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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With just one week remaining in the 2026 legislative session, the pace in Olympia has intensified. Lawmakers are working to finalize decisions that will shape our state for years to come. These final days are when the Legislature completes negotiations on the three state budgets and votes on major policy proposals. Unfortunately, several of the decisions already made raise serious concerns about the direction the majority is taking.
Last Saturday, the House majority approved an $80 billion operating budget—the largest in Washington state history. This spending plan grows government yet again while doing little to address the affordability challenges facing families across our state. Government continues to spend beyond the pace of its revenues, while Washington households struggle to keep up with the cost of everyday life, as shown in the chart below.
Families across Washington are already feeling the pressure from rising housing costs, groceries, fuel, child care, and other basic necessities. At a time when many households are tightening their belts, state government should exercise the same discipline. Instead, the majority continues to expand spending without offering meaningful relief to the hardworking families who ultimately pay the bills. Meantime, living in Washington continues to get more expensive, as seen in the chart below.
House Republicans offered numerous amendments to help families and protect core services. These proposals included tax relief for working households, protections for classrooms, stronger support for public safety, and greater accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent. Unfortunately, most of these proposals were rejected.
Another issue looming over the final days of session is the Democrats’ proposed “Millionaires Income Tax.” Supporters claim the policy would affect only the wealthy, but the proposal includes exemptions that benefit certain large corporations in the Puget Sound region while putting Washington on a path toward a broader income tax system.
Even supporters of the proposal acknowledge it will not meaningfully improve the state’s projected four-year budget outlook or significantly address funding priorities such as education. It also provides no meaningful tax relief to Washington families. Instead, it simply takes more money from some taxpayers without a clear plan for how most of those funds will be used.
The bill was amended on Friday, and the governor has indicated he would sign the amended version. While the revised bill is somewhat improved—offering a few additional tax breaks for lower-income families and some businesses—it still opens the door to a statewide income tax.
Washington families expect government to live within its means, just as they must do every day. We should focus on responsible budgeting, protecting essential services, and making life more affordable, not on creating new taxes and expanding spending commitments that future taxpayers will be left to pay.
As we move through the final week of session, I will continue working to advocate for practical, common-sense solutions that put families, taxpayers, and our communities first.
Please Stay in Touch
Although the session is nearly over, I still want to hear from you. We cannot move Washington forward without the voices of the people we serve. Please continue reaching out with your comments, questions, and concerns.
I also encourage you to stay informed on House Republicans’ efforts to fix Washington by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Thank you for the privilege of serving you.
Kevin Waters
