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Moving to end a threat of international trade sanctions against Boeing, lawmakers in Washington State on Wednesday introduced legislation that would eliminate tax breaks for the plane maker.

The World Trade Organization concluded last year that Boeing benefited from unfair subsidies from the state worth roughly $100 million a year.

State Senator Marko Liias, a sponsor of the bill, said the proposal had come from Boeing itself. The Legislature is expected to act before its session ends on March 12.

How high is too high when it comes to cannabis usage in Washington state?

The answer might come from a bill that’s been introduced in this year’s legislative session.

HB 2546, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, along with 21 secondary sponsors, calls for a new THC limit on recreational sales of cannabis concentrates to match the 10-percent limit already imposed on infused edibles.

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/marijuana/article239575968.html

OLYMPIA — Lawmakers are talking again about reducing the motor vehicle excise tax that helps fund Sound Transit expansion.

But leaders of the regional transit authority are cautioning, again, against leaving them without an adequate stream of dollars to build promised light rail projects.

It’s a familiar discourse. The past three legislative sessions ended without lawmakers doing anything to provide a modicum of financial relief for vehicle owners.

This session may bring a different conclusion, thanks to passage of Initiative 976.

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OLYMPIA — Ira Moser of Snohomish and some friends are coming to the state Capitol a lot lately to talk about one subject: guns.

They’re gun owners. They’re concerned lawmakers may impose new restrictions on them and their firearms.

So they showed up Monday for a two-hour Senate committee hearing on bills limiting the capacity of gun magazines, requiring training for those with concealed weapon licenses, and imposing longer sentences for the use of stolen firearms.

Push for new gun laws triggers passion at Senate hearing

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Lawmakers in Olympia are back in full-swing debating gun control reforms. Monday morning, the Senate Law & Justice Committee heard public testimony for several bills. Senate Bill 6077 would prohibit any person in Washington state from manufacturing, possessing, distributing, importing, transferring, selling, or purchasing “large-capacity magazines.”

State Sen. Marko Liias this week introduced Senate Bill 6313 — the Voting Opportunities Through Education (VOTE) Act — a measure aimed at increasing voter participation among young adults.

“Every voice needs to be heard to maintain a strong democracy,” said Liias, a 21st District Democrat who represents parts of Edmonds and Lynnwood. “Getting more young people engaged in our democracy is critical to reaching this goal. While other states are installing unfair and unnecessary barriers to voting, here in Washington we are working hard to remove barriers and ...

Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island) spoke with the News Tribune about legislation that would allow school bonds to pass with a simple majority. The article focuses on Bethel High School and the myriad capital updates needed in the aging building.

“There are districts that haven’t been able to get bonds passed to do anything for years. It’s heartbreaking at times,” Wellman acknowledged.

You can read the full article here.

YAKIMA, Wash. - Washington Senator Lisa Wellman is speaking with local educators about ways to improve school safety. Wellman said she wants to find out what's working, what isn't and what else needs to be done. "It is about guns and physical safety but it is also about the fact that we have 30,000 kids in the United States committing suicide," she said. Wellman said they want teachers to be aware of the kids who are feeling like outsiders in their schools and what can be done to help them feel included in the community. Read more of this report from ...