For the first time in history, Washington state will conduct a study and develop proposals for reparations to descendants of chattel slavery.

Approved as part of the state’s $78 billion two-year budget signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson last month, the study will investigate the history of slavery in Washington and identify potential remedies to address its enduring impact.

Lawmakers carved out $300,000 in the budget to fund the landmark study, making Washington the third state in the country to allocate funding toward exploring the possibility of reparations, according to advocates.

Researchers will identify possible frameworks for calculating and awarding reparations at the national level, like cash payments, as well as potential compensation that could be delivered in Washington, s

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