Author: Carleen Johnson | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A day after outgoing three-term Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his final State of the State address, Bob Ferguson was sworn in as the state’s 24th governor on Wednesday. Ferguson has served as the state attorney general since 2013 and was a member of the King County Council before that. Following the…

(The Center Square) – Monday marked the beginning of the 105-day legislative session in Washington state. During this session, lawmakers will address a variety of challenges and issues, including a projected operating budget gap, public safety, housing, and homelessness. More than 30 newly seated members were sworn in. Some are brand new to the Washington…

(The Center Square) – Last month, outgoing Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee proposed a 1% tax on an individual’s wealth above $100 million as part of a plan to plug a projected budget shortfall of between $10 billion and $16 billion, depending on who you ask. “We have proposed what I call a very modest tax…

(The Center Square) – Both sides are gearing up for the next round in court in the fight over Washington state’s law prohibiting the sale, attempted sale, manufacture and distribution of high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The case of the State of Washington v. Gator’s Custom Guns Inc. will be heard by the Washington…

(The Center Square) – With energy-intensive artificial intelligence, or AI, consuming more electricity than traditional data-center activities, reliability of the electrical grid should be the top priority, according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The Portland, Ore.-based council is a regional organization that develops and maintains a regional power plan and a fish and…

(The Center Square) – Supporters of lowering the threshold for passing a school bond measure will try again in the upcoming legislative session in Washington. According to Education Week, Washington is one of 10 states in the country that require greater than 50% approval to pass school bonds. Bonds provide funding for capital projects, including the…

(The Center Square) – Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposal for a “wealth tax” is drawing sharp criticism from Seattle business leader, entrepreneur and Democratic supporter Nick Hanauer. Hanauer posted on X, ripping the proposal apart, calling it “impractical” with “serious legal challenges.” “I’ve spent my life working to address income inequality & progressive taxation,” posted Hanauer. “We worked hard…

(The Center Square) – A Washington lawmaker wants to shore up the state’s transportation budget by gradually putting sales taxes on vehicles into the roads they’ll drive on. New legislation for the 2025 session offered by Senator Curtis King, R-Yakima, would increase the percentage of vehicle sales taxes devoted to the transportation budget from only…

(The Center Square) – Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, has announced that she is running for State Senate in the 26th Legislative District, and on Wednesday she learned who her opponent will be. The Nov. 2025 contest will be a special election to fill the remaining term of the seat vacated by Sen. Emily Randall’s…

(The Center Square) – Clark County election officials have finished a machine recount in the Legislative District 18 Senate contest between Republican candidate Brad Benton and Democrat challenger Adrian Cortes. Out of 84,123 votes in the race, Cortes was leading Benton by 172 votes when the secretary of state certified election results on Dec. 5,…