The recent decision of the Washington State Supreme Court authorizing a 10-year pilot program that would permit new methods and models of providing legal services in the state could usher in an era where people may not ever need to interact with an attorney in their legal affairs.
New restrictions on cosmetics tested on animals, tougher penalties for negligent drivers, requirements for hospitals to offer drugs to people possibly exposed to HIV. These are among the changes in Washington state law took effect Jan. 1, 2025.
The director of the state's Office of Public Defense went to justices of the Washington State Supreme Court last fall with an unprecedented request for a public defense system he told them is “on the verge of collapse.”
Washington’s Legislature passed more than 450 bills last session, which ended in April 2023. Most took effect in July but a handful didn’t until Jan. 1.