A political showdown unfolds at the Capitol after Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown warned of escalating federal immigration enforcement and raised concerns about masked agents and constitutional protections.
Republican leaders, including Senate Minority Leader John Braun and House Republican Deputy Leader Chris Corry, pushed back — accusing the governor of inflaming tensions and arguing lawmakers should focus instead on affordability, taxes, and cost-of-living pressures during the short session.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders defended the governor’s stance. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, Senate Majority Deputy Leader Manka Dhingra, and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins say new limits on masked law enforcement are necessary to protect civil liberties and public safety in Washington communities.
Plus — in the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, lawmakers consider Senate Bill 5921, a proposal that would allow licensed clinicians to administer psilocybin in controlled medical settings for certain mental health conditions.