Noel in the News
WA Legislature’s ‘Revenue Queen’ readies for 2026 tax battles
Sen. Noel Frame warns progressives to buckle up if lawmakers move ahead on income tax legislation targeting higher earners.
Trump and the Catholic Church Fight a Law Requiring Clergy to Report Child Abuse
Washington moved to close a dangerous loophole. Now there’s a constitutional showdown pitting religious freedoms against the duty to protect children
Senate Democrats unveil 5-part tax plan to solve WA’s multi-billion-dollar budget probleM
As Washington faces a budget gap somewhere in the multi-billions, state lawmakers have brainstormed ways to close it. Two days after receiving a less-than-sunny revenue forecast, Senate Democrats revealed a five-part tax proposal — one that supporters say would ask ultra-wealthy residents to pay their fair share.
Abuse survivors defend WA law that feds slam as ‘anti-Catholic’
Survivors of abuse by clergy members are defending a new Washington law against accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice that it is “anti-Catholic” and worthy of a federal investigation.
Ferguson signs rent stabilization, suite of other housing proposals into Washington state law
Rent stabilization and nine other housing proposals were signed into Washington state law on Wednesday.
WA law mandating clergy report child abuse to be investigated by Trump’s Justice Department
President Trump’s Department of Justice is investigating a new Washington state law that makes clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse, arguing it violates the First Amendment.
WA Senate Dems advance several tax hike bills as session enters last week
Ahead of the last week of the legislative session, Democratic senators on Saturday passed several bills as part of a $12 billion tax package, including expanding the capital gains tax, hiking tax rates on large corporations and big banks, and beginning to collect sales tax on a variety of services.
WA Democrats bring back wealth tax idea with ‘limited dollar amount’
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins told reporters Thursday that Washington lawmakers are working to pass a wealth tax after all. The Tacoma Democrat’s comment comes weeks after Gov. Bob Ferguson said that he wouldn’t sign either chambers’ proposed budgets, noting their dependence on a new, untested wealth tax.
Battling a deadline, Washington Dems propose a new $12B tax plan
After Gov. Ferguson said he would veto a “wealth tax,” Democratic legislators proposed expanding capital gains, business and property taxes.
Proposed WA ban on flavored tobacco products revived
New bills filed Friday in the state House and Senate combine prohibition on flavored vapes proposed early in the legislative session with an increase in cigarette taxes.
Push for social media safeguards to protect children derails in Washington House
A bill that gained bipartisan support in the Washington state Senate to strengthen online safety for children has failed to move forward in the House.
New taxes included in House, Senate Democrats’ plans to fix WA’s gaping budget hole
Democratic lawmakers in both chambers of the Washington Legislature on Monday rolled out proposals to close the multi-billion-dollar hole in the state’s operating budget. While both plans include new taxes, Senate lawmakers adopted a more aggressive approach.
Democratic state senators push $17B tax package to balance Washington budget
Democrats in the Washington state Senate kicked it off Thursday with a monstrous opening statement, calling for higher property tax collections and new levies on the state’s wealthiest individuals and largest corporations.
Bill to protect children from addictive online algorithms advances in Senate
Legislation aimed at safeguarding children's mental and behavioral health from addictive social media algorithms and harmful online content has successfully passed the Senate with a 36-12 vote on Wednesday.
Washington lawmakers confront juvenile detention overcrowding crisis
The state’s largest facility for youth offenders remains over capacity, with one legislator describing the situation at the site as a “powder keg.”