Olympia

A contentious bill on drug possession penalties failed to pass out of Washington State Legislature. With the current possession law expiring this summer, the risk of decriminalizing hard drugs in Washington is looming.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a trio of bills meant to address gun violence Tuesday, one banning the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles, one imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases and one clearing the way for lawsuits against gun makers or sellers in certain cases.

Lawmakers in Washington state closed out the legislative session by adopting a $69 billion operating budget for the next two years that pays for teacher and state employee raises, and devotes new money to mental health support, emergency housing and rental aid.

Possession of hard drugs in Washington, like fentanyl and meth, will become legal by default this summer.

A bill that will ban the sale, manufacture and import of assault weapons in Washington is one signature away from becoming law, sparking an uptick in gun sales, according to local gun stores.

Five years after the state Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill officially striking it from Washington law.

A bill that would permanently allow cocktails to-go from restaurants and distilleries was approved by the state senate, and is now heading to Governor Jay Inslee’s desk for signature. 

Pet stores will no longer be able to source their dogs from out-of-state puppy mills or offer loans for people to purchase their pets if a bill that passed the Washington State Senate this week becomes law.

A bill loosening the standards for police pursuits in Washington needs a final vote in the Senate before it can go to the Governor's desk to be signed.  

A key housing bill that would legalize duplexes and fourplexes in most neighborhoods in nearly every Washington city has been approved by the state Senate.

Beginning in July, hate crimes will be classified as crimes against a person – including assaults that do not end in physical injury.

Law enforcement could soon have more tools to stop fentanyl pill mills from cranking out dangerous drugs in the state of Washington. 

On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that the state has stockpile purchased 30,000 doses of mifepristone, a pill most commonly used in medically-induced abortions. 

The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the next round of coastal razor clam digging will run from April 6-12.

State lawmakers say Senate Bill 5078 was passed out of committee in Olympia Friday. The bill calls for the firearms industry to adopt controls to protect the public. Under the bill making its way through the legislature, if those members of the industry contributed to the illegal use of firearms, they could face legal action.