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People in Washington have famously said no to a state income tax the past 10 times they’ve voted on it. The rejections were hardly mild. Since 1970, the closest the pro-tax side has come to a win was in 2010, when they lost by such a wide margin — 28 points — that it effectively made the idea radioactive. So the latest independent poll of the state sure contains some surprises. Click here to read more.

A ban on police face coverings has been one of the most talked about policy proposals in the first two days of Washington’s legislative session, with lead lawmakers and the governor lining up in support. Senate Bill 5855, which covers local, state and federal law enforcement, stems from fears of masked federal agents carrying out immigration raids and arrests across the country. The bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, said he thinks “it will make our marginalized immigrant communities feel safer” and build trust between the public and police. Last week, for example, masked U.S. Immigration and ...

We should all hope we’d be in the financial position where we’d have to pay Gov. Bob Ferguson’s proposed “millionaires’ tax,” because — as the name implies — it would levy a tax on annual income above $1 million, meaning we’d be doing pretty well. And even with that income tax, it would still not touch the first million dollars in earnings, meaning that under the suggested rate of 9.9 percent, you’d pay a dime for hitting a dollar over $1 million; and, to be fair, each dollar after that. Oh, the hardships of wealth, at least for fewer ...

Gov. Bob Ferguson has thrown his support behind an income tax on millionaires, backing what would be a seismic shift in Washington’s tax code. At a budget news conference Tuesday, Ferguson endorsed a proposal brewing among legislative Democrats that would impose a 9.9% tax on people who earn more than $1 million annually. Washington is one of nine states that do not currently levy a personal income tax. With both houses of the Legislature controlled by big Democratic majorities, Ferguson’s support for a high-earners income tax may bring what has been a holy grail for progressives closer to reality than ...

Police could call judges at a domestic violence crime scene to issue no-contact orders, and a cold case unit would be formed to examine cold cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women under several bills under consideration by Washington legislators. Lawmakers held a bipartisan news conference Tuesday to highlight a collection of domestic violence-related bills.

Recess would be mandatory at public schools in Washington under a bill before the state Legislature. Senate Bill 5457 would require that elementary students receive at least 45 minutes of play time per day, far more than many elementary students currently receive.

The Washington State Legislature celebrated the accomplishments of the Washington National Guard during concurrent House and Senate sessions on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. “I find it to be a tremendous honor to represent the 28th District and our National Guard members, whether it was during our COVID response or during other tremendous deeds in our community. What I appreciate about our National Guard is their service beyond themselves and their commitment locally and to answer the call to service any time,” said Sen. T’wina Nobles, who represents the 28th District, which is home of Camp Murray.

Washington could stop businesses from pricing products differently simply because of the gender they're marketed to — like those pink razors that are basically the same as their blue counterparts but cost more.