King County Executive Constantine resigns to become Sound Transit’s CEO
Image credit: (Peter Bohler / King County) On March 27, the Sound Transit governing board unanimously selected King County Executive Dow Constantine […]
Puget Sound mayors warn against business tax hikes
Mayors from Bellevue, Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond, Des Moines, and Renton gathered for a joint news conference on March 28, 2025. A […]
Curbing escalating payroll expenses for Washington employers
Earlier this month, WR highlighted the mounting regulatory costs burden on retailers. To further illustrate these challenges, the March 2025 Washington State […]
Lawmakers to vote on $12 billion tax package that raises costs on retail
Lawmakers are preparing to vote on SB 5814, HB 2081, and SB 5786, as part of their $12 billion tax package over […]
WR advances Right to Appraisal proposal for collision repair members
Image credit: TVW WR successfully helped advance SB 5721, a long-awaited Right to Appraisal proposal, on behalf of its collision repair members, […]
Expanded military definition in unemployment rule now includes Space Force
The Employment Security Department has adopted a final rule amending WAC 192-150-110, which outlines eligibility for unemployment benefits due to mandatory military […]
WR urges caution on Paid Leave rate cap increase
The Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program was established through a landmark compromise among business, labor, and policymakers. Two core principles […]
House approves packaging recycling bill, rejects environmental crimes bill
Photo by Washington State Standard This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved SB 5284, which establishes extended producer responsibility for product packaging. […]
Apparel retailers grapple with higher-than-expected tariffs
The tariffs announced April 2 are steeper and broader than expected and affect almost every apparel and footwear retailer. Nearly all manufacturing is abroad, mostly […]
What we are tracking — WR Legislative Hot List
WR is closely monitoring the bills that have advanced through the legislative process. Each week, we’ll spotlight our weekly “hot list” key […]
House passes unemployment insurance for striking workers
In a narrow vote, the House of Representatives passed SB 5041, which would extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to workers on strike, […]
Executive Order challenges state climate laws, Including Washington’s CCA
President Trump signed an executive order this week challenging state-level climate policies, including Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The order directs attorneys […]