Salaried employees made a large jump with the calendar turning to 2025. For employers with 50 or fewer employees, workers will earn a minimum of $1,332.80 a week ($69,305.60 a year). For employers with 51 or more employees, workers will now bring in a minimum of $1,499.40 a week ($77,968.80 a year).
In 2024, Washington passed a law requiring gun owners to notify law enforcement if their firearm is lost or stolen, and strengthened regulations on firearms dealers.
The state of Washington also has its own state laws. Washington state laws include the Washington State Constitution, laws passed by the Washington legislature and periodically codified in the Revised Code of Washington, and decisions by courts that interpret Washington laws.
In Washington State, “common law marriage” does not exist. However, Washington courts do recognize “committed intimate relationships.” These relationships were formerly known as “meretricious relationships” and exist when an unmarried couple lives together for a significant period of time.
D.C. Home Rule. The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of local government established by the “District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973”, enacted by Congress and ratified by District voters.
Many states follow “common law” rules to determine who owns assets or property after a marriage, but that's not the case in the state of Washington. In Washington state (and eight other states, as well), “community property law” is used to determine property ownership after a marriage.
A bill may go through committee meetings, debates, changes, and votes. If both the House of Representatives and Senate pass it, the Governor decides whether to sign it into law.
Washington State also has a Stand Your Ground law, which permits individuals to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves without a duty to retreat from a threat, as long as they are lawfully present in a place where they have a right to be.
Under Washington State law RCW 16.24, open range includes areas outside of towns or cities in which it is "lawful to permit cattle, horses, mules, or donkeys to run at large." Counties have the power to designate areas as open range or stock-restricted areas. (See back panel for more on Okanogan County's open range.)