In case you missed it: Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved California's request for a waiver of preemption for the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation. For more than 50 years, California has maintained nation-leading…

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) $49.7 million in Corridor Identification and Development Program grant funding to advance planning work on the Cascadia High-Speed Rail program.…

On December 17, 2024, Gov. Jay Inslee released a balanced budget proposal that protects progress on the programs and services that working families and businesses depend on?—?public safety, education, early learning, housing and behavioral…

Washingtonians drink from the Columbia River. Tribes sustain themselves by fishing from it. It waters our fields to grow our food. Communities are powered by it. Under its surface is an ecosystem just as reliant on the river’s health as…

As recovery work continues following last week’s bomb cyclone, King County Emergency Management, in partnership with Washington’s Emergency Management Division, held an informational briefing with city leaders in King County. Washington…

Washington state’s juvenile rehabilitation (JR) system has been noted in recent years for its innovative, trauma-informed education and therapeutic programming. But 2024 has brought significant challenges. The state’s JR population is…

Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement in response to the impacts of the "bomb cyclone" event that caused widespread damage and power outages around the state this week. “Trudi and I are thinking about the Washingtonians impacted…

Gov. Jay Inslee will be traveling to Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). This is the fourth COP that Inslee will attend. He first attended…

Following a competitive nationwide search conducted by ArtsWA, Gov. Jay Inslee and First Spouse Trudi Inslee have selected artist Grace Flott to create the governor’s official portrait. Flott was raised in Spokane and works as a painter and…

Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement in response to Tuesday’s general election results. “I would like to congratulate all of our state elected leaders. For the first time in generations, voters picked a full slate of…

Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement in response to the approval of a new contract by Boeing Machinists. "Tonight's (Nov 4th) vote by the Machinists puts Boeing's future back on more solid footing. Washington is home to the world's…

On November 01, 2024, Gov. Jay Inslee activated some Washington National Guard members to be on stand-by in the event they are asked to support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol during election week. The governor has given The…

Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement in response to an attack on a ballot dropbox in Vancouver, which resulted in hundreds of ballots being destroyed. The incident took place not long after a similar one at a ballot box in Portland, Ore.…

President Biden issued a formal apology on Oct 25th, for the United States’ boarding school system that separated Native American children from their families and placed them in schools where they were forced to assimilate. Recent reports from…

In response to a request for assistance from the United States Navy, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the Washington National Guard to assist with search and recovery efforts for two missing naval aviators from a downed…

On Thursday morning, state leaders gathered in Lakewood to break ground on a new hospital to be built on the Western State Hospital campus. The hospital will be a secure facility with 350 beds to serve forensic patients (those accused of a crime and…

On September 27, 2024, Gov. Jay Inslee issued two emergency proclamations to support the repair of damaged bridges in Lewis and Walla Walla counties, both struck by vehicles with over-height loads. On June 26, 2024, the Koontz Road overpass over…

NEW YORK, NY — The U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population, on Sep 23rd, launched the Governors’ Climate-Ready…

New portal offers easy-to-use way for people and organizations to apply for historic state and federal funding opportunities There’s more funding than ever for projects relating to energy efficiency, clean energy and climate resiliency. But…

Inslee Provides Emergency Funding For San Juan Island Transportation Service During a meeting with San Juan Island leaders, residents and businesses on Sep 17th, Gov. Jay Inslee announced he is issuing $1.5 million in emergency and short-term…

The best prison, in the view of Gov. Jay Inslee, is one where people leave and don’t come back. On Sep 16th, he signed an executive order updating Washington’s reentry efforts and formalizing Washington state’s commitment to…

Gov. Jay Inslee recognized 23 state agency leaders this week at an annual awards ceremony. The Governor's Outstanding Leadership Awards celebrated accomplishments achieved during the 2023 calendar year. The awards were created by an executive…

For 6 million years, Pacific salmon have repeated their extraordinary life cycle. But that delicate dance may be in its final act absent a full-scale intervention. Fortunately, humanity is coming together at a crucial hour. Tribes, federal…

