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Posts for New Legislation and Regulations

Web designers developing on accessible app

New Mandatory ADA Standards for Local Government Websites and Apps

September 3, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Americans with Disabilities Act ,  Information Technology ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Beginning in spring 2026, certain larger local governments will have to comply with new guidelines requiring that local agency websites and apps be accessible to people with disabilities, with smaller local governments given until spring 2027 to comply. 

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A bee on a yellow daisy

Save the Bees: How Local Governments Can Protect Pollinator Habitat

August 27, 2024  by  Katie Buckley
Category:  Guest Author ,  Environmental Policy and Management ,  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Pollinators are a critical component of a healthy ecosystem, impacting food security, the abundance of local flora, and agricultural earnings. Local governments can play a role in protecting critical habitat for pollinators with innovative strategies and smart land use policies. 

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Six Housing and Planning Bills that Help Washington Communities Confront the Housing Crisis

August 21, 2024  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Parking ,  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Contains summaries of six bills related to co-living, parking standards, building conversions, middle housing, residential building and energy codes, and manufactured housing  passed during the most recent short Washington State legislative session.

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Two people look on while a third presents an architectural design

Impending Deadline of January 1 to Address SB 5290’s New Development Timelines

August 7, 2024  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Beginning in 2025, GMA-planning counties and cities must follow new state-based timelines for issuing a final decision on applications for land use review. However, localities can — up to end of this year — adjust their timelines for review (and bypass the state ones).

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A magnifying glass against financial figures and stacks of coins

2024 Legislative Session Outcomes for Procurement and Contracting

June 26, 2024  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  New Legislation and Regulations

How will 2024 legislation impact procurement and contracting in Washington? Contractors sanctioned for violating prevailing wage laws may see additional sanctions, prompt payment provisions have been strengthened, and change orders requirements have been updated.

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A close up of 3 secured pistols on display

2024 Brings New Firearm Control Laws

June 3, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Firearms

The 2024 legislative session saw a few bills on firearms regulation, including one that adds to the list of locations where open carry is prohibited, and two that add new requirements for licensed firearms dealers in the state.

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Election ballot, pin, and button

New Elections Laws Passed in 2024

May 28, 2024  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Elections ,  New Legislation and Regulations

In 2024 the legislature passed new bills related to elections integrity, including some that address election worker safety, improve the ballot review and voter verification process, and ease the ability for a voter to move their official address from one county to another.

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Utility trucked parked on sidewalk with a road sign noting that utility work is being done

A Compendium of 2023 Utilities Legislation

November 13, 2023  by  Steve Gross
Category:  Environmental Policy and Management ,  Utilities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

It was a mixed bag for utility legislation in 2023. There are some new obligations for utilities, but certain non-project and project actions are now categorically exempt from SEPA review.

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A form for purchasing a gun

2023 Brings New Firearms Legislation to Washington State

October 16, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Firearms

Several firearms-related bills were passed during the 2023 legislative session, including a ban on assault weapons, and new requirements for firearms purchase, such as background checks and a 10-day waiting period. 

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An open laptop with an image of a lock hovering above the keyboard

2023 Public Records Legislative Changes — School and Election Records

October 2, 2023  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Public Records Act ,  New Legislation and Regulations

County election officials and school districts will be pleased to learn about new public records changes: one exempts voted ballots and another exempts the personal information of students in any records pertaining to the student.

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An architectural model of a dense area of town

2023 Planning Legislation Impacting Local Governments

September 11, 2023  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Annexation ,  Design ,  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Common themes among these six new planning-related bills include streamlining local project review, decreasing the planning burden on smaller communities, incentivizing annexations, and increasing housing supply throughout the state.

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A group sitting around a table reviews construction plans

2023 Legislative Updates to Modernize and Streamline Local Project Review

September 5, 2023  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

In 2023, SB 5290 introduced legislative tweaks to local project review to improve process predictability, including the establishment of grant and technical assistance programs to help local governments build the resources needed for timely permit processing.

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Smartphone on wooden table shows a whistleblower alert from an anonymous caller

Personnel Issues of Note from the 2023 Legislative Session

August 28, 2023  by  Michael Incorvaia
Category:  Guest Author ,  Compensation ,  Personnel Policies ,  New Legislation and Regulations

New state personnel laws establish protections for certain whistleblowers, amend the statutory definition of employment, modify procedures for reviewing and approving requests for partial wage replacement for unemployed workers, and update hospital staffing standards.

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Wildfire under an electrical transmission line in a forested area

State-Based Efforts, Legislation Boost Local Risk Reduction, Resiliency to Wildfires

August 8, 2023  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Emergency Management ,  Forests and Trees ,  Fire Protection ,  Utilities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

With wildfire season underway, local governments should be aware of bills passed during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session addressing wildfire events and proposed permanent rules to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke.

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Several small images suggesting environmental and pollution prevention laws against the word 2023

New Legislation Related to Climate and the Natural Environment

July 27, 2023  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Climate Change ,  Environmental Policy and Management ,  New Legislation and Regulations

In 2023, state legislators passed several bills addressing environmental concerns, including new climate elements for comprehensive planning, making impact fee revenue available for new bike and pedestrian facilities, and an optional permit process for clean energy projects. 

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Close up of newspaper with headline, "Changes coming in 2023."

County-Focused Bills from the 2022-2023 Legislative Session

July 24, 2023  by  Steve Gross
Category:  County Officials ,  Forms of Government-County ,  New Legislation and Regulations

The 2023 legislative session saw a number of bills that specifically impact counties, including amending the process to appoint members to a salary commission in noncharter counties and removing the deadline by which counties may choose to join the Voluntary Stewardship Program.

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Major Changes to Washington's Housing Laws

July 19, 2023  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Two of the more significant housing laws adopted this year are HB 1110, which requires certain cities to allow "middle housing" in residential zones, and HB 1337, which requires all GMA-planning cities and counties to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential areas.

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New Elections Laws Passed in 2023

July 17, 2023  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Elections ,  New Legislation and Regulations

The state legislature adopted several new election laws this year regarding the candidate filing period, voter registration, records of future voters under the age of 18, and the Washington Voting Rights Act.

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Close up of a hand turning off a main water valve

New Bills Address Utility Connection Charges, Service Disconnection for Non-Payment

June 28, 2023  by  Eric Lowell
Category:  Utilities - Billing and Collection ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Recent legislation impacting utilities includes SHB 1326, allowing city and town utilities to waive connections fees for certain organizations, and ESHB 1329, prohibiting electric and/or water utilities from terminating service during periods of high heat. 

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A close up of plans for a park that is being developed

2023 Legislative Session Outcomes for Procurement and Contracting, Part 2

June 22, 2023  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Part two of this series covers five new pieces of legislation that impact procurement and contracting, from increased project limits for community service organization contracts to standardized limits for procurement contracts and expanded contractor registration requirements. 

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