Latest news with #WashingtonStateSenate
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fast Ferry cuts loom as Washington faces budget crisis
The Brief Some commuters in Kitsap County and Vashon Island could see their fast ferry or water taxi routes to Seattle be cut in the near future. Washington lawmakers are proposing limiting fast ferry weekday roundtrips to and from Seattle as they work to budget around a mutli-billion dollar shortfall. BREMERTON, Wash. - Commuters in Kitsap County and on Vashon Island may soon see limitations on a popular transportation option, as budget constraints threaten to sink funding for several fast ferry and water taxi sailings. With Olympia facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall, state lawmakers are opting to no longer fund multiple weekday roundtrips to and from Seattle. "We need our ferries. We only have this one final ferry," said Deb, a Bremerton resident. "We cannot afford to lose our fast ferries." What we know Currently, the plan is to slash seven weekday roundtrips to Bremerton on the fast ferry and four to Vashon Island on the water taxi. "People who don't live in Seattle and need the ferries to commute to Seattle aren't going to get there as reliably," said Brad Hogan, a Bremerton commuter who takes the fast ferry to work at least five days a week. "It's just going to destroy everybody's free time because they have to catch even earlier ferries and take even later ones." Hogan, a Navy veteran, believes ferry service to his peninsula home should be expanded, not reduced. "I've always been impressed with their operational tempo. The way they can just get 100 people across, unload and load them back up in less than five minutes," he said. "Those guys don't fall behind, like almost ever." In the Washington State Senate's 2023-2025 budget, legislators allotted millions of dollars to increase water taxi and fast ferry services. However, these funds were omitted from the newly drafted budget for 2025-2027. A spokesperson explained that the previous allocations were only meant as a stopgap until more state ferry boats could return to service. Governor Bob Ferguson recently announced that Washington would delay hybrid-electrification of its ferry fleet to keep more boats operational—a move that may address some service gaps. The Source Information in this story is from the Washington State Legislature and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews. Docs: Man accused of killing WA grandmother 'meticulously planned' murder Boeing 737 reportedly rejected overseas, FOX 13 finds matching jet in Seattle Seattle high school student shot, killed in Yakima on Easter Sunday Seattle Kraken fire head coach Dan Bylsma after one season New structure for 2025 THING Festival in Carnation, WA How to celebrate Earth Day 2025 in Seattle To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beer gardens optional? New booze law sets stage for World Cup street sipping
This story was originally published on Raise your glasses, Washington: the beer garden isn't dead—it's just evolving. Temporarily. The Washington State Senate gave final approval to House Bill 1515 on Wednesday, voting 37–12 in favor of a 'modernization' of alcohol service in public spaces. It means your favorite street festivals, concerts, and civic events might start to feel a little more like New Orleans or a lively European plaza—fewer fenced-off beer pens, more stroll-friendly sips. No, it doesn't eliminate roped-off beer gardens entirely, but it does give local governments the power to allow broader outdoor drinking zones, shared service areas between businesses, and even campus-wide booze zones at public places like Seattle Center. The beer garden just got a glow-up. And the timing? Conveniently synced with Seattle's moment in the global spotlight: hosting games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coincidence? Not a chance. The bill's expanded alcohol privileges are temporary, running only through December 31, 2027. That gives cities and event organizers a trial window to test looser, more flexible alcohol service setups—before the party officially ends. Cities, towns, counties, and even ports can now apply to the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to allow alcohol in outdoor public areas—places where drinking is usually off-limits unless you're fenced in like a zoo animal. Now, those fences could come down, or be swapped out for less rigid barriers or simple ground markings. Even bigger deal: the bill allows multiple bars, breweries, and restaurants to share a single alcohol service area, whether that's a street, park, or civic plaza. That means you could stroll through a designated festival zone, drink in hand, without being corralled into a tiny corner. Local governments are still on the hook for essentials like police patrols, litter control, and signage. And businesses must follow joint operating plans, including rules for security, service limits, and underage drinking prevention. So no — this isn't some Mad Max booze free-for-all. But it is a major shift. Beer gardens aren't going away. This bill just makes them optional instead of mandatory. Want to stick with the old fenced-in model? Go for it. Want to channel a Euro-style plaza vibe? Now you can—at least until the end of 2027. The bill specifically gives cities with populations over 220,000 the option to use public property like parks, fairgrounds, or Seattle Center, and their perimeters for a legal drinking zone. That includes Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. Sorry, Vancouver—with 196,000 residents, you're not on the VIP list. Seattle is set to host multiple World Cup matches in June and July of 2026. The legislation even carves out expanded alcohol rules for 'fan zones' and civic campuses, clearly with mega-sporting events in mind. Cities can apply for up to 25 special events a year under the new rules, with up to seven of them allowed to be multi-day events (hello, World Cup week!). And just to keep things fair, caterers and nonprofits can still serve alcohol at public events under special licenses, without those events counting against their existing 12-per-year limit. The bill is now on its way to the Governor's desk. He just has to decide if it's worthy of his signature—and maybe a toast.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Washington State lawmakers to decide on gas tax bill
