Rachel La Corte

A judge has overturned a new capital gains tax on high profit stocks, bonds and other assets that was approved by the Washington Legislature last year, ruling that it is an unconstitutional tax on income.

The Washington state House has dropped its requirement that lawmakers verify they are vaccinated and boosted in order to attend floor votes in the chamber, and starting Tuesday, the north gallery will reopen to a limited number of members of the public, who must be masked and maintain social distancing.

The Washington Senate has approved a measure that authorizes legislative leaders to terminate a governor's state of emergency after 90 days if the Legislature is not in session. The vote comes nearly two years after Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

House and Senate Democrats have unveiled a $16 billion, 16-year transportation revenue package that spends on a variety of projects. Areas that will see funding range from the building new hybrid electric ferries and funding of more walking and biking corridors to highway maintenance and the replacement of fish passage culverts.

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s adoption this week of a rule prohibiting insurers from using credit scoring to set rates for auto, homeowner and renter insurance has already drawn a legal challenge from insurer groups.

Washington state’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program could hit a deficit as early as March, and there are concerns about long-term solvency following a significant increase in demand for the benefit that launched in 2020.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is calling on state lawmakers to take action on a multitude of issues during their 60-day legislative session, including addressing the homelessness crisis, helping children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and taking more steps to address climate change.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has released a nearly $62 billion supplemental state budget plan that looks to increase spending on efforts related to homelessness, climate change and salmon recovery.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday proposed a host of efforts to address homelessness in the state, including a plan to help people stay in their homes, increasing emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing and expanding services for addiction or mental health issues.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday several climate-related proposals for the next legislative session, including a plan to offer rebates for new and used electric vehicles, on top of the sales tax exemption that currently exists for such vehicles in the state.