The Democrat-controlled House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee just advanced SB 5925, a bill requested by the Washington Attorney General’s Office that would significantly expand its authority to issue civil investigative demands (CIDs) — without a judicial warrant.

Democrat Vice Chair Darya Farivar (D-Seattle) argued the bill gives the AGO needed tools during “unprecedented times” to protect the civil rights of Washington residents. The measure would allow the AG’s office to demand documents, records, and sworn testimony from private individuals or entities in civil investigations — no judge required upfront. If the target refuses, their main recourse is to sue the AGO in court and risk sanctions in the meantime.

Republican Rep. Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen) pushed back, warning that expanding executive power in response to concerns about government overreach elsewhere reflects a “two wrongs make a right” approach. He argued the bill raises serious due-process and separation-of-powers concerns.

Currently, the AGO can only issue CIDs in a limited set of civil matters. Under SB 5925, that authority would expand to include alleged violations tied to wage laws, the Washington Law Against Discrimination, the Keep Washington Working Act, and the City and County Jails Act.

Republican lawmakers proposed 11 amendments — all rejected or withdrawn in the Democrat-led committee. GOP proposals included:

Requiring “clear and convincing evidence” before issuing a CID instead of the lower “reasonably lead to” standard.

Requiring the AG to meet with the subject to potentially cure violations before issuing a demand.

Preventing information gathered via CID from being shared with law enforcement for criminal investigations.

Blocking the Criminal Justice Division from issuing civil investigative demands.

Democrats voted down those guardrails.

Republican Rep. Hunter Abell (R-Inchelium) questioned Democrat claims that the bill would reduce litigation, predicting instead that it could spark more lawsuits — particularly against the AG’s office.

Democrats frame the bill as a civil-rights enforcement upgrade. Republicans argue it’s a significant expansion of state power over private citizens without added judicial oversight.

In Olympia, the partisan divide is clear: Democrats say it’s about protecting rights. Republicans say it risks eroding them. Read more at Center Square.

A new report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis confirms what anyone who’s paid rent or bought groceries in Washington already knows: this state is expensive — and getting worse.

Washington now ranks among the top five most expensive states in the country. Regional Price Parity (RPP) data shows Washingtonians pay 7% more than the national average for goods and services. Only California (10.7%), Hawaii (10%), New Jersey (8.8%), and New York (7.9%) are higher. Even Washington, D.C. clocks in at 9.9%.

And here’s the kicker: this data was compiled before Democrats in Olympia passed a record-shattering $12 billion in new taxes — the largest tax increase in state history.

So if it feels tighter now? That’s because it is.

Democrats love pointing to a 5% increase in real personal income from 2023–24 — the second highest in the nation. But that stat conveniently ignores the reality that much of that “gain” is being devoured by housing costs.

Washington’s housing rent RPP is roughly 25% above the national average. Only D.C. and California (both 54%), New Jersey (34%), Massachusetts (28%), and Colorado (27%) are worse.

Translation: even when you make more here, you don’t keep more.

And with Democrat lawmakers pushing a new income tax on top earners — a move critics warn could eventually expand — plus ongoing regulatory and tax increases, there’s little reason to expect relief anytime soon.

Washington used to sell itself as a no-income-tax, opportunity-rich state. Now it’s climbing the leaderboard of affordability nightmares.

Olympia Democrats keep promising “fairness.” What Washingtonians are getting instead is a state that costs more every single year. Read more at Seattle Red.

A parade of union leaders, farmers, landowners, energy providers and industry groups lined up in Olympia this week with a simple message for majority Democrats: maybe don’t turn paperwork violations into criminal records.

But that’s exactly what SB 5360 would do.

The bill, sponsored by Democrat Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, would attach criminal penalties to certain environmental violations — including misdemeanor charges for negligent air pollution infractions. Supporters claim it merely aligns Washington with federal law. Critics see something else: a fast-tracked bill that could slap rank-and-file workers and small landowners with criminal liability for complex regulatory missteps.

Even organized labor — not exactly a Republican front group — is balking.

Dave Garegnani of IBEW Local 77 told lawmakers it’s flatly unfair to expose workers to criminal prosecution over complicated environmental rules that are typically management’s responsibility. Steelworkers, Operating Engineers, and pulp and paper workers echoed the concern. When your own union base is testifying against you, that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Farm forestry representatives warned the “process is part of the penalty.” Translation: even if someone ultimately wins in court, the threat of prosecution alone will chill basic land management like clearing wildfire brush or controlling invasive species. Because nothing says “effective environmental stewardship” like terrifying small landowners into doing nothing.

