Ferguson’s new chapter begins in Olympia today
This morning, Bob Ferguson will be sworn in as Washington’s 24th governor.
Ferguson, the state’s longtime attorney general, succeeds three-term Democrat Jay Inslee. Ferguson will be sworn in at 11:15 a.m., then deliver his inaugural address.
That address will likely include a message that the state government needs to reduce spending.
Last week at an event in Spokane, Ferguson said, “We have a budget challenge. We do as a state. We can’t be all things for everybody right now, right? But we need to make sure kids aren’t hungry when they’re going to school and we need to make sure folks can afford housing and that is true all across the state.”
During his Spokane visit, Ferguson advocated for a bill that would allow all children, regardless of family income status, to eat free breakfasts and lunches at public schools.
Ferguson said the state also needs to prioritize building housing, chiefly through partnerships with private industry.
Ferguson’s inaugural address can be streamed live at TVW.org.
WA Supreme Court weighs legality of state’s high-capacity magazine ban
The nine justices of the Washington Supreme Court spent their Tuesday morning hearing arguments for and against a ban on firearms magazines that can hold more than ten rounds.
Washington State Standard reported Austin Hatcher, a lawyer for a southwestern Washington gun store, argued the ban violates a clause in the state constitution that protects weapon ownership rights. Hatcher also told the justices the ban conflicts with the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretations of lawful firearm possession.
Washington Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued the ban doesn’t touch gun ownership, only an accessory to a gun. He added that a high-capacity magazine is not an essential component of a gun. Therefore, he said, the magazine law doesn’t conflict with state or federal law.
As the legal debate plays out, legislative Democrats hope to pass new gun laws this year, including requiring a state permit for gun purchases; restricting guns in parks frequented by children, public buildings and county fairs; and banning bulk purchases of ammunition.
WA labor leaders lay out legislative priorities
During the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session, labor leaders are hoping to see a number of bills pass that they think could help Washington workers.
There are a lot of workers whose jobs help other people do their jobs.
Joe Kendo, the chief of staff for the Washington State Labor Council, said the child care industry does just that: It allows working parents to be working parents.
" We rely so much on that workforce, yet it is also a tragically undercompensated profession," Kendo told NWPB.
That’s why one of the bills the Washington State Labor Council is prioritizing for 2025 is House Bill 1128.
That bill would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board.
The board would work with the state and workers to create standards on wages, benefits and protections for child care workers.
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Idaho lawmakers consider proposal to limit frivolous lawsuits
The bill from Republican Sen. Brian Lenney would allow the person or group targeted by the lawsuit to ask for a hearing within 60 days after being served to dismiss the case.
The court would then hit pause for all other aspects of the lawsuit until it rules whether the case can proceed.
“If this goes through and becomes law, it kind of does a time-out on the lawsuit so people don’t just run up the clock as far as time and money spent in litigation,” Lenny said.
Under the bill, a judge must dismiss cases where the filer cannot prove they have a chance of backing up their allegations.
If a case is dismissed, the person being sued could get their legal costs covered by the filer.
As of last July, 34 states and Washington D.C. have passed similar laws according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Lenney introduced a similar bill last year, which died on the Senate floor 15-20.
Inslee impressed by official portrait
On Gov. Jay Inslee’s last official day in office Tuesday, he got to see himself as future visitors to the state capitol will see him. The occasion was the unveiling of Inslee’s official portrait.
The painting, created by Spokane native Grace Flott, joins the state’s collection of official gubernatorial portraits. She was selected by Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee.
“I’m a little nervous, because I understand the governor hasn’t seen the portrait yet in person,” Flott joked before the unveiling. “Or Trudi. So we might all be in for a little surprise.”
She needn’t have worried. The audience gathered for the event applauded as the painting was revealed. Inslee commended Flott for “making [him] look good” and praised the portrait’s symbolism.
“I could not be more impressed by what you did here,” Inslee said. “It’s incredible.”
The 50-inch-high painting depicts Inslee in a dark suit sans tie, holding in his right hand a portfolio emblazoned with the state seal. Inslee looks ahead and to the viewer’s right. A snow-topped Mt. Rainier – a reference to Inslee’s focus on climate policy – stands in the background.
Late in the ceremony, Inslee surprised Flott by making her the honorary “Washingtonian of the Day.” Inslee presented her with a certificate marking the occasion, and removed an apple-shaped pin from his own lapel and gave it to the artist.
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Reporting was contributed by Doug Nadvornick, Jake Goldstein-Street, Lauren Gallup, James Dawson and Brandon Hollingsworth.