Republican state representatives introduce bill to combat substance abuse through involuntary holds; Parenting is expensive in Washington, but so is this idea to make it cheaper

Republican state representatives introduce bill to combat substance abuse through involuntary holds

The Chronicle — Washington state Reps. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, and Travis Couture, R-Allyn, both of the 35th Legislative District, introduced House Bill 1787 on Monday, Feb. 3. The bill, according to a release by the Washington State House Republicans, would change criteria of the Washington state Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) and “aims to double the state’s capacity of secure detox beds” in certain communities. The changes to Washington’s ITA would allow involuntary holds in secure detox facilities.

Parenting is expensive in Washington, but so is this idea to make it cheaper

The Center Square — “This is something we can do to help out families,” Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, testified Friday during a public hearing on her bill before the House Finance Committee. If approved, the legislation would create sales tax exemptions for diapers and other products to make parenthood more affordable. While the Department of Revenue would publish a list of all qualifying products, HB 1307 lays out several.

ABORTION

• Bill would bolster ‘Shield Law’ for abortions, gender procedures for out-of-state residents (The Center Square)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• OPINION: Washington state families need relief from rising costs (Rep. Peter Abbarno/The Reflector)

CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM

• EDITORIAL: Washington voters committed to climate act (The Columbian) $

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Foster mothers demand legislators address growing number of child deaths, near deaths under CPS supervision (KING TV)
• Bill by Walla Walla lawmaker proposes neighborhood cafés and stores in residential zones (KHQ TV)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Washington state bill that would reduce sentences for inmates with juvenile felonies moves through Legislature (Investigate West/The Reflector)
• Correctional officers struggling with PTSD could be provided coverage under new bill (Kitsap Sun) $
• OPINION: Shorten prison sentences to reduce state spending? No thanks, Democrats (Sen. John Braun/The Reflector)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Supreme Court that Trump helped shape could have the last word on his aggressive executive orders (AP)

COURTS (STATE)

• Vancouver police officer’s widow sues Clark County, claims deputy ‘acted rashly’ in fatal shooting (Oregon Public Broadcasting) $

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• WA legislators hear bill to lengthen sentences for organized retail theft (FOX 13)
• Washington wants to eliminate some of its 11 reentry centers, and Bellingham is on the block (The Bellingham Herald) $
• Yakima grapples with weekend shootings, police confident in ability to keep community safe (KNDO/KNDU)
• OPINION: Fix Washington — real solutions for safer streets and stronger communities (Rep. Peter Abbarno/The Reflector)

EDUCATION

• WA students lag in reading and math, but some districts gain ground (The Seattle Times) $
• WA senator sparks fury with description of 40-year-old law limiting parental rights (Washington State Standard)
• Parental Bill of Rights debate rages on as Democratic party chair comment goes viral (KOMO TV)
• State Rep. Jim Walsh testifies in support of new education privacy bill (The Chronicle)
• Washington bill protecting new student ‘identities’ clears committee (The Center Square)

EMERGENCY POWERS

• OPINION: Balancing power: The case for legislative control during emergencies in Washington (Madi Clark, senior policy analyst for Mountain State Policy Center/The News Tribune) $

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• H.B. 1253 expands energy production and storage (KONA Radio)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Flu levels are at a 15-year high in the U.S., but many Washington children haven’t gotten their flu shot (KUOW Radio)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Washington, UW join lawsuit over Trump order cutting funding for medical research (KUOW Radio)
• Judge temporarily halts slash in federal research spending that could force major cutbacks at WSU and UW (The Spokesman-Review) $

HOMELESSNESS

• Why isn’t anyone keeping track of the number of homeless people dying in Pierce County? (The News Tribune) $
• Pierce County’s new warming center has helped 31% of county’s homeless population (The Center Square)
• Clark County Matters blasts bill allowing homeless to sue local governments (The Reflector)
• EDITORIAL: Restricting sleeping in public won’t end homelessness (The Seattle Times) $

HOUSING

• King County housing market sees inventory surge, price gains (FOX 13)
• Mobile home park tenants seek help from WA Attorney General’s office (FOX 13)
• Clark County again has highest eviction rate per capita in Washington and it shows no signs of slowing (The Columbian) $

IMMIGRATION

• Who’s at risk of deportation in Washington state? Five things to know (KUOW Radio)
• Here’s what advocates are telling WA immigrants about ICE raids (The Seattle Times) $
• WA resettlement agency sues Trump over refugee admissions halt (The Seattle Times) $

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Washington bill would set new limits on when police can stop drivers (Washington State Standard)
• WA bill would limit police officers’ ability to make certain traffic stops. Here’s why (The News Tribune) $
• Bill: Police would not be able to stop drivers for broken headlights, recently expired tabs (KING TV)
• Local law enforcement officials oppose ‘traffic safety for all’ legislation (The Reflector)
• OPINION: Auburn officials: What we’ve learned after Nelson sentencing (Nancy Backus, mayor of Auburn, and Mark Caillier, Auburn police chief/The Seattle Times) $

LEGISLATURE

• Washington lawmakers consider bills to recognize two Muslim holidays (Washington State Standard)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Spokane voices support for Washington’s sanctuary law in most crowded meeting in years (The Spokesman-Review) $
• Camas City Council officially opposes light rail on new I-5 Bridge despite warnings changes could delay project (The Columbian) $

MENTAL HEALTH

• Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider (The Everett Herald) $

OTHER STATES

• Oregon board rejects Gov. Tina Kotek’s request to direct all opioid settlement funds to harm reduction (The Oregonian) $

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Shots fired at Seattle Public Schools building; cafeteria hit but no injuries reported (KING TV)

SPORTS

• Bill seeks to clarify WA law regarding women’s sports in schools (The Center Square)
• What happens to a school that refuses to obey the Trump ban on transgender athletes? (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)
• Parent could face charges after allegedly shoving teen refs at youth hockey game (The Seattle Times) $

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17 (The Everett Herald) $

TAXES

• COLUMN: Amid high costs for employers, voters say more taxes a bad idea (Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business/Kitsap Sun) $

TRANSPORTATION

• Reducing traffic stops: Bill proposes warnings by mail, targeted enforcement for safer roads (MyNorthwest)
• Work zone speed camera to rotate through Washington highway projects (KOMO TV)
• Speed cameras coming to WA freeway work zones soon (MyNorthwest)
• Washington bill seen as driver to fuel prices (Capital Press) $
• New REAL ID rules for plane travel set to take hold in May (Axios – Seattle)
• OPINION: Should unelected CA regulators call the shots for auto rules in Washington state? (Sam Cardwell, Mountain States Policy Center/The Center Square)

WILDLIFE

• Lawmakers urge reversal of grizzly bear policy (KHQ TV)

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