On Aug 16th, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation to help clear and repair roadways affected by wildfires in Ferry, Klickitat, Skagit, and Yakima counties. Since July 2024, Washington state has experienced abnormally dry weather…

Earlier this month, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Emergency Proclamation 24-04 allowing drivers delivering fuel for firefighting to work beyond normal hours until August 16, 2024. On Aug 15th, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted the state…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Aug 8th, he has appointed Keondra Rustan student regent on the University of Washington Board of Regents. Keondra Rustan is a second-year doctoral candidate in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program…

On Aug 7th, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Christine D. Hayes to the Clark County Superior Court. She will fill a new, twelfth seat created by the Legislature in 2024. Hayes has acquired a broad range of legal expertise in civil and…

Thanks to funding approved by legislators, Washingtonians have two new rebate programs available to assist with electricity bills and to buy or lease an electric vehicle. Utility rebates are beginning to appear on 675,000 electricity bills Last…

Washington’s first-in-the-nation Paid Family and Medical Leave program has helped Washingtonians navigate some of life’s biggest challenges When you have a baby or adopt a child, Paid Leave is there. When a family member falls ill,…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced two new appointments today. Inslee is appointing Pat Sullivan to serve as director of the Washington State Office of Financial Management, and Sheri Sawyer to serve as his new executive director of legislative affairs. Both…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today he is appointing Lisa Keating director of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission The position was previously held by Manny Santiago, who served as the commission’s inaugural director when it launched in 2019. He…

On July 12, 2024 Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Jennifer E. Slattery to the Whatcom County Superior Court. She will fill a new, fifth seat created by the Legislature in 2024. Slattery has focused her 15-year career on family law…

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the launch of Washington’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For Washingtonians in need of support, professional counselors are just three digits away: 9–8–8. Washington’s…

As Washington state implements its nation-leading environmental policies, policymakers are putting environmental justice at the center of decision-making. Environmental justice is a commitment to deliver the benefits of climate action where…

Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh has been appointed adjutant general of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee announced on June 21, 2024. Welsh will command all Washington Army and Air National Guard forces and serve as the director of the Washington Military…

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a directive on June 11th, requiring the Department of Health to affirm that hospitals in Washington state have a legal requirement to provide emergency abortion services. Inslee’s directive comes as the nation nears…

Gov. Jay Inslee issued Directive 24-11 late Friday, directing certain executive and small cabinet agencies to use a uniform approach to be developed by his office for identifying overburdened communities and vulnerable populations. The measure will…

Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday directed the Energy Facility Siting and Evaluation Council to reconsider portions of its proposed certification for the Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project in Central Washington. In a letter, Inslee directed the…

On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Whatcom County where he highlighted a major conservation effort funded by the Climate Commitment Act to conserve 2,000 acres of mature, 'legacy' forestland across the state. By protecting these forests, which…

On a gorgeous, sunny day in King County, Gov. Jay Inslee cut ribbons, high-fived some kids, and joined a press event celebrating another of Washington's nation-leading programs. The WA Cares Fund is Washington's new long-term care insurance…

On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Kitsap and King counties to see how state funding is helping to make schools and other public buildings more energy efficient and climate-friendly. The governor first met with students, teachers and staff at…

By Jay Inslee and Fred Krupp If the air travel industry were a country, its emissions would rank behind only six other nations; and airlines are planning to add tens of thousands of new planes in the next two decades. That makes cleaner flying an…

At Mountain View High School, Inslee toured an air quality monitoring site operated by the Department of Ecology in partnership with the school and Southwest Clean Air Agency. "We have this epidemic of asthma in our state, and the closer your…

On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to San Juan County to highlight the urgent need to get more ferry boats on the water for Washington’s island communities. He met with Steve Nevey, the new assistant secretary for Washington’s ferry…

Rooftop solar, EV rebates, hydrogen-powered planes and new anti-pollution rules: events this week highlighted the many ways Washington is building a building a clean, green future. Click Here to Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's…

Governor Jay Inslee released a statement on On April 25th's announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of new rules that will severely limit planet-warming pollution from the nation's power plants. “These new EPA rules are…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced On April 2 he is appointing David Schumacher, the director of Washington's Office of Financial Management, to the University of Washington Board of Regents. Schumacher replaces Jeremy Jaech who resigned his position on…

