Editor digs into 'initiative killer' bill, daycare fraud

Democrats’ plan to revamp WA’s initiative process stirs backlash

Let’s Go Washington leader Brian Heywood, far end of table, testifies before the state Senate's State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Jan. 20, 2026. Center is Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. Next to Hobbs is former Secretary of State Sam Reed. All three testified against Senate Bill 5973, which would impose new restrictions on the initiative process. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)Majority Democrats in the s…

Editor digs into 'initiative killer' bill, daycare fraud

As the Washington legislative session continues, a certain bill labeled the new “initiative killer” drew significant opposition this week, with roughly 10,000 signatures against it. Carleen Johnson, The Center Square’s Washington associate editor, sat in on the sessions in Olympia and provided an inside look at what SB 5973 is and how it stood before Washington legislators. “This bill is not really the same as the initiative killer attempt that …