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  Can Washington state lawmakers cut their way out of a $2 billion shortfall?

  Washington state's 60-day legislative session started Monday in Olympia with lawmakers facing a $2 billion budget shortfall. Washington State Standard reporter Jerry Cornfield has been following lawmakers' attempts to soften the blow.

  • Kim Malcolm
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  Rent limits, tax hikes head to governor as Washington lawmakers end session

  In the session's final days, the Democratic majority settled on a deal for new rent caps, approved a gun permit requirement, and signed off on unemployment benefits for striking workers. The state budget passed with a slate of new tax hikes -- and without a single Republican vote in support.

  • Jeanie Lindsay
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  Could Washington state be on the brink of fully funding special education?

  The House on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 5263, which boosts special education funding multipliers for students in pre-K through 12th grade and eliminates the state's 16% cap on special education funding.

  • Sami West
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  New Washington Public Lands chief defends pause on logging ‘almost old-growth forests’

  Can Washington state hold off harvesting older forests in the face of a projected $12 billion budget deficit without impacting local governments and school districts that get money from those timber sales?

  • Alec Cowan
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  'We are at a crisis.’ Seattle Eastside schools call for increased state funding

  The legislative session kicks off next week, and school districts statewide are pushing for a boost in funding. Five districts on Seattle's Eastside joined forces this week to bring their issues to lawmakers.

  • Sami West
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  Washington voters agree — tax the wealthy

  The election dust has settled in Washington state and for the first time in over a decade residents have overwhelmingly voted in favor of taxing the wealthy.

  • Teo Popescu
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  Capital gains tax receipts in Washington state tumble

  Washington state officials report $433 million in payments in April, down from $786 million in 2023. Lawmakers may need to address the decline.

  • Washington State Standard
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  Washington schools chief calls for changes to better fund special education

  Washington’s chief of public schools wants the state to fully fund special education this legislative session.

  • Sami West
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  Navigating the maze that rules Olympia (and your life)

  How familiar are you with the Washington Legislature? The state's governing body adjourned in April with a new budget and hundreds of policy changes. Find out how bills become laws and what happened during the session in this choose-your-own-adventure experience from KUOW.

  • Teo Popescu
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  What's so special about WA's upcoming special session?

  The 2023 regular legislative session may be over, but lawmakers will be heading back to Olympia soon for a special session.

  • Angela King

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