Civic – Page 3 of 65

Feb 3, 2026, 7:17 PM

Washington’s ‘millionaires tax’ targets top earners as tech leaders warn of startup fallout

Washington leaders unveiled their so-called “millionaires tax” — a proposed 9.9% tax on personal income in excess of $1 million. Business leaders are worried about additional financial burdens in a shaky economy while supporters stress the growing affordability crisis. Read More

Jan 28, 2026, 12:20 PM

Seattle’s data privacy chief falls victim to identity theft, and shares tips for how to recover

Ginger Armbruster found herself on the other side of a breach when she discovered a fraudster had used her leaked information to open a sham bank account. Read More

Jan 28, 2026, 6:00 AM

An ‘extinction-level event’ for startups: Seattle tech leaders fight new state tax proposal

Several startup leaders voiced opposition during public testimony on Tuesday against a proposed bill that would expand the state’s capital gains tax. Read More

Jan 27, 2026, 12:00 PM

Proposals take aim at 3D printing tech to strengthen Washington state laws against ‘ghost guns’

Some industry leaders and hobbyists are alarmed by potential restrictions on 3D printing and CNC milling. Read More

Jan 26, 2026, 4:42 PM

Washington proposal to tax startup exits sparks backlash from Seattle tech leaders

A new proposal to expand the capital gains tax in Washington state is drawing concern from startup leaders who say it could undercut incentives for building companies in the region. Read More

Jan 23, 2026, 1:15 PM

Seattle’s ORCA transit system gets major tech upgrade with new ‘Tap to Pay’ feature

Seattle’s ORCA transit system is rolling out an upgrade that will let riders pay fares by tapping their credit card or smartphone — no dedicated ORCA card required. Read More

Jan 23, 2026, 10:31 AM

Light rail across Lake Washington — a major connection for Seattle-area tech hubs — to open March 28

The completed 2 Line will ultimately connect downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Redmond Technology station at Microsoft’s headquarters campus. Read More

Jan 22, 2026, 8:39 AM

Air Force awards $4.9M contract to Seattle-area autonomous construction startup AIM

AIM’s technology works with existing equipment and is designed for dangerous or hard-to-reach places, including areas where equipment might be dropped in by parachute. Read More

Jan 20, 2026, 2:28 PM

Bill to tax short-term rentals returns in Washington state — along with Airbnb opposition

Senate Bill 5576 would allow counties, cities and towns to impose a tax of up to 4% on short-term rentals used by vacation guests on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. The bill failed to advance during the 2025 session. Read More

Jan 20, 2026, 8:15 AM

Engineers in the field: Washington state bets on AI to help save the future of farming

A new initiative called Growing with AI will bring together the state’s tech giants and diverse farming community to tackle pressing challenges in the agriculture industry. Read More

Jan 16, 2026, 4:29 PM

AI research boost: University of Washington expands infrastructure with $10M in federal funding

Sen. Patty Murray said the funding will help provide a counterweight to AI development driven primarily by private capital. “If just billionaires are creating and using AI for their own projects that make money, then we lose out on most of the benefits of AI,” Murray said. Read More

Jan 16, 2026, 10:27 AM

What Microsoft has learned about housing, and why it’s urging the state to unlock commercial land

Microsoft is supporting a Washington state bill to open up underused commercial land for housing, asserting that the larger crisis is solvable only if lawmakers unlock land faster, streamline permitting, and treat housing as a connected system rather than a series of one-off projects. Read More

Jan 14, 2026, 1:39 PM

Big tech takes a backseat to big science in Washington governor’s annual address

While AI is generating all the buzz, it was Washington state’s climate tech and healthcare innovation that got shoutouts in Gov. Bob Ferguson’s State of the State address. Read More

Jan 12, 2026, 8:10 AM

5 new proposals to regulate AI in Washington state, from classrooms to digital companions

Washington state lawmakers are taking another run at regulating artificial intelligence. The proposals come as Congress continues to debate AI oversight with little concrete action, leaving states to experiment with their own guardrails. Read More

