vapor products, e-cigarettes could be taxed under new Washington bill
Measures to tax vapor, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products are being considered by lawmakers in Washington state.
Measures to tax vapor, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products are being considered by lawmakers in Washington state.