OLYMPIA -- Some large companies would have to reveal how much their tax preferences are worth under a bill the House approved Tuesday. On a mostly partisan 52-45 vote, the House approved and sent to the Senate a bill requiring publicly traded companies in 32…
OLYMPIA -- Four small Eastern Washington counties could opt out of many requirements of the Growth Management Act under a bill approved unanimously by the Senate. SB 6194 allows counties with fewer than 20,000 people that voluntarily agreed to join the GMA in the past…
OLYMPIA -- Owners of former contract liquor stores struggling with the new law on liquor sales would get some help from fees under a bill approved Tuesday by the Senate. After voters approved a ballot measure getting the state out of the wholesale and retail…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate gave strong support for tougher penalties for assaults stemming from the so-called knockout game, despite a warning from some Democrats state laws already are adequate to handle what's may be a criminal "fad." Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, sponsored SB 6011…
OLYMPIA -- The hopes of many interest groups, lobbyists and citizens with hopes for key pieces of legislation hang in the balance today, a major "cut-off" day for bills. If a bill doesn't have some fiscal aspect to it, it must have passed the chamber…