The Center Square

1 day ago | thecentersquare.com | Brett Davis

(The Center Square) – A bill requiring Washingtonians to get a new state permit before purchasing a firearm is on its way to Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk. He is expected to sign the controversial bill into law. Majority-party Democrats in the House of Representatives agreed with minor changes the Senate made in pushing Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1163 through on a 57-39 vote on Tuesday.

1 day ago | thecentersquare.com | Spencer Pauley

(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell issued an executive order to update the city’s climate action plan, with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. The executive order serves as the first update to Seattle’s Climate Action Plan since it was released in 2013. The plan’s main goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. City leaders say the update is meant to accelerate progress toward reaching that carbon neutrality goal.

2 days ago | thecentersquare.com | Brett Davis

(The Center Square) – The Washington State House of Representatives approved three tax bills after midnight on Tuesday morning as part of a revenue-generating package to deal with a projected $16 billion operating budget shortfall over the next four years. Engrossed House Substitute Bill 2049 would have allowed an increase in the growth factor from the current 1% property tax cap to as much as 3%. However, Rep.

2 days ago | thecentersquare.com | Christina Lengyel

(The Center Square) – Expanded tax credits that make health insurance cheaper for 24.3 million Americans face expiration at the end of 2025, leaving many in the field fearful about the future of medicine for the working class. In Pennsylvania, that means premiums for 500,000 residents enrolled through Pennie — the state’s health insurance marketplace — could nearly double. As enrollment drops, prices will rise even higher to fill the gap.

2 days ago | thecentersquare.com | Spencer Pauley

(The Center Square) – An economist says removing Washington’s 1% property tax cap could help ease projected budget shortfalls at both the state and local levels. Washington faces a projected budget shortfall of up to $15 billion that has led Democrats to consider progressive tax revenues in order to fill the gap. Local governments are also feeling the pressure. Seattle, for example, now expects $241.5 million less in general fund revenue through 2026 than previously forecast.