Washington State faces multi-billion-dollar budget deficit
Washington state is grappling with a multi-billion dollar budget deficit after years of increased spending. Estimates on the exact shortfall vary widely, […]
AI Transparency and Disclosure bills advance
Two bills aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI) recently passed the House Technology, Economic Development & Veterans Committee along party lines (8-5). […]
Retail sales slow in January, but economic growth continues
Retail sales dipped in January following a strong holiday season but still showed year-over-year growth, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau […]
Rulemaking notice: Retail alcohol product placement
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) will be seeking input from businesses, especially retailers, on upcoming rulemaking regarding Retail Alcohol […]
Seattle City Council approves police use of “less lethal” weapons
The Seattle City Council voted 6-3 to eliminate restrictions on the use of “less lethal” weapons, including blast balls, pepper spray, and […]
ORC Best Practices Report strengthens public-private partnerships
Organized retail crime (ORC) remains a serious challenge, impacting businesses, employees, and communities across Washington. To combat this growing issue, Washington Retail […]
Fiscal note inconsistencies in the 2025 session must be addressed
The fiscal note process in the Washington Legislature is intended to estimate a bill’s financial impact on the state budget before a […]
WR 2025 legislative priorities
Washington’s economy has demonstrated resilience, yet uncertainty remains. Each legislative session, hundreds of state bills directly impact the retail sector. WR’s Policy […]
Restrictive and punitive firearm legislation introduced
Following the passage of HB 2118 in the 2024 session—which restricted the sale of firearms—the 2025 legislative session has already introduced a […]
Governor Ferguson’s bold start: Prioritizing housing, public safety, and affordability
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is sworn into office by Washington Supreme Court chief justice Debra L. Stephens, right, during a joint legislative […]
House Labor Committee hears HB 1184 to address high overtime salary threshold
The House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee recently heard testimony on HB 1184, a bill designed to alleviate the burdensome overtime-exempt salary […]
Exemption for small business & nonprofits from high salary thresholds
State overtime exempt salary rules have negatively impacted workers in their work hour flexibility, training and promotion opportunities. Since the new rules’ […]