On April 2 Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Whitney M. Rivera to the Snohomish County Superior Court. She is appointed to replace Judge Anita Farris, who will retire from the bench effective April 30, 2024. In November 2020, Rivera was…

In case you missed it, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and other governors of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance issued a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for…

On February 29, 2024 Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Monica Kaup Cary to the King County Superior Court. She will replace Judge Matthew Segal, who retired from the bench effective Jan. 17, 2024. Since 2022, Cary has served as a…

Today Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Mark Larrañaga to the King County Superior Court. He will replace Judge Steve Rosen, who has announced plans to leave the bench later this month. Larrañaga is a career criminal…

Building on landmark climate laws like the emissions-slashing Climate Commitment Act and the requirements of the Clean Energy Transformation Act to get to 100% clean energy by 2045, legislators passed more than half a dozen bills this session that…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced he will call a special session to begin May 16. The session will focus on passing a new drug possession law. Inslee set the date after conversations with Democratic and Republican legislative leaders. “My office and…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today he does not plan to seek a fourth term. Inslee was most recently re-elected in 2020, making him only the second Washington state governor to serve three consecutive terms. “Serving the people as governor of…

The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last year overturned Roe v. Wade and unleashed a multi-pronged attack on reproductive freedom nationwide. But states like Washington are fighting back to protect the right to abortion, gender-affirming care…

Today, Gov. Jay Inslee signed three new bills into law, continuing Washington state’s progress to enact meaningful gun safety measures. Washington is now one of 10 states in America with a ban on assault weapons, and one of a few states with…

Gov. Jay Inslee and legislative leaders ended the legislative session after achieving many of the goals Inslee laid out including go-big proposals on housing, increased funding for education, and policies to address behavioral health, public safety,…

Earth Day is a global call for leaders to forge ahead with climate action. Never has that call been louder, with the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report projecting catastrophic warming for the planet if significant emissions…

Rolling dune-colored hills; rocky snow-covered mountains; sandy beaches lined with tide-pools and sea stacks; glacier carved azure-blue lakes; trails winding through mossy evergreen forests… Washington has some of the most varied geography on…

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that Washington state has taken unprecedented action to purchase a three-year supply of mifepristone, an abortion medication used safely for more than two decades. Inslee directed the state Department of Corrections,…

Gov. Jay Inslee released the following statement in response to operating and capital budget proposals released by the state House of Representatives on Monday. “I’m very encouraged to see the House propose larger investments to avert…

“The Senate’s capital budget proposal would take us backwards on housing. It’s less than what we approved last biennium. In the middle of a housing crisis, less is unacceptable. We need to go big, so people can go home. In the past…

Today Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Leonard Feldman to the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One. He will replace Judge Beth Andrus, who is retiring later this month. Since 1992, Feldman has maintained a diverse litigation…

Gov. Jay Inslee hosted British Columbia Premier David Eby on Monday for his first visit to Washington state since becoming premier in November. The two discussed climate and renewable energy; housing and homelessness; high-speed rail; and…

Emergency Management Division Private Sector Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PSPR2) Seminars for Resilience The Public/Private Partnership (P3) Program Managers of Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, in partnership with CISA, and the…

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö pays historic visit to Washington state In the first-ever address by a foreign head of state to the Washington State Legislature, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö paid a grand compliment to the…

Legislation requested by Gov. Jay Inslee would require local governments to plan for climate change. The House passed the bill last Friday. More than 1 million new residents have arrived in Washington state over the last decade. To accommodate this…

His Excellency Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland, visited the Washington State Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2023. His address to the Legislature was the first by a foreign head of state in Washington state history. The…

WA needs more than a million homes Washington state needs to build another 1.1 million homes over the next 20 years to support housing needs projections recently issued by the state Department of Commerce. More than half of the new units must be…

America’s ongoing epidemic of gun violence has in recent years spurred “a sea-change in Washington’s gun laws,” as The Seattle Times wrote in a 2022 editorial. Washington’s voters led the way by passing I-1639 in 2018,…

