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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As the 2026 legislative session gaveled to a close last night, lawmakers approved three supplemental budgets that will shape state spending over the next year: the operating budget, the transportation budget, and the capital budget. Each plays a different role in funding state government, infrastructure, and community projects. While there were some positive investments for our region, there were also significant concerns about spending priorities and missed opportunities to address the affordability challenges families are facing across Washington.
Operating budget
“Washington families are tightening their belts, but the state continues to grow government faster than taxpayers can keep up.”
The Legislature approved an operating budget of more than $80 billion, continuing a pattern of rapid government growth over the past decade. Unfortunately, this budget relies on unstable revenue assumptions and shifts money from reserves and other accounts to make the numbers work.
At the same time, it reduces funding in areas that matter deeply to rural communities, including cuts affecting schools, health care services, child care, and long-term care facilities. These decisions will be felt most in small towns where resources are already stretched thin.
Families across our district are dealing with higher costs for groceries, fuel, housing, and insurance. Instead of addressing those pressures directly, this budget grows government while leaving many of the affordability challenges Washingtonians face largely unresolved.
Transportation budget
“Our focus should be maintaining the infrastructure we already have and completing projects communities have been waiting on.”
The supplemental transportation budget continues funding for important maintenance and preservation work across the state and keeps several projects already underway moving forward. Prioritizing existing commitments is the right approach in a supplemental year.
However, the final agreement relies on additional bonding authority that was not part of the original House proposal. While bonding can be an appropriate tool in long-term planning, taking on new debt in a supplemental year raises concerns about the long-term financial obligations facing our transportation system.
Washington already has major transportation commitments ahead, including bridge preservation and federal culvert compliance. Decisions that expand debt should be carefully considered in future full transportation budgets rather than added during a supplemental year.
Capital budget
“The capital budget is where we can often come together to support real projects that strengthen our communities.”
The supplemental capital budget invests roughly $890 million statewide in construction and infrastructure projects, including school construction, water and irrigation improvements, housing, and community facilities.
Several projects in the 9th Legislative District were included in the plan, supporting improvements for schools, water systems, public safety facilities, and research infrastructure. Among them are investments in school construction in Palouse, track and field improvements for the Reardan-Edwall School District, water supply improvements in Othello, and projects at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University.
These types of investments help maintain critical infrastructure and support the long-term vitality of rural communities across eastern Washington.
The 24-hour floor fight over the income tax
“The way the bill was written, it is an income tax on all of us with a high threshold…for now.”
One of the most significant debates of the session came during the final days, when lawmakers spent nearly 24 hours on the House floor debating legislation to create Washington’s first income tax.
House Republicans fought hard against the proposal, offering amendments to reduce the tax burden on working families and small businesses, require a vote of the people, and protect Washington’s long-standing tax structure. Unfortunately, those amendments were rejected.
The bill ultimately passed despite serious concerns about affordability, fairness, and constitutionality. Washington voters have rejected income taxes many times in the past, and major changes to our tax system should always involve the people of this state.
Update on my bills
“Sometimes the most helpful legislation comes from simply listening to the people doing the work every day.”
Two bills I sponsored this year have now passed the Legislature and been delivered to the governor.
One measure allows businesses with a snack bar liquor license to offer wine by the glass in addition to beer. It is a small change, but it gives local establishments more flexibility in how they serve their customers.
The second bill addresses a challenge rural hospitals and ambulance services face when transferring patients between facilities. It allows registered nurses without EMT certification to assist with certain specialty transports as long as an EMT is still present and other safety requirements are met.
Both ideas came directly from conversations with people working in our communities who were looking for practical solutions to real-world challenges.
Congratulations to the Colfax Bulldogs
“The Colfax Bulldogs showed what determination, teamwork, and community pride can accomplish.”
As I mentioned in my previous update earlier this week, let’s all congratulate the Colfax High School boys basketball team on an incredible season that ended with an undefeated record and the WIAA State 2B championship.
Their success on the court reflects the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and families involved. Just as important, the entire Colfax community rallied around the team and the Jenkin family during a very difficult time. It was inspiring to see that level of support and resilience from a small-town community.
The Bulldogs gave our region something to be proud of, and their championship season will be remembered for years to come.
Missed opportunities this session
“Unfortunately, this session will also be remembered for the opportunities the Legislature chose to pass up.”
Despite the challenges families are facing, the Legislature did not pass meaningful legislation to make housing or child care more affordable. We did not right-size government spending to live within our means, which means we will likely be back next year facing another budget shortfall.
Lawmakers also failed to act on initiatives sent to the Legislature that sought to protect girls’ sports and strengthen parental rights. These measures deserved serious consideration and should ultimately be decided by the voters.
Just as concerning, we did not pass legislation that would strengthen public safety or crack down on violent crime and repeat offenders. Instead, many of the policies adopted this year expand government bureaucracy while leaving communities and families asking for stronger protections.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read these updates, contact my office, participate in our telephone town hall, or share your thoughts throughout the legislative session. Hearing from people across the district helps ensure your voices are part of the decisions made in Olympia.
It is an honor to represent you in the Washington State House of Representatives. I appreciate your continued engagement and look forward to staying in touch throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmick
