WASHINGTON – Residents in Washington state will experience changes as 333 new laws go into effect tomorrow. These laws cover a wide range of areas including policing, housing and medical debt.
Police departments across the state could benefit from $100 million in new grants aimed at hiring officers or funding behavioral health co-responders. To access these grants, cities and counties must either implement a new 0.1% sales tax for public safety or have already imposed a similar tax.
Housing advocates are focusing on a new parking law. This law aims to ease the construction of affordable housing, especially near transit. It prevents cities from requiring more than one parking space per two housing units. Additionally, it sets no parking minimums for small homes, daycares and senior housing.
Other notable laws include the expansion of special education access, protection against medical debt and the recognition of the Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays.
