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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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’ […]
Minimum wage hike and paid leave mandates face strong opposition
This week, the House and Senate held hearings on HB 1764 / SB 5578, which propose raising the minimum wage to $25/hour […]
Washington Fair Chance Act expansion raises employer concerns
Washington’s Fair Chance Act could see significant expansion under HB 1747, a proposed bill that further restricts employers from considering criminal records […]