The Washington state House on Tuesday approved $100 million in funding aimed at helping local police departments hire more officers. 

House Bill 2015 aligns with Governor Bob Ferguson’s priorities, and he’s threatened to torpedo any state budget that doesn’t include increased police funding. 

It’s been a contentious budget cycle in Olympia. The state’s facing a massive shortfall -- but the progress on police funding may indicate state democrats’ willingness to cooperate with the new governor. 

To break down the police funding bill, Soundside was joined by Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter for the Washington State Standard. 

Guests:
Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter with the Washington State Standard

Related Links: 
$100M plan for police hiring gets greenlight from Washington House • Washington State Standard
Debate heats up over Ferguson’s request for $100M to hire more police in Washington • Washington State Standard
House Bill 2015
Senate Bill 5060

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

The Washington state House on Tuesday approved $100 million in funding aimed at helping local police departments hire more officers.&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2015&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2015</a> aligns with Governor Bob Ferguson&rsquo;s priorities, and he&rsquo;s threatened to torpedo any state budget that doesn&rsquo;t include increased police funding.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s been a contentious budget cycle in Olympia. The state&rsquo;s facing a massive shortfall -- but the progress on police funding may indicate state democrats&rsquo; willingness to cooperate with the new governor.&nbsp;
To break down the police funding bill, Soundside was joined by Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter for the Washington State Standard.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Jake Goldstein-Street, reporter with the Washington State Standard</li>
</ul>
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/11/100m-plan-for-police-hiring-gets-greenlight-from-washington-house/">$100M plan for police hiring gets greenlight from Washington House &bull; Washington State Standard</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/10/debate-heats-up-over-fergusons-request-for-100m-to-hire-more-police-in-washington/">Debate heats up over Ferguson&rsquo;s request for $100M to hire more police in Washington &bull; Washington State Standard</a></li>
<li><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2015&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2015</a></li>
<li><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=5060&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">Senate Bill 5060</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside

The state House on Tuesday approved $100 million in funding aimed at helping local police departments hire more officers. 

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