Jan 9, 2026, 8:39 AM

Microchipped at work? Washington state bill aims to ban employers from using ‘dehumanizing’ tech

House Bill 2303 seeks to prohibit employers from requiring, requesting or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies as a condition of employment. Read More

Jan 6, 2026, 9:45 AM

Wi-Fi on the water: Washington State Ferries explores public internet service with new pilot program

A limited pilot would provide Wi-Fi at a single terminal and on a single vessel. WSF currently offers no public internet service anywhere in its ferry system. Read More

Dec 29, 2025, 12:13 PM

Joe Nguyen named Seattle Chamber president and CEO after leaving Washington state Commerce role

A tech veteran who previously worked at Microsoft and Expedia, Nguyen served in the Washington State Senate representing Seattle’s 34th Legislative District. Read More

Dec 19, 2025, 8:12 AM

From AI to drones, Redmond police chief builds a high-tech department in Microsoft’s backyard

Darrell Lowe, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, views Redmond as the ideal staging ground for a new era of policing that capitalizes on technological advancements. Read More

Dec 16, 2025, 10:03 AM

Washington and 35 other states reach settlement with Hyundai and Kia over lack of anti-theft tech

The Korean automakers must equip all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with engine immobilizer anti-theft technology. Read More

Dec 15, 2025, 10:34 AM

Washington joins lawsuit opposing $100K fee for H-1B visas allowing foreign STEM and medical workers

Washington is part of a newly filed lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas. Read More

Dec 4, 2025, 8:24 AM

Crypto ATM startup Coinme hit with cease-and-desist order in Washington state

Washington state regulators allege that the startup improperly claimed more than $8 million in customer funds as its own income. Read More

Dec 4, 2025, 8:00 AM

Seattle-area startup Govstream.ai raises $3.6M to improve city permitting processes using AI

The company says its technology answers questions, checks documents, compares plan sets, and helps move applications through review faster. Read More

Dec 3, 2025, 8:00 AM

Amazon will pay $3.7M to settle labor claims in Seattle for alleged gig worker ordinance violations

Amazon Flex denied the allegations from the Office of Labor Standards but is paying more than 10,000 affected workers. Read More

Dec 1, 2025, 2:30 PM

Washington state AI task force lays out blueprint for regulation, suggests grant program for startups

Washington state is moving to set its own regulatory framework for artificial intelligence in the absence of federal legislation, laying… Read More

Nov 21, 2025, 1:11 PM

AI bargaining bill returns as Washington lawmakers weigh new rules for public employers

This story first appeared in the Washington State Standard. Washington state lawmakers next year are set to again discuss whether… Read More

Nov 21, 2025, 9:15 AM

Washington has the pieces for a quantum ecosystem. Now the state needs a game plan — and money.

Washington needs more speed and a better strategy to help bolster the region’s quantum ecosystem, according to panelists who spoke this week in Seattle at a Tech Alliance event focused on quantum technologies. Read More

Nov 20, 2025, 10:45 AM

New UW President Robert Jones aims to dispel ‘job apocalypse’ fears and prep every grad for an AI future

UW President Robert Jones wants to expand computer science access for undergraduates and build new public-private partnerships to tackle society’s grand challenges. Read More

Nov 20, 2025, 6:54 AM

As Trump targets state AI laws, a new Seattle startup sees opportunity

Reports emerged Wednesday that the White House is preparing an executive order directing federal agencies to challenge or block state-level… Read More

Nov 19, 2025, 2:31 PM

‘We are not going anywhere’: Key Amazon exec reaffirms tech giant’s commitment to Seattle region

The comments by David Zapolsky, Amazon chief global affairs and legal officer, follow years of political disputes in Seattle over taxes and other policies that contributed to Amazon shifting more of its workforce to Bellevue, Wash., and Northern Virginia. Read More

Nov 18, 2025, 9:25 AM

Washington state cities turn off license plate reader cameras amid ruling on data access

The debate stems from the use of cameras made by Flock Safety, and whether the images and data collected are subject to release under Washington’s Public Records Act. Read More