Latest Jay Inslee News

Justices weigh effort to balance Washington state's tax code
SEATTLE (AP) — An effort to balance what is considered the nation's most regressive state tax code came before the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday, with justices hearing arguments about whether they should overturn a prohibition on income taxes that dates to the 1930s. ...

Washington lawmakers hear testimony on 7 abortion bills
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Abortion rights proposals have been front and center in Olympia, Washington, this week as state lawmakers heard hours of public testimony on seven proposals that would reinforce abortion access. The emphasis on four legislative committees hearing testimony on...

Washington bill would lower legal blood alcohol level limit
A bill under consideration in Washington would make it the second state in the country to lower the legal limit for a driver’s blood alcohol content from 0.08% to 0.05%. State Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, is Senate Bill 5002′s primary sponsor. The former state trooper and...

Wash. Gov. Inslee seeks lawmaker action on housing, guns
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in a speech to a joint session of the Legislature Tuesday urged lawmakers to act on his legislative agenda, calling for big spending to build housing as well as additional gun laws and a funding boost for education. The governor’s...

Washington lawmakers convene for 105-day session
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Lawmakers in Washington state returned to Olympia on Monday to begin a 105-day legislative session, the first one fully in person since the COVID-19 pandemic forced lawmakers and the public to often meet and vote virtually. “Today we meet in person for the...
Washington state's legislative session to start Monday
Washington state legislative leaders appeared largely aligned with Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee in citing homelessness and a significant housing shortage as top priorities for the legislative session starting Monday in Olympia. Leaders of both parties in an annual meeting with...
Democrats propose assault weapon ban, gun purchase permit
TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced legislative proposals on Monday that would prohibit assault weapons, require a permit to purchase a gun and make gun sellers potentially liable for negligent sales in the state. Inslee and...
Inslee proposes billions for housing, would need voter OK
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee proposed Wednesday that state spending during the next two years prioritize housing, including an effort to quickly build thousands of units that would require the OK from Washington voters. The governor’s proposed budget would...
Inslee touts new housing program for Spokane's homeless
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was in Spokane Monday to preview the opening of a new housing project for homeless people, calling the Catalyst Project a step toward ending the state's homelessness crisis. The new housing, in a converted hotel, aims to provide...
WA sheriff's trial underway on false reporting charges
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — After a delay, a jury has been selected and attorneys have delivered their opening statements in the trial of a county sheriff in Washington state. Opening statements were given Wednesday afternoon after the trial was delayed because lawyers for Pierce County...
