State & Regional News | Thurston Chronicle

Sen. Jessica Bateman, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, leads a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

New Washington state law will make it easier for state to distribute its abortion pill stockpile

Washington earlier this year had to return 30,000 expiring doses from its abortion pill stockpile to the manufacturer. A state law signed Saturday seeks to ensure remaining pills the state … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/14/26

An ICE officer detains a handcuffed man in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. Photo: Tia Dufour / U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Public Domain

Seattle looks to expand its efforts against federal immigration enforcement

Seattle’s battle with federal immigration officials is getting even broader. The Seattle City Council is expected at its March 17 meeting to authorize a review of the city’s policies … more

By Randy Diamond / The Center Square | 3/13/26

In bid for voter data, Trump’s DOJ lays groundwork to undermine confidence in midterms

The U.S. Department of Justice has begun connecting its push to obtain sensitive personal data on millions of voters to whether the upcoming midterm elections will be fair and secure, laying the … more

By Jonathan Shorman / Stateline | 3/13/26

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders waves to the crowd during the Rainier Round-Up Days Parade on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Washington state sheriffs urge partial veto of bill setting new standards for their jobs

Washington sheriffs are pushing Gov. Bob Ferguson to veto parts of a controversial bill that would set new standards for them and could lead to removal from office. In a letter this week, … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/13/26

Members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe open the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with a tribal song on Aug. 15.

State awards $16.8 million for tribal clean energy and resilience projects

The Washington state Department of Commerce this week announced $16.8 million in clean energy grants to support 22 projects in 17 tribal communities across Washington. The awards will also fund … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/13/26

Walsh, Abell say Legislature ignored constitutional warning in passing income tax

Washington state Reps. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, and Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, say legislation passed this week following a historic 24-hour floor debate to create a Washington state income tax … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/13/26

From the left, city councilor Clark Gilman, Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne and Mayor Pro Tem Yến Huỳnh listen during a city council meeting at Olympia City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Oly-amory: Olympia becomes first Washington city to pass polyamory protections

Relationship rights advocates in the Pacific Northwest are pushing to establish legal protections for people who are polyamorous or in other nontraditional relationship structures. In Olympia, … more

By Nate Sanford / Murrow News | 3/13/26

Legislators, family members and friends join lawmakers on the House floor to celebrate the last day of the legislative session on Thursday, March 12, in Olympia.

Washington state legislative session ends with budgets passed and a dash of drama

The Washington Legislature concluded its 2026 session Thursday evening after passing a batch of budgets and navigating late-breaking drama over the elimination of a data center tax break that … more

By Jerry Cornfield, Jake Goldstein-Street and Aspen Ford / Washington State Standard | 3/13/26

Podcaster Brandi Kruse leads a Let’s Go Washington rally supporting initiatives concerning parental rights and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Questions persist in debate over media credentials at Washington state Capitol

In March 2025, the Capitol Correspondents Association officially stopped its decades-long role of advising the Washington State Legislature on media credentialing. However, the CCA, a group of … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 3/12/26

Rep. Joe Timmons, D-Bellingham, holds a gavel as assistant speaker pro tem during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

Independent business leader says income tax could cripple Washington’s small businesses

The 2026 legislative session in Olympia is wrapping up Thursday, and one of the final pieces of legislation to cross the finish line was the Senate Bill 6346 . Three Democrats joined all … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/12/26

State Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, smiles at House Speaker Laurie Jinkins during a Legislative Media Day at the Washington state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Olympia.

Washington state Dems push through $2B spending increase in final hours of legislative session

In the final hours of the legislative session, state lawmakers passed budgets on Thursday to fill a multi-billion-dollar hole with new taxes, reserves, one-time transfers and some cuts. Budget … more

Tim Clouser / The Center Square | 3/12/26

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivers the State of the State address for the 2026 Legislative session at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Income tax bill heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson for signature

Democratic state senators in Washington pushed a state income tax across the legislative finish line Wednesday after Republicans’ last-ditch attempt to derail it failed. On a 27-21 vote, … more

By Jerry Cornfield / The Washington State Standard | 3/12/26

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins raises the gavel on the second day of the Washington state Legislative session in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Washington business leaders fear mass exodus following House income tax vote

The day after majority party Democrats in the Washington state House of Representatives passed, after a 24-hour debate, a tax on annual personal income exceeding $1 million, business organizations … more

By Carleen Johnson / The Center Square | 3/11/26

Businesses can’t require microchip implants for workers under new Washington law

Injected under the skin, usually between the thumb and index finger, microchip implants can serve as identification or make contactless payments smoother. But Washington workers don’t … more

By Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/11/26

Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, speaks during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

State Dems seek to tap the rainy day fund, cut child care and commit $1B to legal payouts

Democrats in the Washington Legislature released a budget deal Wednesday balanced with one-time maneuvers, siphoning of rainy day reserves and slashing of child care funding. “There will be a … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Jake Goldstein-Street / The Washington State Standard | 3/11/26

TransAlta Corporation is keeping its Centralia coal power plant available to operate, as ordered by the Trump administration. But the CEO said it is unlikely to run because of the ample seasonal hydropower supply in the Pacific Northwest. (Photo by Tom Banse)

New targeted tax in Washington aims to keep Centralia coal power plant shut down

Tax legislation Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Wednesday targets the last coal-fired power plant in the Pacific Northwest. But if the coal tax and a related climate pollution fee work as … more

By Tom Banse / The Washington State Standard | 3/11/26

From left, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, Gary Johnson, Tony “Naschio” Johnson, Mary Johnson and Sam Robinson pose for a photo in the Washington state Senate on Monday.

Senate honors Chinook Indian Nation with resolution in final days of session

Washington state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, led the Washington state Legislature in honoring the Chinook Indian Nation in the final days of the state's 2026 legislative session this week. On … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

Protestors hold anti-ICE and anti-Trump signs during the Free America Walkout at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

‘No Kings 3’ protest coming to Washington state Capitol

Olympia Indivisible and Evergreen Resistance, along with coalition partners, have invited the public to attend a third “No Kings” protest at the state Capitol on March 28. “No Thrones, No … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

David Lee, from Portland, catches a smelt on the Cowlitz River near Longview on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Upcoming changes for hunters, anglers as WDFW modernizes licenses

Beginning July 8, the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will no longer provide hunting and fishing licenses or other license products on waterproof, tear-resistant license paper … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

Democratic lawmakers watch as the roll is called on final passage of the income tax bill after nearly 25 hours of debate. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard.

After 24-hour debate, Washington state House advances income tax

It took over 24 hours of grinding floor debate, but Democrats in the Washington House approved an income tax Tuesday on households earning over $1 million a year. The state is now closer to … more

By Jerry Cornfield and Bill Lucia / The Washington State Standard | 3/10/26