Washington state Sen. Lisa Wellman is a self-described science fiction fanatic. Wellman regularly gives teenagers Isaac Asimov’s 1950 short story collection I, Robot. She recalls the book’s famous “Three Laws of Robotics,” which include the provision that “a robot may not injure ...
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As three legislators sat at the front of the room addressing a slew of important topics while their constituents listened in, a group of Washington Education Association (WEA) members stood at the back holding signs that read, “raise revenue, fund ...
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Dear neighbors, We’ve reached the halfway point in the 2026 legislative session, and that means it’s time for a town hall! I’ll join my seatmates, Reps. My-Linh Thai and Janice Zahn, for an in-person town hall next Saturday, Feb. 21, ...
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Dear neighbors, We are already a quarter of the way through our 60-day legislative session. Things are moving quickly, but we are working hard to pass as many bills as we can to protect Washington from the federal government’s actions, ...
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Washington state lawmakers are considering stronger regulations on artificial intelligence companion chatbots. This comes amid growing concern over the technology’s impact on young peoples’ mental health. Senate Bill 5984 and its companion House Bill 2225 would require that chatbots remind the user that ...
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The next two months could bring some changes to education in Washington. The 2026 legislative session began Monday and will run through mid-March. As with last year, the budget is the elephant in the room. Legislators are facing a $2.3 ...
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From Spokane Public Radio, it’s SPR News Today. I’m Owen Henderson. It’s January 13, 2026. On today’s show, what are the risks for people who turn to artificial intelligence for emotional support? Now that the legislative session is underway in ...
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AI companionship is growing rapidly especially among minors. About one-third of U.S. teens report relying on an AI chatbot for emotional support. The trend has Washington state regulators sounding alarm bells in the wake of several high-profile cases of teen suicide involving ...
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Regulating artificial intelligence — especially how it affects children and teens — has become a key issue as Washington’s Legislature begins its new session Monday. Why it matters: As AI use rapidly expands, some lawmakers say tech companies haven’t put adequate safeguards in place to protect ...
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Dear neighbors, Washington may have a part-time legislature, but my role as your state senator is a full-time, year-round job — and it’s one I’m honored to have every day. The months between legislative sessions are just as important as ...
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