Featured news

Committee working to review Statement of Policy
Attorney General’s Office Announces new opioid settlement with Kroger for $47.5 million
Read our end of session recap articles
State of the Cities: Municipal workforce—The foundation of city services
Weigh in on AWC’s 2025 legislative agenda by May 3
2024 legislative outcomes for cities
Check out our year-round advocacy tools
Read AWC’s initiatives coverage

All news

Lodging tax reporting system is open – submit annual report by May 17

Apr 24 2024

The Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee lodging tax system is open for required annual reporting on city and county 2023 lodging tax expenditures.
Attorney General’s Office Announces new opioid settlement with Kroger for $47.5 million

Apr 24 2024

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced last week that Washington State has entered a settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson for marketing practices that helped fuel the opioid epidemic in Washington.
How can cities retain their men and women in blue?

Apr 10 2024

An overview of Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander’s session at AWC’s City Action Days.
Federal OSHA looks to update and expand fire brigades standard to include EMS and search and rescue

Apr 10 2024

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing an update to the federal “fire brigades” standard, a standard that regulates firefighting training, personal protective equipment, health & safety standards, and the organization and operation of a fire department.
AWC sends letter to Washington Supreme Court on Proposed Public Defense Standards

Apr 02 2024

AWC sent a letter to the Washington Supreme Court last week expressing our concerns about the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Board of Governors’ recommended changes to the Washington Standards for Indigent Defense.
Lots of elections reforms proposed, but none make the cut

Apr 01 2024

The general government area this session was heavy in elections policy ideas, but light on elections bills that could make it through.
For a short session, the Legislature makes significant progress on behavioral health

Apr 01 2024

In 2024, the Legislature enacted several bills related to the fentanyl epidemic and behavioral health generally.
Legislature approves three emergency management bills in 2024

Apr 01 2024

In 2024, the Legislature adopted three emergency management bills, largely in response to recent significant events in Washington including the 2023 wildfires and a hazardous spill.
Status quo session means modest budget and financial impacts for cities

Apr 01 2024

The 2024 session was notable for being normal…it has been a few years since we have had a more-or-less normal short session with a typical supplemental budget process.
Preserving tax increment financing

Apr 01 2024

One of the biggest economic development news stories in our state occurred in 2021 when, after decades of effort, AWC and our partners were finally able to convince the Legislature to authorize a property tax-based Tax Increment Financing (TIF) tool.
Land use issues continue to strike the Legislature’s fancy

Apr 01 2024

With the recent prominence of the discussion about land use, the 2024 session didn’t disappoint in terms of substantive proposals.
Another quiet year for open government legislation

Apr 01 2024

Despite, or perhaps because of, the laments of the news media and the Washington Coalition for Open Government about the state of open government in Washington, legislators took little action this session to change the Public Records Act (PRA) or Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).
Organics and packaging and water, oh my!

Apr 01 2024

On the environmental front, the session had a heavy focus on solid waste, with two major proposals and one alternative competing for attention.
Affordable housing continues to get a lot of attention

Apr 01 2024

With the comprehensive plan deadline closing in for King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties, the Legislature was mostly responsive to cities’ request not to add new planning responsibilities without the time for thoughtful inclusion into the updated plans.
Another light year for legislation tackling homelessness

Apr 01 2024

Aside from budget investments, it was a very quiet session for bills that intended to address the growing problem of homelessness.

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Advocacy categories

Legislative Bulletin

Featured news

Committee working to review Statement of Policy

Attorney General’s Office Announces new opioid settlement with Kroger for $47.5 million

Read our end of session recap articles

State of the Cities: Municipal workforce—The foundation of city services

Weigh in on AWC’s 2025 legislative agenda by May 3

2024 legislative outcomes for cities

Check out our year-round advocacy tools

Read AWC’s initiatives coverage

All news

Apr 24 2024

The Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee lodging tax system is open for required annual reporting on city and county 2023 lodging tax expenditures.

Apr 24 2024

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced last week that Washington State has entered a settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson for marketing practices that helped fuel the opioid epidemic in Washington.

Apr 10 2024

An overview of Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander’s session at AWC’s City Action Days.

Apr 10 2024

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing an update to the federal “fire brigades” standard, a standard that regulates firefighting training, personal protective equipment, health & safety standards, and the organization and operation of a fire department.

Apr 02 2024

AWC sent a letter to the Washington Supreme Court last week expressing our concerns about the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Board of Governors’ recommended changes to the Washington Standards for Indigent Defense.

Apr 01 2024

The general government area this session was heavy in elections policy ideas, but light on elections bills that could make it through.

Apr 01 2024

In 2024, the Legislature enacted several bills related to the fentanyl epidemic and behavioral health generally.

Apr 01 2024

In 2024, the Legislature adopted three emergency management bills, largely in response to recent significant events in Washington including the 2023 wildfires and a hazardous spill.

Apr 01 2024

The 2024 session was notable for being normal…it has been a few years since we have had a more-or-less normal short session with a typical supplemental budget process.

Apr 01 2024

One of the biggest economic development news stories in our state occurred in 2021 when, after decades of effort, AWC and our partners were finally able to convince the Legislature to authorize a property tax-based Tax Increment Financing (TIF) tool.

Apr 01 2024

With the recent prominence of the discussion about land use, the 2024 session didn’t disappoint in terms of substantive proposals.

Apr 01 2024

Despite, or perhaps because of, the laments of the news media and the Washington Coalition for Open Government about the state of open government in Washington, legislators took little action this session to change the Public Records Act (PRA) or Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).

Apr 01 2024

On the environmental front, the session had a heavy focus on solid waste, with two major proposals and one alternative competing for attention.

Apr 01 2024

With the comprehensive plan deadline closing in for King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties, the Legislature was mostly responsive to cities’ request not to add new planning responsibilities without the time for thoughtful inclusion into the updated plans.

Apr 01 2024

Aside from budget investments, it was a very quiet session for bills that intended to address the growing problem of homelessness.