In the last days of the 2025 legislative session, Washington State lawmakers are scrambling to pass a gas tax that would even out the state's budget deficit. It would also have an impact on your wallet. The next meeting to determine the fate of how much it costs to fill up your gas tank is on Tuesday. If the bill passes, we will feel those impacts by summer. The Washington State Senate is proposing a 6-cent per gallon tax increase. It will also add $50 to electric vehicle registrations, create a luxury tax on high-end vehicles, and furlough state workers for 13 days, all to raise $3 billion to cover a transportation budget shortfall. Drivers say prices are already too high as it is. 'People can't afford to eat and pay for gas, but they have to pay for gas to go to work, you know,' one Tacoma driver said. Some lawmakers say that without the funds, road projects will never get done. 'It would mean a pause in final phases of Snoqualmie Pass. It would also mean not starting the Highway 18 project,' Senator Marko Liias (D), Senate Transportation Chair said. Not everyone agrees with the tax. Many lawmakers say they want a different solution. The bill must pass by April 27th, and if it does, the tax will hit the pumps in July. 'I feel like that's would just eat up all my money and I really don't want that to happen I want gas prices to stay low,' another driver said. The house also proposed a bill this session for a 9-cent tax, but it stalled weeks ago.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA Senate passes bill to exclude juvenile facilities from prison riot laws
The Brief The Washington State Senate passed a bill Tuesday morning that excludes juvenile facilities from laws around punishments for prison riots. Supporters of the bill argue current standards around prison riots are unfairly applied to inmates at juvenile facilities, while opponents say it will only enhance dangerous environments. OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Senate passed a bill Tuesday morning that excludes juvenile facilities from laws around punishments for prison riots. Supporters argue the change is necessary to correct unfair standards, while opponents say the bill threatens safety for kids and staff at already dangerous facilities. Passed on a 27-21 vote, House Bill 1815 excludes juvenile detention facilities operated by counties or the Department of Children Youth and Families from laws around prison riots. Under those laws, if at least two people disturb the order of the facility, they could be charged with a riot and face at least another year behind bars. Additionally, anyone with a prior prison riot offense would be able to petition to have their conviction vacated by a court, and apply for a resentencing if their overall prison term was determined in part by a riot conviction. Supporters of the legislation argued prison riot charges have been disproportionately brought against juveniles, particularly at DCYF's Green Hill School in Lewis County. The facility has recently been under scrutiny for overcrowding, inmate unrest and allegations of staff misconduct. "Charges are often brought against young people getting into fist fights and not stopping the fight when told to do so," said Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn. "They often are brought also against young people who are in the way and get into a fight and are not part of that fight. It is seriously problematic behavior, I will agree with that. But not what most would consider a riot," she added. Instead, Wilson said, riot behavior would be handled by DCYF's internal behavioral management system. Additional charges for bad behavior would be brought based on other specific offenses like assault, arson or escape. All Republicans were joined in opposition to the bill by two Democrats Tuesday, arguing the bill prioritizes offenders rather than facility staff and their safety. "This is sending a message that it's okay to riot in the prison because you'll not be charged with that charge because it'll go away," said Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley. While opponents acknowledged the current prison riot laws may be too harsh, they said the fix is to change the standards, not get rid of them altogether. Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Chehalis, spoke out as the Green Hill juvenile facility is in his district. He argued legislative actions around the juvenile rehabilitation system in recent years have created challenges for staff and led to dangerous situations. "It is a very dangerous place for the students and for the staff," he said. "And what this bill will do, meaning well, but what this will do is add more uncertainty and less chance to create a safe environment." Because the Senate made amendments to the bill, it will go back to the House to weigh in on those changes. Once that is resolved, the legislation will be sent to the governor for his consideration. The Source Information in this story Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. 2 teens accused of ambush-style killing of 18-year-old in Tacoma, WA Trump order opens up all WA national forests for logging Axe-wielding suspect faces multiple charges after arrest in downtown Bremerton Motorcyclist hopes for justice after Snohomish County crash caught on camera Effort to ban flavored tobacco products in WA revived in legislature Seattle man pleads not guilty for child sex abuse material found in dumpsters 77-year-old Seattle man dies after driving off multi-story parking garage To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects
