skip navigation
MRSC logo

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for June 2025

HB 1531: Helping Local Governments Support Consistent Public Health Messaging

June 25, 2025  by  Alicia Bones
Category:  Emergency Management ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Effective April 21, 2025, HB 1531 clarifies that public health officers have authority to make science-based decisions during disease outbreaks, and local governments must follow those decisions.

Read more

Does Your Code Take E-Bikes and E-Scooters Into Account?

June 24, 2025  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Cycling and Walking

While state-based regulations regarding electric-assist bicycles and scooters are available for local agencies to consider, there may be good reasons to develop more tailored local codes, especially when it comes to parking, trail/sidewalk access, and helmet use. 

Read more

Adopting SEPA Exemptions May Help Implement Your Comprehensive Plan

June 18, 2025  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Local governments looking to promote development that implements their comprehensive plans should consider adopting categorical or optional exemptions from the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for certain types of projects. 

Read more

2025 Legislation Addressing Residential Unit Lot Subdivisions and Lot Splitting

June 16, 2025  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Housing ,  Subdivisions and Planned Developments ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Two recent bills impact the local residential land division process—one provides additional guidance regarding local unit lot subdivision regulation and the other will allow administrative residential lot splitting under certain circumstances.

Read more

2025 Legislation Promotes the Development of Childcare Facilities

June 12, 2025  by  Lisa Pool ,  Barbara Rosen ,  Maria Tobin
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Inclusive Communities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

One bill from the 2025 legislative session requires certain localities to update their local codes and make it easier for childcare facilities to be sited in a variety of zones. Another requires local governments remove minimum parking standards for these and other facilities. 

Read more

2025 Revisions to Washington Paid Family Medical Leave, Paid Sick Leave, and More

June 9, 2025  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Leave Policies ,  New Legislation and Regulations

The 2025 legislative session brought changes to several leave-related laws, including the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. One change discourages employees from ‘stacking’ PFML paid leave with that offered under the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Read more

From Vacant to Vibrant: Transforming Empty Downtown Storefronts

June 4, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Downtown Revitalization Series ,  Economic Development

Local governments looking to transform empty downtowns can employ a variety of approaches to revitalize these areas, including allowing vacant storefronts to be used for alternative purposes, like art displays, small scale manufacturing, or pop-up commercial installations.

Read more

Checking the Trash: Catching Public Records Requests Sent to Junk Email Folders

June 2, 2025  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Public Records Act

If a records request gets lost in the junk email folder, an agency might not respond in a timely manner to the request, potentially leading to a PRA lawsuit. These are real fears for an agency, but steps can be taken to make sure emailed requests are not lost or misdirected.

Read more