CAPR's blog
Judge denies injunction in King ranch dispute with Washington Dept of Ecology
By Carrie Stadheim, Tri-State Livestock News
The state department of ecology has “doubled down” on efforts to stop Wade and Teresa King from grazing state and privately owned land.
A judge denied a preliminary injunction on March 20, 2026, and the case moves forward as the family continues to fight for their constitutional right to a jury trial.
ESA BASED RULING GIVES JUDGE AUTHORITY TO CURTAIL HYDRO-POWER GENERATION
On By Steve Busch
On February 25th, 2026, a U.S. District Court in Oregon issued a ruling that will significantly affect dam operations in the Pacific Northwest. The eight dams impacted include four on the Columbia River…. Bonneville, the Dalles, McNary, and John Day, plus four on the Snake River….Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite.
2026 CAPR Legal Fund Banquet and Fundraiser Featuring Keynote Speaker Brandi Kruse!
The CAPR Annual Banquet is to be held May 9th, 2026 at the Doubletree Suites Tukwilla, 16500 Southcenter Parkway Seattle 98188. Please join us for great food, friendship, and news! Social hour at 5:00pm, with dinner served at 6:00 pm. Special room rates will apply, please mention you are attending the CAPR Banquet when making reservations if you plan to stay the night!
SSB 6162: Property Tax “Reform” or Reform Theater?
By Dominique Scarimbolo, CAPR King Chapter President, 2/16/26
Bottom Line:
SSB 6162 is not a bad bill — but it is not meaningful property tax reform. It expands an existing relief program for a narrow group and rebrands part of the tax system, without fixing the underlying problems driving Washington’s property tax crisis.
February 16, 2026
Washington's Energy Affordability Squeeze: Rising Electricity Costs, Blackout Risks, and Their Toll on Families, Savings, and Housing
By Cindy Alia 2/13/26
Washington state is confronting a deepening electricity affordability crisis as rapidly growing demand clashes with clean energy transitions, grid constraints, and escalating utility rates. The Pacific Northwest has long enjoyed relatively low electricity prices due to abundant hydropower, but that advantage is fading fast.
Recent reports highlight heightened risks of brownouts or rolling blackouts in extreme conditions, while policies like the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) drive both necessary changes and added costs. For many residents—especially those already stretched by high housing, groceries, and living expenses—these pressures feel immediate and burdensome, often outweighing the longer-term "green rewards" of emissions reductions or future efficiency savings.
POWWRA’s Growing Defense Against Ecology’s Water Adjudication Lawsuit in WRIA-1
The WRIA-1 water adjudication lawsuit has generated reaction from many well owners who live in the Water Resource Inventory Area-1 (WRIA-1) within Whatcom County and part of northern Skagit County.
Senate Ways and Means Ignores the Will of the People and Passes Millionaire Tax onto the Rules Committee
By Cindy Alia 2/9/26
At 3:15 today the Senate Ways and Means Committee Democrats voted in favor of passing the Millionaire's Tax, SB 6346 from their committee to the Rules Committee where it will have a no doubt short wait to be moved to the Senate Floor for a final vote. This in spite of historically overwhelming numbers giving testimony in the committee hearing of over 61,000 clearly telling the legislators NO on SB 6346 and its companion bill 2724 which is waiting in the wings while the senate does the dirty work for the house.
Opposition to Senate Bill 6294: A Challenge on Grounds of Property Rights Violations and Barriers to Young Homebuyers
By Cindy Alia, 2/5/26
This bill had a hearing in the house today. Unfortunately the majority of testifiers were government entities and health care providers, there was no time allowed for ordi% nary tax paying citizens to testify before the committee. The companion bill in the house is moving quite quickly so without major amendments it appears the bill has a 40% chance of passing this year. It will be costly, call the legislative hotline 800 562 2000!
CAPR Executive Summary and testimony provided.
Senate Bill 6294 (SB 6294), introduced in the Legislature of the State of Washington, proposes sweeping expansions of local government taxing authority, including increases in real estate excise taxes (REET), property tax levies, sales and use taxes, and utility taxes.
Washington’s Tax Burden: The Hidden Costs That Hit Everyday Families Hardest
By Cindy Alia 2/5/26
Washington State prides itself on having no broad personal income tax on wages. Instead, the state funds its government through a heavy reliance on sales taxes, property taxes, B&O (gross receipts) taxes, excise taxes, and a growing array of fees and regulatory costs. While this system is frequently labeled “regressive” because lower- and middle-income households pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, the full picture is far more nuanced—and often overlooked by those pushing the idea of "fairness" in the form of an income tax.
HB 1345 Detached ADU Limits Bill Overly Coersive
By Cindy Alia February 2, 2026
HB 1345 is ramping up its second try for the 2025-26 bicameral legislative session. Some things the legislature produces do not improve with age! I am on the fence with this bill, but in the long run must be like a Mama Bear in protecting and promoting property rights!
Citizens' Alliance would urge the legislature to take a less heavy anded approach if housing is the goal. If GMA mandates and heavy handed government coersion is the goal, then let the bill remain the same.
CAPR has some comments related to perfecting the bill, even while discouraging a disturbing trend of lawmakers to "compromise" and describe coercive tactics for GMA goals as voluntary compliance.
February 2, 2026
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