By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate Committee Process The third week of the 2026 Washington State Legislative Session marked a transition in the legislative process, as committees began moving beyond the preliminary stage of holding public hearings on newly introduced bills. This period, known as the “executive session” phase, is […]
Legislative Session Update: Week 3 (January 26-30, 2026) Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate Week two of the 2026 short legislative session was marked by intense activity as lawmakers worked within a highly compressed short session timeline. In a short session, bills have only 24 days to be introduced, heard in committee, potentially amended, and voted on before
Legislative Session Update: Week 2 (January 19-23, 2026) Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate The first week of the 2026 Washington State Legislative Session is complete, as lawmakers returned to Olympia for what is expected to be a fast-moving, 60-day session shaped by several powerful forces: a sharpened progressive edge following the 2025 special elections, a deeply challenging
Legislative Session Update: Week 1 (January 12-16, 2026) Read More »
The Pulse is a community-wide survey launched in October 2024. We are releasing the results of the third iteration which continues to deliver independent, nonpartisan insights that help business and civic leaders understand where our community stands on the policy issues shaping Spokane’s future – from housing and workforce development to public safety, infrastructure, and civic trust.
The Pulse Third Edition: Top Concerns of Spokane Area Citizens Remain Consistent Read More »
By John Somerlott, Legislative Assistant, Greater Spokane Inc. Talk. Vote. Sign. Law. If you wanted to distill the legislative process into four words, these might do it. The talking, voting, and signing wrapped up just one week ago. On May 20th, the Governor had his final day to sign bills into law and make his
2025 State Legislative Wrap-Up Read More »
By John Somerlott, Legislative Assistant, Greater Spokane Inc. As the legislature officially adjourned on Sine Die, April 27, a busy session covering serious challenges was moved to the Governor’s hands. Although the Governor has already signed many bills into law, the fate of the most significant ones—namely, the budget and revenue proposals—remains undetermined. The Legislature
2025 State Legislative Session Read More »
By Jim Hedrick, GSI WA State Lobbyist and Spokane Regional Advocate The 2025 Washington State legislative session has been one of the most tumultuous and emotionally charged sessions in recent memory, marked by significant political tension, major fiscal challenges, and the deaths of two beloved legislators. From the opening days, the atmosphere was fraught with
Legislative Update: Session Wrap-up Read More »
Greater Spokane Inc. D.C. Fly-In Connects Spokane Community with Congress A regional delegation of business and community leaders will travel to Washington, D.C., May 6–8, 2025, for Greater Spokane Inc.’s (GSI) annual D.C. Fly-In. This year’s event, presented by MultiCare, connects Spokane-area leaders with federal policymakers to advocate for issues critical to the region’s economic
Business and Civic Leaders Take Spokane’s Voice to Washington, D.C. Read More »
By John Somerlott, Legislative Assistant, Greater Spokane Inc. In recent weeks, one issue has dominated headlines in federal politics: tariffs. Tariffs are taxes imposed on goods as they cross international borders, either imports coming into a country or exports leaving it. They can target specific countries or particular products and are typically used to protect
Trade Tensions & Spokane’s Bottom Line: Navigating the New Tariff Terrain Read More »
Greater Spokane Inc. is disappointed by the recent Washington State Supreme Court decision overturning Spokane’s voter-approved Proposition 1. In August 2024, GSI joined the Downtown Spokane Partnership in filing an amicus brief in support of Proposition 1. This initiative represented our community’s clear intent to protect public spaces near sensitive areas—such as schools, parks,
GSI Statement on Washington State Supreme Court Ruling on Proposition 1 Read More »
