washington business editorial staff
Kris Johnson, Publisher Jason Hagey, Executive Editor Brian Mittge, Staff Writer / Photo Editor Jay Hember, Senior Art Director Jacqueline Allison, Staff Writer
Peyton DeSanta, Media and Technology Coordinator
Inside
2024 legislative review awb officers
Jason Thackston, Chair Avista, Spokane
Preston Love, Vice Chair State Farm, Gig Harbor
Megan Hughes, Secretary / Treasurer Barnard Giffin, Richland
Dave Rankin, Immediate Past Chair Rankin Equipment Company, Yakima
awb leadership team
Kris Johnson, President Morgan Irwin, VP, Government Affairs Jason Hagey, VP, Communications Greg Welch, Director of Finance Sean Heiner, Director of Membership
Brian Temple, Interim Director of Member Experience and Events
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Record Tax Increase Casts Pall Over 2025 Session
Morgan Irwin
PO Box 658, Olympia, WA 98507-0658 T 360.943.1600 F 360.943.5811 www. awb. org
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Issue Area Reports
8 Labor and Employment Law
12 Education, Workforce Development and Health Care
17 Energy & Environment
27
Transportation, Housing & Land Use
32 Budget & Taxation
5
Departments
Editorial Scorecard Newspaper commentary on the 2024 legislative session
Session Extras
36 Members and Advocacy
38 Vote Record
special edition 2025 3