High court to decide I-976 fate
The state Supreme Court will decide the fate of Initiative 976 sponsored by Tim Eyman, following oral arguments at a June 30 hearing and...
Study: Rent control would wipe out year’s worth of housing
In recent years, efforts at both the local and state levels have been made to restrict control of rental property by landlords. A proposal...
EPA draft rule could undermine lower Snake River dam operations
While a new environmental impact statement (EIS) by three government agencies operating the lower Snake River dams opposes breaching them to aid salmon recovery,...
Work group to develop health system recommendations
A state Universal Health Care Work Group formed last year is working on recommendations to the state legislature regarding a universal, or single-payer, health...
New taxes under consideration for state transportation
Prior to the state-ordered shutdown due to COVID-19 and the passage of Initiative 976, the state transportation infrastructure was already suffering from a significant...
We need 5G now more than ever
This has been an impactful year. With a pandemic that has left many people working and learning from home, it became clear that without...
Department of Energy joins Hydropower Research Institute
Several years ago a group of public and private utilities along with several federal government agencies formed the Hydropower Research Institute (HRI), a data-sharing,...
Mixed reaction to Stampede Pass rail line
A consulting group will soon release a final report on its study of passenger rail service from Seattle to Spokane via the Stampede Pass...
State audit offers Sound Transit cost reduction strategies
Keeping Sound Transit project costs within budget has been a concern starting with the 1996 Sound Move project and has persisted in recent years...
State faces $4.5 billion budget shortfall
The latest revenue forecast released by the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) revealed what most state officials and legislators already expected: a...
Group outlines plan for EV truck infrastructure
A group of West Coast utilities are collaborating on long-term planning for an interstate electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for EV trucks in hopes...
State Actuary: Pay now or later for obligations
The State Actuary’s Office plans to review the public pension system’s actuarial gains or losses at the end of the month. However, there are...
Businesses groups protest heavy fines for confusing guidelines
As businesses reopen across the state, many are struggling to comply with what industry advocates argue are inconsistent and ambiguous safety guidelines issued by...
Air pollution unaffected by traffic decrease, data show
One of the many arguments proponents have made for either a regional or statewide low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) to reduce the amount of...
Growers prepare for harvest amid COVID-19
As summer approaches, Washington growers are preparing for a harvest marked by additional safety precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the extra...
Sound Transit faces massive revenue hit
One of the major objections raised by Sound Transit advocates against a recent legislative proposal to reduce the ST3 motor vehicle excise tax by...
Shutdown raises concerns over government power
A Chelan County Superior Court judge this week ruled that a lawsuit against Governor Jay Inslee’s stay home order can move forward. The use...
Economic forecast released; officials urge special session
A new update from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) offered little surprise as to an economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19...
“Make or break” summer for craft breweries
Although only one of the 420 craft breweries in Washington state has closed since businesses were shuttered due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the next...
Commuting in a post COVID-19 world
The temporary shutdown of businesses and the forced telecommuting implemented by major employers in the central Puget Sound region has resulted in a tremendous...
Trade impacts “mixed bag” for agriculture
Though the full effects of the COVID-19 response on Washington trade have yet to be determined, a new report by the Washington Council on...
PSE signs agreement for renewable natural gas
In an effort to promote the use of renewable energy, the state legislature last year passed HB 1257 which allows gas companies to sell...
Feds invalidate state law on crude oil transport
A federal agency has invalidated a 2019 state law regulating crude oil transportation, concluding that a federal law preempts the state requirement. The move...
Retailers work to shift sales, marketing tactics
As retailers prepare for expanded operations after an initial reopening on May 8, many have already shifted their marketing and business strategies in response...
Emergency labor rule avoids “potential food shortage”
The state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) and the Department of Health have approved an emergency rule for H-2A worker housing that provides...
Businesses, legislators advocate flexibility, autonomy with reopening policies
Governor Jay Inslee has unveiled additional details about how businesses such as restaurants can partially reopen, along with information about the latest state efforts...
