2024 Legislative Session

As overdose deaths in Washington state have skyrocketed, lawmakers like state Rep. Lauren Davis have scrambled to try and improve the drug treatment system.

Olympia correspondent Jeanie Lindsay joins KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick to cover the highlights of the 2024 legislative session.

Washington's legislature has adjourned for the year, with lawmakers scoring wins on many big issues. But several priorities for Democrats stalled as a few Republican-backed voter initiatives took center stage during the short 60-day session.

Most of the bills lawmakers pass in Olympia include bipartisan support, but many Democrats are skeptical of, or outright oppose, these initiative measures. So why did Democrats join with Republicans to enact them?

Three voter initiatives are on their way to becoming law after the Washington Legislature offered their final approval Monday, including another change to the state's rules around police car chases.

Lawmakers are plowing ahead with three high-profile voter initiatives. The Legislature plans to take a final vote on the measures Monday, despite concerns from members of the Democratic majority.

No Republican or Democrat voted against a bill to expand neighborhood cafes in Washington's residential areas last month. Then, something important changed.

During the penultimate week of Washington's 2024 legislative session, lawmakers left behind some major bills, committees held public hearings and voted on some high-profile initiatives, and several measures crossed the finish line.

Washington lawmakers are set to take initial action on a group of voter initiatives this week, but only one of them could substantially change existing policies.

The first of three voter initiatives to get hearings this week would ban income taxes at the state and local levels in Washington – but an analysis shows it wouldn't change any current laws.