2026 Legislative Session wrap-up
The 2026 Washington State Legislative Session adjourned on March 12, concluding a fast-moving 60-day session shaped by budget pressure, targeted policy changes, […]
WR members’ environmental advocacy secured $3.2 M for the largest waste tire cleanup
Image: Tri-City Herald Tire dealers, many of whom are family-owned small businesses, have faithfully collected the state’s waste tire fees since 2005 […]
WR interim CEO discusses state of retail at CCIM-WA luncheon
Alesha Shemwell, interim CEO of WR, spoke at the March 2026 luncheon hosted by the CCIM Washington Chapter on March 18 in Bellevue. The […]
St. Patrick’s Day spending expected to reach record levels
St. Patrick’s Day spending was projected to reach record levels in 2026, with consumers across the United States continuing to embrace the […]
Retail supply chains face continued uncertainty
Retail supply chains continue to navigate a period of ongoing disruption driven by global events, shifting trade policies, and geopolitical tensions. Over […]
‘We’ve made ourselves an outlier’: Downtown Seattle Association says business taxes are pushing out employers
Left to right: WR Retail Industry Coalition of Seattle Director, WR Director of Policy and Government Affairs Crystal Leatherman, WR Interim CEO […]
WR’s Sine Die celebration draws strong crowd, returns next year
Washington Retail Association (WR) closed out the 2026 legislative session with its Sine Die event on March 12, bringing together members, partners, […]
Legislature requires paid leave solvency and integrity evaluation by Nov 2026
In addition to passing two bills addressing the Paid Leave program’s rate structure (2SSB 5292) and contribution allocation (2SHB 2345), the Legislature […]
WR Government Affairs team reflects and plans in 2026 post-session strategic retreat
The Government Affairs team at WR recently held its 2026 Post-Session Strategic Planning Retreat in Olympia, moderated by Jennie Foglia-Jones. Together, the team […]
Washington begins awarding police hiring grants
Washington has awarded the first grants under its new $100 million program aimed at boosting local law enforcement staffing. The Kent Police […]
Seattle pauses citywide AI rollout for workers
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has paused the planned citywide rollout of Microsoft Copilot for city employees while her administration reviews the broader […]
Executive order targets misleading “Made in America” claims
A new executive order issued by Donald Trump aims to strengthen enforcement against misleading “Made in America” claims, particularly within online marketplaces. The order […]