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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, Wash. — The Seattle mass shooting that killed one person and wounded 7 others has state lawmakers thinking about the victims and the solution. “Following this violence, I think the most important thing to do is focus on the families and try to find a unified approach to gun violence,” sand Governor Jay Inslee. Republican Representative Morgan Irwin represents the Enumclaw area, he’s also 7-year veteran of the Seattle Police force. Read more... https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/state-lawmakers-respond-deadly-seattle-mass-shooting/JFJ264TC2JEDZCSUDODHNOIZ6A/?_website=cmg-tv-10090&fbclid=IwAR26S0W0Dn78K8Q9IH8ZLGy3n8OzebLeFgtPWsae0owZN9UPUIebxyO5NZM

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 ...

Uli Fuamaila and his wife, Loto, moved from Lake Stevens to Federal Way a few years ago. She needed to be closer to her doctors, and he wanted to be closer to his job driving a paratransit bus for Metro’s Access program, based in Bellevue. Though Fuamaila had already retired from his career in manufacturing, he had gone back to work to help pay for Loto’s mounting medical bills. Then, in 2015, Loto passed away. Fuamaila stayed in Federal Way and continued to drive for Metro. Click here to read more...

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 ...

From the Bellevue Reporter The Washington state Senate recently passed legislation extending juvenile justice jurisdiction for some youthful offenders to age 25. The bill is now in the House and was placed on second reading by the Rules Committee on Tuesday. Current Washington law requires that 16-17 year olds who commit certain crimes are automatically tried as adults without any consideration of brain development, criminal history, upbringing or other potentially mitigating circumstances. Some of these crimes include: first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary (if the offender has a prior felony or misdemeanor), and any violent offense in which the offender is alleged ...

From KOMONews.com: OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington State Senate voted Wednesday to pass legislation that could help improve the early detection of breast cancer in women, according to a Senate press release. Senate Bill 5912 would require that health insurance providers cover the 3D mammography, which has been show to improve the early detection of breast cancer by 40 percent, according to the release. "This legislation will help ensure that economic circumstance or the type of insurance you have is not a barrier to accessing this life-saving technology," Sen. Patty Kuderer said in the release. The bill will now move to the ...