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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With the 2026 legislative session now behind us, I want to provide you with an update on what happened in Olympia during the last two months. This session included several major decisions that will impact our communities, including the passage of a state income tax and another increase in the size of the state operating budget.
These are significant developments that deserve your attention and careful consideration. In the sections that follow, I’ll break down the key issues, share my concerns, and highlight what these decisions mean for families, workers, and taxpayers across our district and throughout Washington. Thank you for staying engaged.
State Income Passed by the Majority Party
The majority party Democrats have been pushing for a state income tax for years. This year, in what will go down as one of the biggest stories in the history of the Legislature, the majority finally passed the first-ever state income tax in Washington, Senate Bill 6346. All Republicans and eight Democrats voted against it, but ultimately it passed out of the House 51-46.
SB 6346 creates a 9.9% tax on income above $1 million and is expected to generate billions of dollars in new state revenue. However, the proposal ignores the financial strain many families are already facing.
I have serious concerns about how this proposal is structured. Supporters have described the measure as targeting only the state’s highest earners, but it’s doubtful the tax will remain limited. Additionally, proponents say the policy is targeted, but the revenue ultimately goes into the state’s general fund without real reforms to fix Washington’s regressive tax system.
This was a long and serious debate because the stakes are incredibly high. We didn’t fight for more than 24 straight hours just to kill time. We did it because families deserve a fair shot and a tax system that truly works for everyone. In my view, this bill doesn’t fix what’s broken. It sends more money into the general fund without guaranteeing meaningful relief for working people.
At the end of the day, Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem; it has a results problem. We need to focus on responsible budgeting and real reform that helps families, not policies that make affordability challenges worse.
State Operating Budget Increased Again
Another major concern this session is the supplemental operating budget (Senate Bill 5998) approved by the majority. The plan pushes total state spending past $80 billion—several billion dollars higher than previous levels—and continues the trend of rapid government expansion.
At the start of session, Washington was already facing a roughly $2 billion shortfall. Rather than focusing on sustainable reductions and prioritizing affordability, the majority relied on one-time fixes—drawing down the rainy-day fund, shifting accounts, and using temporary funding strategies. At the same time, they reduced support for key services like education, early learning, health care access, and child care.
Even with increased spending overall, rural communities are not seeing the benefits. In fact, in many of the areas facing cuts, services are already limited or harder to access outside urban centers, leaving rural Washington further behind.
Families across our district have had to make tough financial decisions, but the state is not following that same approach. Instead, this budget relies on unstable assumptions and short-term solutions to remain balanced, raising serious concerns about long-term sustainability.
With costs continuing to rise for everyday necessities, this budget falls short of delivering meaningful relief. I remain committed to pushing for responsible budgeting that puts taxpayers first and ensures rural communities are not overlooked.
Capital Budget Wins for the 17th District
On the positive side of things, the Legislature passed the supplemental capital budget (Senate Bill 6003), which allows lawmakers to adjust funding for construction and infrastructure projects, including schools, housing, water systems, parks, and public buildings. The capital budget is funded through a variety of funding sources, including general obligation bonds, dedicated cash accounts, federal funds, and alternative financing contracts. I’m happy to report that our district received more than $14 million in additional funding for the following projects.
- $6 million for construction in the Goldendale District under the Small District and STEC Schools Modernization Program.
- $6 million for construction in the Stevenson-Carson District under the Small District and STEC Schools Modernization Program.
- $2,218,000 for the Washougal Community Library building project.
- $258,000 for the Washougal Veterans Memorial.
- $475,000 for Northwestern Park access.
- $515,000 for the Carson Elementary HVAC project.
- $515,000 for Skyline Hospital improvements.
- $500,000 for the White Salmon Valley Pool.
These are all important projects that will benefit our communities and the people who live in them.
Failure to Fund Education and Assist with Child Care
Washington continues to deal with education and child care crises.
- 71% of Washington eighth graders aren’t proficient in math and 69% aren’t proficient in reading – both up from 58% in 2013.
- Washington ranks as the 3rd most expensive state for married couples and 5th most expensive for single parents when it comes to child care costs as a percentage of income.
- Washington’s K–12 education system has slipped to 27th best in the nation.
- Washington is ranked 35th for high school graduation rate and 36th for college readiness.
- Washington ranks 48th in college enrollment after high school.
- Despite ranking 14th in overall government school spending, Washington ranks 27th in SAT scores.
The Legislature could have improved both education and child care this session. Despite making them a priority in talking points, the majority took few meaningful steps to improve affordability or expand child care access beyond limited, enrollment-capped preschool programs for low-income families.
Efforts to improve the state’s education system fared no better. Lawmakers advanced just one proposal focused on encouraging updates to reading instruction, while larger challenges – such as chronic absenteeism, declining academic performance, and graduation rates – remain unresolved.
Proposals to expand child care options and ease regulatory barriers, along with efforts to restore funding for special education, Running Start, and essential school operating costs, were not adopted.
Additionally, the majority passed an income tax to fund education, then the same majority cut education by $1 billion in the state operating budget. They also chose to leave $700+ million on the tablethrough an annual federal scholarship fund. Funding public education is the Legislature’s paramount duty, yet the state continues to make cuts even as it asks taxpayers to pay more. This is not sustainable, and our kids deserve better.
In-Person Town Hall Meetings
Lastly, I want to make you aware of several upcoming opportunities to engage with me and my seatmates in the 17th District, Rep. David Stuebe and Sen. Paul Harris. We will be hosting five in-person town hall meetings throughout our district in the coming weeks.
In addition to the new state income tax and massive operating budget, these town hall meetings are a great opportunity for you to learn more about everything else that just happened in Olympia and get your questions answered. We are still working on the dates, times, and locations. I’ll send another update when we have those details finalized. Stay tuned.
Thank You, and Please Stay Engaged Thank you for your interest in state government. I appreciate your input. Please continue sharing 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. It’s an honor to serve you in the Legislature.
Kevin Waters
