Washington state officials are assessing what a U.S. Supreme Court ruling against Colorado's conversion therapy ban could mean for a similar law here. Why it matters: The 8-1 ruling could limit Washington's ability to enforce its ban on conversion therapy, even as leading medical associations say the practice is ineffective and likely harmful to LGBTQ people. Catch up quick: A Washington law from 2018 allows the state to discipline or revoke the licenses of health care professionals who perform conversion therapy on ...
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Even as California and Washington state prepare to merge their cap-and-trade climate programs, New York’s retreat from creating a similar program has sparked renewed debates about energy costs. After years of painstaking work, California and Washington are poised to merge their programs aimed at reducing emissions and bringing in revenue to help fight climate change. The sweeping regulatory frameworks set limits on the amount of carbon dioxide that businesses can release and charge them per ton. Until recently, supporters expected New York ...
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EVERETT — Local officials held a press conference on Tuesday asking Congressional leaders to keep electric transportation infrastructure in mind as the federal government prepares to negotiate the renewal of billions of dollars of transportation funding. Every five years, Congress renews spending authorization for transportation projects across the country in what’s known as a surface transportation reauthorization bill. Congress last approved a reauthorization in 2021 with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included the transportation spending ...
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Electric-vehicle startup Rivian Automotive just won a yearslong battle with car dealers in Washington state that threatens the model of how cars are sold.
After fighting to sell its vehicles directly to buyers, Rivian threatened to take its case to voters with a ballot measure to permit direct sales.
The dealers blinked.
The state’s dealer lobby not only dropped its opposition to a sales ...
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In an unprecedented use of federal authority, President Donald Trump’s administration has invoked emergency powers to force a series of retiring coal plants to stay open. Utilities, states and grid operators have said the aging plants are expensive, in bad repair and no longer needed to meet regional energy needs. But Trump’s efforts to save the dwindling coal industry have forced plant operators to continue investing in the facilities — a move that some consumer advocates fear could mean billions of ...
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EVERETT — Snohomish County state legislators on Tuesday recapped the recently concluded 2026 legislative session during a virtual forum, spotlighting substantial investments in transportation infrastructure while offering sharply different assessments of a new income tax on high earners. The Economic Alliance of Snohomish County hosted the discussion with Senators Marko Liias (D21–Edmonds) and Keith Wagoner (R39–Sedro-Woolley), and Representatives Sam Low (R39–Lake Stevens) and Julio Cortez (D38-Everett).
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For a short 60-day session, which concluded March 12, the Washington state Legislature exceeded expectations — not always for the good if you asked many Republicans in the chambers’ minorities — with adoption of consequential bills, including passage of a “millionaires tax” that promises a fairer state tax package and needed revenue in the coming years. There were also bills that did not advance — as happens each session regardless of length — that should be reconsidered and given opportunity ...
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Beginning in early June, real estate professionals in Washington state must publicly market their residential real estate listings to all consumers, unless the seller can show doing so would negatively impact their health or safety. This requirement comes after Washington Governor Bob Furgeson signed a bill into law on Monday banning exclusive marketing to select groups of buyers. Formerly known as Senate Bill 6091, the bill amends a section to the state’s real estate brokerage law that requires for sale properties ...
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