Mar. 31—OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate adopted a bipartisan transportation package on Saturday that would raise billions of dollars through higher gas taxes and some car registration fees, close a deficit in the transportation budget and fund the completion of the North Spokane Corridor. "Washington faces some serious transportation problems, from unsafe roads that contribute to a high number of traffic fatalities, to highway projects that are far from being completed, to a failing ferry system," said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the ranking Republican on the Transportation Committee. "The transportation budget passed by the Senate today reflects the collaboration and compromises from both sides as we try to fix our state's transportation problems." The package closes a roughly $1 billion budget gap in the state's transportation budget between 2025 and 2027, and raises $10.2 billion over six years. To raise revenue, the plan includes a 6-cent increase to the state's gas tax, increased registration fees for electric vehicles and hybrids, and shifts 0.3% of the state's sales tax, about $800 million a year, to the transportation budget. If the plan is approved by the House of Representatives, Washington's gas tax would rise to 55.4 cents per gallon. "This is a year of budget challenges, but through a spirit of collaboration and compromise, we found a bipartisan solution to keep Washington moving ahead," said Washington State Sen. Marko Liias. As they unveiled the package last week, the heads of the Senate Transportation Committee said projects across the state, including the North Spokane Corridor, could face delays unless the state increases revenue. According to Liias, the lack of adequate funding in the transportation budget became apparent within "weeks" of legislators beginning planning. If legislators opted to balance the budget through cuts, the capital projects budget would be reduced by $941 million and agency operating costs would decrease by $156 million over the next two years, putting projects across the state at risk of delay. Initially conceived in the 1940s and partially completed, the 10.5-mile overpass will eventually stretch from U.S. Highway 2 to Interstate 90, offering drivers an express option to drive through Spokane. Construction crews are finishing the section of the project that spans the Spokane River near Spokane Community College. "Based on the funding we have available right now, we can't do everything," Liias said last week. "In that all-cuts budget, it shows that essentially all of the projects that aren't currently under construction would be paused for at least six years in order to catch up." Spokane City Councilmember Jonathan Bingle was among those to testify in support of the transportation budget proposal, noting the importance of the project for both residential and commercial use. "This budget takes an important step forward by funding more than 90% of the North Spokane Corridor project, setting us on a path to finish major construction by 2029," Bingle said during a Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. "That's a big deal for us, and we're grateful to see the state's continued investment in this long-awaited project." Spokane City Council Member Michael Cathcart said Thursday that when completed, the project will boost economic development and provide an alternative route for freight traffic in the area. Delays, he said, could affect other projects planned for the area. The package passed Saturday would also invest $700 million in state and local safety projects, $366 million in active transportation projects and $33.3 million to improve safety on rural roads and at railroad crossings. According to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, Washington reported 809 traffic fatalities in 2023, the last year for which data is available — the most in a single year since 1990. Last week, leaders in the House Transportation Committee released a separate budget proposal that includes a 9-cent increase to the gas tax, which would then be tied to inflation, among other proposals, to raise new revenue. Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, chair of the House Transportation Committee, previously floated a new Road Usage Charge that would cost Washington drivers 2.6 cents for each mile driven to raise revenue. Following feedback, Fey introduced a Highway Use Fee, which would charge drivers a flat fee based on vehicle MPG and average miles driven in Washington. The program would be modeled after a similar one in Virginia. "I put a proposal out there because I thought we needed to have a conversation about it," Fey said. According to Fey, the gas tax funds more than a third of the state's transportation budget.
