MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Linda Gallagher

New Elections Laws Passed in 2023

July 17, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Elections , New Legislation and Regulations

The state legislature adopted several new election laws this year regarding the candidate filing period, voter registration, records of future voters under the age of 18, and the Washington Voting Rights Act.

A crowd is gathered and sitting on the grass while a band plays in a covered area at the Seattle Center

Summer Festivals and Risk Management

April 17, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Emergency Management , Programs

Summer festivals are a great way for local governments to bring people together but agencies should first undertake a variety of risk management steps to protect attendees, ensure smooth and efficient event operations, and make room for improvements for the following year.

A diverse group of politicians sitting at a dais and speaking to the press

Municipal Elections – Running for Office

March 1, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

Many local elections will take place this year, including half of councilmember positions in towns and cities, appointed mayors, and many board positions with special purpose districts. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available for new and returning candidates.

New Legal Requirements for Job Postings

January 17, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Compensation , Recruitment and Hiring

Beginning January 1, 2023, public and private employers in Washington State with 15 or more employees are now required to include compensation and benefits information in job postings.

New Law Requires Compost Procurement Ordinances by January 1

November 29, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Climate Change , Purchasing and Contracting

A new state law covering organic materials management requires compost procurement ordinances for certain cities, towns, and counties by January 1, 2023. These ordinances must set forth how compost will be procured, purchased, and incorporated into applicable projects.

Elections Integrity and Security: Part 2

October 3, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

In the second part of our series on election security measures, we look at how elections offices verify and tabulate votes to ensure a complete result, and under what conditions and how a recount happens.

A voter putting their ballot into a mailbox

Elections Integrity and Security: Part 1

September 26, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

Free, fair, and accurate elections are a hallmark of our democratic system. Washington State has enacted a number of measures to protect each person’s right to vote and to ensure that elections statewide are safe and secure.

Closed Captioning: A Language Access Tool

August 16, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Inclusive Communities , New Legislation and Regulations

SB 5027, which passed during the 2021 legislative session, requires closed captioning be used on televisions in public places, including in local government-owned facilities, when the technology is available.

Dealing with Difficult Behavior

July 5, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Management

Dealing with people who exhibit difficult behavior can be a challenge, whether they are coworkers, acquaintances, or members of the public. Here are some strategies that can help local government staff and officials make the next encounter less stressful.

2022 Legislation About Public Safety

June 13, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Law Enforcement , New Legislation and Regulations

Among other items, 2022 legislation related to public safety clarifies use-of-force provisions for law enforcement and makes slight changes to what could be considered military equipment.

Statewide Mask Mandate Lifted

March 21, 2022 by Linda Gallagher
Category: COVID-19

Governor Inslee has lifted Washington's statewide mask mandate. This blog looks at where masks are still required, what happens next, and how local governments may be impacted.

New Laws About Public Safety

November 22, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Law Enforcement , New Legislation and Regulations

The 2021 Regular Legislative Session included several bills that impacted local law enforcement agencies, and this blog offers an overview of some of the more complex bills.

Vaccine Mandates: Accommodating Disability and Religious Belief Exemptions

October 11, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: COVID-19

At this point in the pandemic, vaccine mandates of some form can be found at the national, state, and local levels. For those employees seeking exemptions from the mandate, what is the process employers must undergo to review and possibly accommodate such requests?

Redistricting and the 2020 Census

August 30, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections , Tax and Population Data

Local governments using a district-based voting system must begin the process of redistricting in response to the 2020 Census, although a delay in distribution of this data also means new redistricting deadlines.