Supporters, including environmental advocacy groups and tribal leaders, argue that financial penalties alone aren’t strong enough deterrents. So naturally, the next step is criminalization.

That’s the pattern in Olympia: if a policy goal isn’t being met, Democrats don’t reassess — they escalate. More regulation. More liability. Now, apparently, more criminal charges.

Instead of targeting bad actors deliberately dumping toxins, this bill risks casting a wide net over workers, farmers, and small operators navigating one of the most complex environmental regulatory systems in the country.

In Washington state, the solution to everything seems to be the same: regulate it, tax it… and if that doesn’t work, threaten to jail someone. Read more at Center Square.

State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen) is calling out Democrats’ new spending plan for what he says it is: balancing the budget on the backs of high school students.

Tucked inside House Bill 2289 — the Democrat-backed budget proposal — is a $14 million cut to the popular Running Start program. The savings would come from reducing how many college credits the state will cover for each student.

Running Start currently allows high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits tuition-free. Under this change, families would be forced to pick up the tab for credits that were previously covered.

Walsh isn’t mincing words. He calls it a “tuition hike in disguise.”

And he has a point.

Running Start has been a lifeline for students across Washington — especially in rural communities like Aberdeen and Hoquiam, where advanced high school course offerings can be limited. For many families, the program is the only affordable way for students to get ahead academically and financially.

Now, as Democrats scramble to close budget gaps after years of record spending increases, the solution appears to be simple: trim student opportunity.

Walsh argues the move punishes ambition and delays workforce entry by making it harder for students to graduate early or reduce future college costs. Families already squeezed by rising housing, food, and utility bills would now face additional out-of-pocket education costs.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t about eliminating waste or fraud. It’s about reducing access to a program that works.

While Democrats defend the broader budget as responsible and necessary, Republicans like Walsh see a pattern — expanding spending during flush years, then quietly scaling back popular programs when the math stops working.

As HB 2289 moves toward a final vote, Walsh says he won’t compromise on protecting Running Start.

In Olympia’s latest round of budget gymnastics, the message feels familiar: when politicians overspend, someone else pays.

This time, it’s the kids trying to get ahead. Read more at Seattle Red.

Thurston County leaders are considering a proposal that would require homeowners in unincorporated areas to obtain a government-approved Home Energy Score before they can even list their home for sale.

Yes, really.

Under the plan, sellers would pay $150 to $300 for a certified assessor to evaluate their home’s energy efficiency and assign it a score from one to ten, along with estimated annual energy costs. That score would then be disclosed to buyers. Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater are eyeing similar policies.

This all flows from the county’s 2021 “climate emergency” declaration and subsequent Climate Mitigation Plan. It’s being marketed as consumer transparency. In reality, it’s government inserting itself as a gatekeeper into private property transactions.

Buyers already have options. They can request inspections. They can review utility bills. They can negotiate price adjustments. The market already accounts for efficiency. What this ordinance does is add cost, delay, and bureaucracy to an already strained housing market.

Even Dawn Baker of the Thurston County Realtors Association — hardly a bomb-thrower — warned against implementing a new requirement at the time of listing without fully understanding the impacts. That’s a polite way of saying: this is not minor.

And county officials admit the policy could drive hundreds of retrofits each year. That’s not accidental. Today it’s “informational.” Tomorrow it’s leverage.

If enough homes receive low scores, the next step practically writes itself: incentives tied to upgrades, penalties for noncompliance, and eventually mandates — all justified under the banner of climate emergency.

This is regulatory creep in real time. Declare an emergency. Embed requirements into everyday transactions. Normalize them. Expand them.

Property rights in Washington are already squeezed by taxes, zoning, and layers of regulation — largely imposed by Democrat leadership across the region. Now, before you can sell your own home, you may need a government-issued grade.

If buyers value energy efficiency, they’ll reward it. If sellers want upgrades, they can make them. That’s how markets work.

But to progressive policymakers, that’s not enough. They don’t just want disclosure. They want supervision.

And once the government starts grading your home before you can sell it, don’t be surprised when the next rule goes even further. Read more at Seattle Red.

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