2025 Washington state legislative session begins
Washington State Standard — House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, focused his opening day floor speech on areas where he said Washington is failing: Costs of gas, groceries and housing are too high, the state is in a public safety crisis due to a “culture of lawlessness,” and education outcomes are subpar. Stokesbary criticized Jinkins for focusing on “the other Washington” in advance of President-elect Donald Trump taking office next week. He urged her to spend more time on issues affecting Washington state.
WA bill would limit cellphone use in schools
The Seattle Times — A group of state lawmakers want to crack down on cellphones in schools. Reps. Stephanie McClintock, Mari Leavitt and Liz Berry introduced a bill requiring school districts to adopt a policy restricting student cellphone use during instructional time by the start of the 2026-27 school year. As educators across the state grapple with the issue of cellphones in schools, a growing body of research is shedding light on the potential benefits of limiting phone use during school hours. $
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
CORRECTIONS & JAILS
COURTS (STATE)
- WA’s newest state Supreme Court justice is sworn in (Washington State Standard)
- Yakima attorney Megan Murphy named to state Court of Appeals (Yakima Herald-Republic) $
- Trial of man accused of shooting trooper delayed to May (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin) $
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
- ‘Our lives depend on your decision’: Metro drivers urge immediate action on safety (KING TV)
- Plea for safety in Seattle’s CID as community seeks $1.5M for revitalization amid rising crime (KING TV)
EARLY LEARNING
EDUCATION
- Early bill action in education and early learning (The Washington Observer) $
- Spokane schools see impact of no-phone policy halfway through year (KXLY TV)
- Washington considers mandatory minimum lunch breaks for students (KING TV)
- OPINION: Fighting for public education: Washington Charters’ vision for students and families (Chris Korsmo, executive director of the Washington Charter Schools Association/The News Tribune) $
ELECTIONS
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES
ENVIRONMENT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE
- Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, faces crucial test at confirmation hearing (AP)
- Prosecutor who investigated Hunter Biden defends probes, denounces president’s remarks in new report (AP)
- Vanessa Waldref stepping down from role as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington (KREM TV)
HANFORD
HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS
- What to know about bird flu in the Pacific Northwest (Axios – Seattle)
- Healthcare company pays Washington more than $1M for overbilling (MyNorthwest)
- OPINION: Reform of policy, care delivery can bridge kids’ dental health gap (Mia Platoni, a student in the University of Washington’s Public Health-Global Health/The Seattle Times)
HOUSING
- The House housing bills cometh (The Washington Observer) $
- Rent control takes center stage on first day of 2025 WA legislative session (The Center Square)
- Capping the chaos: State lawmakers start session by re-introducing rent stabilization bill (MyNorthwest)
- How the proposed rent control bill could affect Washington renters (KXLY TV)
- WA home prices double in a decade, among nation’s highest rises (FOX 13)
- Density debate sparks friction in Seattle (Axios – Seattle)
IMMIGRATION
- U.S. Senate moves ahead with immigration bill expanding detention for theft, shoplifting (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)
- What to know about immigration in Washington amid threats of ‘mass deportations’ (KING TV)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Washington state has a cop shortage (KPQ Radio)
- New recruits bring hope and change to Seattle police force amid staffing improvements (KOMO TV)
- Seattle Community Police Commission seeks to regroup from internal turmoil, influence crowd control ordinance (KUOW Radio)
LEGISLATURE
- Washington lawmakers kick off 2025 legislative session (FOX 13)
- 3 things to watch as WA’s 2025 legislative session kicks off (NW News Network)
- The 2025 WA legislature convenes: Here’s your guide to the busy first week of the 105-day session (The Olympian) $
- The curtain goes up in Olympia (The Washington Observer) $
- Newly styled fashion bill debuts on Washington’s legislative runway (Washington State Standard)
- BAC limit, property taxes and school panic buttons among issues lawmakers will weigh this session (KING TV)
- WA legislative staffers approve union contracts ahead of session (Cascade PBS)
- New Spokane-area legislators excited for first day of session as work begins (The Spokesman-Review) $
- Gloria Mendoza begins term as new 14th District state representative; Grandview lawmaker selected to deliver Republican perspective following Governor’s Inaugural Address on Wednesday (KLCK Radio/Gorge Country Media)
- Rep. Tom Dent shaken, but uninjured in I-90 crash (KONA Radio)
- Sen. Goehner, Rep. Burnett sworn in as 2025 session gets underway in Olympia (KOZI Radio)
- This Tacoma Democrat was elected as the state Senate’s second-in-command for the ’25 session (The News Tribune) $
- Cortes resigns from Battle Ground City Council to serve as state senator (The Reflector)
- OPINION: Washington state needs a pro-growth agenda (Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business/The Chronicle)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MENTAL HEALTH
OPERATING BUDGET
- WA Legislature starts 2025 session as fierce budget debate looms (The Seattle Times) $
- Budget deficit looms as legislators return to Olympia (KING TV)
- New legislative session begins in Olympia with projected $12 billion budget shortfall (KOMO TV)
- Carlson conclusion: Budget deception in 2025 Washington Legislature (KVI Radio)
OTHER STATES
- A tough-on-crime approach is back in US state capitols (AP/KHQ)
- Kotek calls for more readily available mental health care in State of the State address (The Oregonian) $
SCHOOL SAFETY
STATE GOVERNMENT
- Bob Ferguson to be sworn in as Washington governor on Wednesday (FOX 13)
- Jay Inslee reflects on 12 years as Washington governor (Cascade PBS)
- Inslee requests federal aid for public infrastructure damaged by bomb cyclone (Washington State Standard)
- Critics say WA’s domestic extremism task force lacks viewpoint diversity (The Center Square)
- WA’s new police accountability office is up and running — partially (The Seattle Times) $
TAXES
TRANSPORTATION
- Washington Legislature pre-filed bills to help safe driving (KNDO/KNDU)
- Community Focus: Residents say no to light rail with interstate bridge project (The Reflector)
- City of Vancouver awarded $30 million grant to cap I-5 as part of bridge replacement (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
- Facing budget cuts, will Olympia finally fund our roads like it should? (MyNorthwest)
- WA Legislature asked to widen Columbia Center Blvd. + other Kennewick priorities (Tri-City Herald) $
VAPING
WEATHER & CLIMATE
WILDLIFE
