John Burbank argues Governor Bob Ferguson should call a special session to ensure universal health care and child care in the face of Trump’s devastating federal cuts. Taxing corporate oligarchs could provide the revenue necessary.

Governor Bob Ferguson signed a historic “millionaires’ tax” on Monday. Democratic leaders see it as a huge step forward in balancing the state’s tax code, but the tax will need to survive a court battle and Republican-backed repeal campaigns.

The pressure to invest in degrading state highways pushed legislators to turn to $1.3 billion in bonding, a move necessary due to so many dollars being tied up in highway expansion projects like the North Spokane Corridor and the Puget Sound Gateway.

Earlier this week, Governor Bob Ferguson signed the Seattle Social Housing Developer's priority bill, granting new powers to collaborate with state and local government and receive access to public land.

State lawmakers declined to unlock a financial tool that Sound Transit sought to get through a coming financial crunch, and approved a tax package that is expected to bring the agency a big revenue hit.

The Urbanist's Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm discussed recent news out of Olympia, candidate campaign rollouts, and King County transportation funding woes.

Ferry advocates had been hoping that expanded authority to create passenger ferry districts could allow them to supplement state ferry service in more areas. But changes to the bill in the state Senate could significantly undermine that goal.

Ferry advocates had been hoping that expanded authority to create passenger ferry districts could allow them to supplement state ferry service in more areas. But changes to the bill in the state Senate could significantly undermine that goal.

The post Mosquito Fleet Act Runs Into Choppy Seas in the State Senate first appeared on The Urbanist.

After House transportation chair Jake Fey blocked a bill giving Sound Transit’s authority to issue longer-term bonds up to 75 years in length, the sponsor in the state Senate amended the provision into a different bill that remains alive, giving the effort a new lease on life.

After House transportation chair Jake Fey blocked a bill giving Sound Transit's authority to issue longer-term bonds up to 75 years in length, the sponsor in the state Senate amended the provision into a different bill that remains alive, giving the effort a new lease on life.

The post Sound Transit’s Bid to Unlock 75-Year Bonds Finds Second Wind first appeared on The Urbanist.

The failure of HB 1175 to make it to the state Senate floor mirrors a similar fate two years ago. Bill sponsor Mark Klicker placed the decision to let the neighborhood cafe bill die squarely on Local Government Committee Chair Jesse Salomon.

The post Neighborhood Cafe and Corner Store Bill Fails for Third Straight Year first appeared on The Urbanist.

The proposed state House operating budget would zero out the Washington State Urban and Community Forestry program, which cities across the state rely on to leverage federal dollars for trees. The effects of those cuts could be wide-reaching.

The post ‘Existential’ Budget Cut Would Wipe Out State Urban Forestry Program first appeared on The Urbanist.

After concerns were raised by city officials around removing flexibility to create vibrant and walkable neighborhoods, the version approved by the House local government committee sets a 40% cap on mixed-use zones where ground-floor retail spaces can be required.

The post Legislation Targeting Ground-Floor Storefronts Gets Overhauled in House first appeared on The Urbanist.

The $2 billion in new bonding in the Senate's transportation budget would help bolster the state's highway and bridge maintenance spending, which has lagged due to longstanding prioritization of new highway projects. But the debt load could create problems for future budget writers.

The post State Senate Signs Onto Billions of New Debt for Highway Upkeep first appeared on The Urbanist.

King County is staring down a fiscal cliff that threatens to dismantle the services our communities rely on most. Port Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa lays out the case for passing House Bill 2442 to give counties another revenue tool to address their fiscal challenges.

The post Op-Ed: Why HB 2442 is a Lifeline for Cash-Strapped King County first appeared on The Urbanist.

The 41-7 vote in the Washington State Senate advances a proposal that would allow builders more flexibility to install smaller elevators in smaller apartment buildings, a small step toward bringing U.S. elevator costs more in line with the rest of the world.

The post Washington’s Elevator Reform Bill Rises Again first appeared on The Urbanist.

Lawmakers are aiming to add guardrails to the most addictive social media sites when it comes to usage by kids. But privacy and civil rights advocates are warning of significant unintended consequences.

The post Washington Legislature Toys with Age Verification for Big Tech first appeared on The Urbanist.