On Friday morning, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade in a 6-3 ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The reproductive rights of patients in more than half the country, and 49 years of durable precedent, have been swept aside. Abortion is no longer a constitutional right but instead left to the whims of state politicians.  

In response to the ruling, Gov. Jay Inslee joined with the governors of California and Oregon to launch a Multi-State Commitment to defend access to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, and committed to protecting patients and doctors against efforts by other states to export their abortion bans to our states.   

“The law remains unchanged in Washington state, but the threat to patient access and privacy has never been more dangerous. Even in Washington state, Republicans have introduced about 40 bills in the past six years to roll back abortion rights and access to reproductive care,” Inslee said. “The right of choice should not depend on which party holds the majority, but that’s where we find ourselves. Instead, law enforcement, vigilantes and judicial systems can force patients to bear the burdens of forced pregnancy and birth. Washington state remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the ability and right of every patient who comes to our state in need of abortion care, and we will fight like hell to restore that right to patients all across the country.” 

The West Coast governors issued a video message on Friday to affirm their shared commitment to protecting abortion rights. Inslee will hold a press conference with state legislators on Saturday to discuss additional actions the state will pursue to strengthen legal protections and access to care. 

Dozens gathered at the state Capitol this week to raise an LGBTQ+ pride flag in celebration of Pride Month. The event was organized by the Washington State LGBTQ Commission. Washington is among the first states to raise this new version of the flag which represents inclusion of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and trans and intersex communities.  

State leaders have striven to adopt policies that protect the rights and safety of people in the LGBTQ+ community. In recent years, legislators have approved bills to prohibit anti-LGBTQ bullying, ban conversion therapy, and ensure health insurance coverage for gender-affirming treatment.  

This week’s celebration comes at a time of rising anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and physical assaults in Washington state and around the country. Gov. Jay Inslee, legislators, and community leaders all expressed their commitment to ensuring Washington remains a state that protects the equality, dignity, and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals. 

“Raising this flag has a purpose,” Inslee said. “It’s a purpose of continued commitment, not just celebration, because we have to understand that there still are voices of intolerance. There are still those that feel threatened, and there are those who do not wish to let others be who they will be.”

Affordability and climate-friendly construction go hand-in-hand, proven by a Tukwila development that broke ground Thursday. Homestead Community Land Trust will soon begin construction of The Southard, an affordable housing development that includes dedicated units for people with disabilities. Most of the three- and four-bedroom homes will be priced below $315,000 for income-qualified buyers. The project will be a net-zero development with cutting-edge insulation, rooftop solar panels, electric induction cooktops, and other features that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The project was supported in part by state funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce programs. As housing construction necessarily increases to keep pace with Washington’s growth, clean building practices will be a significant part of the state’s climate change strategy. 

“In one project, you have private collaboration to build homeownership units and supportive units for people with disabilities, said Nate Lichti, a managing director at Commerce. “You have green building innovations that will reduce residents’ utility costs and improve air quality. Finally, you have state and local partnerships that contribute necessary funding to get brilliant projects off the ground.” 

“King County invested in this project to advance affordable homeownership, prevent displacement, support inclusivity, and stimulate innovation to achieve net-zero energy,” said King County Housing, Homelessness, and Community Development Interim Division Director Jackie Moynahan. “These homes will achieve lower monthly energy costs and will ultimately be healthier for residents and the community.” 

State crews worked this week to help residents move out of a dangerous encampment along I-5 in Seattle. This was the first such occurrence under a new initiative to address safety issues along public highways and rights-of-way. The Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Commerce and the Washington State Patrol are partnering with local nonprofits and governments to ensure suitable shelter options are available for residents. 

“I believe we have a moral obligation to get people out of unsafe conditions,” said Gov. Jay Inslee at a press conference in May where he provided an update on state efforts to build more shelters and supportive housing options.  

The state’s efforts are bolstered by additional funding for support services and a new rapid-acquisition capital program. The program helps local communities build supportive shelters and housing or purchase and convert hotels or apartment buildings within months instead of years.  

Q13 FOX covered the story here.  

A new educational garden has opened on the Washington State Capitol campus to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators such as butterflies, bees and birds that ensure the health of flowering plants across Washington state. Pollinators are under threat, and the new garden will enlighten visitors to just how critical these species are to plant life. 

Pollinator populations have declined due to habitat loss, invasive species, pesticides, and climate change. Washingtonians can help protect these important species, which are responsible for pollinating 85% of the world’s flowering plants. This includes more than two-thirds of the world’s food crop species. 

“We depend on these 600+ species to propagate vegetables, flowers, and other plant life that are central to our economy and culture in Washington,” said Gov. Jay Inslee at the opening event. “We are all connected to these pollinators, so this teaching garden will help remind us of their value.” 

The garden was created in partnership between the governor’s office, Washington Department of Enterprise Services, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Agriculture, Woodland Park Zoo, and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. 

The garden is open to visitors seven days a week. Information about visiting and a full list of plants found can be found at the new Capitol Campus Pollinator Garden web page. Information about how you can support pollinators in your own backyard is available from Woodland Park Zoo.   

Gov. Jay Inslee visited Wenatchee on Friday to discuss digital equity at the NCW Tech Alliance, a nonprofit connecting rural communities to technology resources. Democratic and Republican legislators, technology experts, and nonprofit agencies all joined the roundtable to discuss efforts for expanding rural broadband access. 

NCW Tech Alliance, in partnership with Microsoft Techspark, discussed one such project – Project iLumina, a campaign to bring science, technology, engineering, and math and entrepreneurship resources to rural and underserved communities in North Central Washington. 

The state has an aggressive goal to achieve universal access to high-speed internet by 2028. As part of this effort, the state last year launched a new Office of Digital Equity to help people gain digital literacy skills and access to connected devices. One of the most important and easiest ways to help rural communities access federal funding is to show where the gaps are. People can take this one-minute “access and speed survey” that helps local governments make the case for grant funding.  

Gov. Jay Inslee visited Cashmere on Friday for the grand opening of Beta Hatch, a company whose innovative process to farm insects for livestock consumption is making headlines for shaping the future of farming. The company’s facility will be the largest in North America and is sustainably designed to save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The startup company was supported in part by a grant from the state’s Clean Energy Fund.   

Insects are a natural food source for animals, are protein-rich, and are grown in a sustainable fashion that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Beta Hatch harvests insect larvae indoors through a unique process using heat captured from a nearby data center. 

“Insects are natural bio-recyclers and the base of most food chains. Here, we’re producing them at massive scale. We’ve converted an old juice factory into a bug factory,” said Dr. Virgina Emery, Founder and CEO of Beta Hatch. “We generate 5,000 times the acre yield of soy with a small fraction of the typical water use.”