Court overturns state bank tax
A King County Superior Court judge has ruled a 2019 state bank tax unconstitutional for violating federal law after it was initially upheld regarding...
Washington meat supply backlogged, but stable
While the appearance of rationing policies in grocery stores today for meat and beef products similar to those used for toilet papers in March...
Guest worker rule could dampen strong apple harvest
As the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) considers a proposed emergency rule for guest worker housing, Washington apple farmers say an exceptional,...
Bipartisan pressure mounts to reopen economy
After more than a month of business closures throughout the state related to the COVID-19 pandemic, bipartisan pressure is building on Governor Jay Inslee...
Landlords offer “creative solutions,” support to struggling tenants
With an eviction moratorium in place since March 18 and the continued closure of businesses throughout Washington state, landlords are offering a variety of...
Inslee extends stay home order as other states look to reopen
Governor Jay Inslee last month signed a pact with California and Oregon that was later joined by Nevada and Colorado which calls for “a...
Unemployment trust fund could be weeks from insolvency
In addition to a huge budget revenue shortfall, state lawmakers may also have to address how to replace funds in the state unemployment trust...
Businesses collaborate on plans to safely reopen
As Governor Jay Inslee’s “stay at home” order continues to keep most businesses throughout the state closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, state...
Small biz “barely hanging on”
Days after reopening the construction industry, Governor Jay Inslee announced that some outdoor recreation on state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land will also...
Low-risk construction activity set to resume
Governor Jay Inslee has announced that low-risk construction work will be allowed to resume, provided businesses adhere to safety guidelines developed by a state...
Emergency rule “season-ending” for many farmers
Many Washington state farmers rely on foreign workers through the Federal H-2A work visa program to harvest their crops. However, the Department of Health...
Business, labor strongly oppose Seattle job tax
As the Seattle City Council continues discussions on a proposed new job tax, regional businesses and labor representatives have responded with a letter to Mayor...
Inslee may reopen construction, other activity
Governor Jay Inslee announced in an April 21 address to the state that his March 18 “shelter-in-place” order will extend beyond May 4, though certain activities...
EPA restores state water quality standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially restored the state Department of Ecology’s water quality standards for Washington state after a strange turn of...
Supply chain strain underscores agriculture’s role
Many Washington farmers have argued there is a disconnect in the state between those that produce food and those who consume it – a...
Stakeholders urge discussions on reopening businesses
Key elected state officials and small business advocates are stressing the need for a state plan to allow businesses to reopen their doors as...
Washington’s “economic refugees” caution against new taxes
With the Washington State Supreme Court unwilling to reexamine its long-standing position that a graduated income tax is illegal, some local and state elected...
New normal is time to recalibrate rainy day fund
Sucker punched and mugged by a tiny little virus.
In every reasonable sense of what it means to be actively aware, we did not see...
Real estate tax revenue up amid decreased activity, COVID-19 response
Despite decreased real estate activity and social distancing restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the state collected millions more in real estate excise...
No construction order “open season” for squatting, theft, vandalism
As stakeholders continue to discuss how to resume construction activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, builders across the state say criminals are taking advantage of...
Efforts continue to recognize construction as “essential activity”
Although Governor Jay Inslee declined to add construction to the list of allowed “essential activities” as part of an April 7 update on the...
Seattle job tax 2.0: “Punitive tax policy”
Two years after approving and then quickly repealing a $275-per-employee job tax to fund homelessness programs, the Seattle City Council at its April 6...
Inslee reduces operating budget spending increase
Governor Jay Inslee signed the 2020 supplemental budget on April 3 after vetoing spending provisions in anticipation of decreased state revenue due to the...
Air agency drops regional fuel standard proposal
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) is no longer considering a regional low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) after a third legislative effort to...
Supreme court refuses to take up Seattle income tax case
The Washington State Supreme Court has announced it will not hear a legal case regarding the city of Seattle’s graduated income tax ordinance previously...