On March 2nd, the Senate approved legislation requested by Governor Jay Inslee that would spur urgent reforms to the state’s competency restoration system. The issue has attracted attention because surging demand over the past several years…

Governor Jay Inslee has appointed Kendrick Stewart interim director of the Washington State Department of Commerce effective March 4, when Lisa Brown steps down from the post she held the last four years. Stewart currently serves as deputy director…

One year has passed since Russia began its campaign to invade Ukraine, and the conflict remains ongoing. Refugees and Ukranian-Americans still anguish for their nation, and Ukranians fighting for liberty still rely on support from world…

Washington stands with Ukraine on anniversary of Russian invasion One year has passed since Russia began its campaign to invade Ukraine, and the conflict remains ongoing. Refugees and Ukranian-Americans still anguish for their nation, and Ukranians…

Governor Jay Inslee on Feb 22nd, named Marcus Glasper to serve as director of Washington state’s Department of Licensing (DOL). He replaces Teresa Bernsten, who retired earlier this month. Aléjandro Sanchez, DOL’s deputy director…

In case you missed it: On Feb 21st, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Delaware Governor John Carney, Hawai’i Governor Josh Green, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maine Governor…

Youth center and shelters in Longview offer fresh starts for locals Frank Morrison directs the ASCENT Youth Center and the Community House on Broadway in Longview. The former is a youth recreation and support center, and the latter is a supportive…

Earthquakes are possible in Washington state – be prepared Tens of thousands of people have died after devastating earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye. Washington state faces a similar threat – the state sits atop fault lines and has…

Dept. of Revenue WFTC Applications are Now Open! Find out if you qualify for the Working Families Tax Credit using the quick Eligibility Assistant. Individuals and families can apply here. Application options: Online using MyDOR, a secure…

New Working Families Tax Credit returns up to $1,200 for eligible families The new Washington’s Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) will provide up to a $1,200 cash refund. Approximately 400,000 households qualify statewide. The tax credit…

The Department of Revenue officially launched the Working Families Tax Credit at a press event in Seattle on Feb. 1. Washington’s Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) officially launched on Feb 1st. For qualified families, this credit will…

On Jan 30th, Governor Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Jared A. Boswell to the Yakima County Superior Court. He will replace Judge David Elofson, who is retiring this week. Since 2006, Boswell has worked in the Yakima County Prosecuting…

Legislators hold hearings on slate of reproductive freedom bills In the six months since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, 24 states have banned or severely restricted abortion care. On…

On Jan 25th, Governor Jay Inslee announced the appointment of David Puente, Jr. as the director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, effective February 1, 2023. WDVA serves Washington state’s veterans and their families by…

Lawmakers honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an occasion proclaimed by Gov. Jay Inslee to be a “day on” in service rather than an idle holiday. The state Senate has not been idle of late, passing…

In the past decade, Inslee has strived to make Washington’s courts look more like the communities they serve “In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to…

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023 Each year on the third Monday in January, we honor the life, mission and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He visited Washington State for the first time in November of 1961. Experience the story of his…

As the new legislative session begins, Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2023 State of the State speech on Jan 10th, at a joint session of the House and Senate. This is the first in-person session since 2020, and is among the most diverse legislatures…

2023 legislative session kicks off next week The 2023 legislative session begins on Monday and will be the first in-person legislative session since 2020. The 105-day session will begin with opening ceremonies in the state Senate and House of…

In a tight labor market, workers are tougher to find, tougher to keep, and they command a higher salary. State agencies are investing in recruitment and retention, at a cost. Across the country and across economic sectors, the challenge to recruit…

Happy New Year, Washington! Governor Jay Inslee and the staff of the Office of the Governor wish you and your loved ones a delightful 2023. 2022: The year in review This 2022 Year in Review story reflects on the year’s achievements to…

Today Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Brandon Mack to the Jefferson County Superior Court. He will replace Judge Keith Harper, who plans to retire at the end of January 2023. Mack currently serves as a full-time family law court…

Inslee, attorney general propose bills to treat gun violence ‘epidemic’ More than 117,000 Americans are shot each year, including 6,000 children and youth. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for kids. Hundreds of police…