Washington state legislators had an action-packed 2025 session, leaving Gov. Bob Ferguson to signal a great deal of payments into legislation.
Some new legal guidelines took impact instantly whereas others had an extended wait time. Quite a lot of them kick on this week, together with a gas-tax hike of 6 cents per gallon and protections for immigrant staff.
Right here’s a sampling of a number of the state’s latest legal guidelines.
Searching, fishing license charges
State lawmakers handed laws this 12 months that raises charges for looking and fishing licenses by 38%. Sure reductions can be found, together with a hunting-license senior low cost.
The Washington Division of Fish and Wildlife made a degree to say on its web site that it didn’t request the laws. WDFW famous that income for the division will get a lift below the invoice, however that it’s going to principally be used to cowl elevated prices. The rest of that cash will “offset State Common Fund reductions as a fund swap.”
“The swap is $10.1 million for 2025-27 and $7 million per biennium ongoing thereafter,” the division says.
Gasoline tax improve
The state’s gasoline tax elevated by 6 cents per gallon on Tuesday. Beginning subsequent July it’ll climb 2% yearly to assist sustain with inflation and the rise in possession of fuel-efficient autos.
The diesel tax is also rising this week by a further 3 cents. It’ll climb one other 3 cents two years after, with a 2% spike every year starting summer season 2028 utilized to that added 6 cents.
Proponents of the tax bump argue it’s wanted to proceed funding key transportation initiatives amid ballooning inflation.
Nonetheless, drivers haven’t precisely welcomed the tax improve.
State Rep. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, who chairs the state’s Republican Celebration, stated in an announcement he needs Washington to stroll again the current gas-tax hikes.
“These taxes are regressive. They harm working individuals and households,” he stated. “Additionally they drive up the price of groceries and clothes, and different fundamentals by driving up transportation prices.”
Immigrant safeguards
Underneath the brand new legislation, employers can’t deny earned pay and honest compensation, meals and relaxation breaks and different protected labor rights whereas threatening to name federal immigration authorities to report workers or their family members. Such staff may, nevertheless, tip off the Division of Labor and Industries about their employer, prompting a probe.
Violations embody a $1,000 civil penalty for the primary offense, $5,000 for the second and $10,000 for any later offenses.
“We’re going through a disaster throughout the state and nation,” Hasegawa stated in a Could 12 information launch. “Immigration standing is being weaponized in opposition to everlasting residents, residents, refugees, asylum seekers, college students, and extra — the office is not any exception.”
Equal pay
Signed into legislation in March 2024, Home Invoice 1905 took impact Tuesday. The invoice broadens the Washington Equal Pay and Alternative Act to safeguard all protected lessons, “together with gender, somewhat than solely cowl office discrimination in opposition to ladies particularly,” as famous by the Affiliation of Washington Cities.
A brand new legislation sponsored by state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, an Anacortes Democrat, provides the authorized framework for each tribal and state legislation enforcement companies to certify tribal warrants as state warrants.
An instance: If a Swinomish tribal member had been violated on the reservation however the offender had since fled, then the sufferer may not see justice, Lekanoff beforehand stated, in keeping with the Salish Present. For the reason that state hasn’t acknowledged tribal warrants, that offender couldn’t be introduced again to the tribal lands to face justice in tribal courtroom.
HB 1829 closes that loophole by updating the Tribal Warrants Act. It permits legislation enforcement outdoors of a tribe’s jurisdiction to arrest suspects with tribal warrants, sending them to native superior courtroom for return to the tribal jurisdiction.
“This crucial laws strengthens our shared dedication to public security, upholds the rights of victims, and ensures that nobody is left behind when hurt happens,” Lekanoff, who’s Tlingit, stated in a Tuesday information launch.
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