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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The 2025 legislative session is officially in the books! After 105 days of floor votes, committee hearings, and late-night negotiations, we adjourned on Sunday, April 27—on time and without the special session many expected.

But while the gavel has fallen, the story isn’t quite over. The governor still has several days to take action on the operating, transportation, and capital budgets. He can sign them, veto them entirely, or issue line-item vetoes. With historic tax increases included in two of those budgets, the decisions ahead carry serious consequences.

In this update, I’ll walk you through the biggest outcomes of the session—including the largest tax hike in state history—and what it means for families, businesses, and our local economy. You’ll also find updates on my work co-chairing the bipartisan Nuclear Energy Caucus, victories for our region in the capital budget, and the latest on the bills I sponsored—some that made it across the finish line, and others that are well-positioned for next year.


Throughout the session, I was guided by a simple but powerful principle: government exists to serve people—not control them. As former Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in her 2014 State of the Union response, good government is “…one that empowers you—not the government… It’s one that champions free markets—and trusts people to make their own decisions, not a government that decides for you.”

That message still resonates today.

Save the Date! Joint Town Hall – 8th and 16th Legislative Districts

Join us for a joint town hall where constituents from the 8th and 16th Legislative Districts can hear directly from their state legislators. We’ll provide updates on the 2025 legislative session, answer your questions, and discuss how new laws may impact families, businesses, and communities across our region.

Saturday, May 31 | 1–3 p.m.
Columbia Basin College
2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, WA 99301
Gjerde Center (H-Building, near the North H parking lot)

I hope to see you there!

First, the good news: My bills


Two of my bills passed the Legislature this session—one has already been signed into law, and the other is awaiting the governor’s signature.

  • Substitute House Bill 1824 eliminates duplicative state licensure surveys for birthing centers that nationally recognized organizations already accredit, provided those standards meet or exceed those set by the Department of Health. The bill maintains strong oversight while cutting unnecessary red tape and cost for providers. It was signed into law by the governor on April 16.
  • Engrossed House Bill 1106 lowers the disability rating threshold to increase the number of veterans who qualify for Washington’s senior and disabled property tax exemption. Beginning in 2027, veterans with a 40% or higher service-connected disability will be eligible, down from the current 80% requirement. This bill is currently awaiting the governor’s signature.

Building momentum for clean, nuclear energy legislation

In addition to those successes, two of my clean energy bills advanced all the way to the Senate Rules Committee—the final step before a full Senate vote. While they didn’t pass this year, both gained significant traction, and I plan to reintroduce them next session.

  • House Bill 1210 would expand tax incentives for clean energy businesses, specifically those subject to the strict federal standards of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, such as the nuclear sector. It’s designed to attract private investment, support job growth, and help accelerate Washington’s transition to a carbon-free energy future.

  • House Bill 1819 aims to streamline upgrades to existing power lines by reducing unnecessary regulatory delays, while still protecting the environment and honoring tribal consultation requirements. It incentivizes utilities to adopt advanced transmission technologies that improve grid reliability and efficiency.

In addition to legislation, I continue to serve as co-chair of the bipartisan Legislative Nuclear Energy Caucus, where I’m working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make nuclear energy a key part of Washington’s long-term energy strategy.

This work is especially important to the Tri-Cities, home to world-class nuclear expertise and a highly skilled energy workforce. Nuclear power is safe, reliable, carbon-free, and essential to meeting our state’s clean energy goals.

I’ll continue pushing for forward-thinking policies that support this important industry, create family-wage jobs, and secure a resilient energy future for Washington state.

Capital budget highlights: What we fought for and won

Before highlighting specific local wins, it’s helpful to understand how the capital budget stands apart from the state’s other major budgets—the operating and transportation budgets. While those are primarily funded through taxes and fees, the capital budget focuses on physical infrastructure. It is financed mainly through long-term tools like general obligation bonds and dedicated state accounts.

This year, through close collaboration, Sen. Matt Boehnke, Rep. April Connors, and I secured important funding for projects in the 2025-27 capital budget that will serve our region and the 8th District for years to come.

These investments will help expand mental health and recovery services, strengthen our schools, support early learning, improve access to health care, and upgrade parks, housing, and local infrastructure. They’ll create opportunity, support working families, and improve quality of life throughout the region. That’s the kind of impact we can all feel good about.

Investments specific to the 8th District include:

  • $3.8 million – Three Rivers Recovery Housing
  • $750,000 – Columbia Park East Boat Launch replacement
  • $515,000 – Road 80 Neighborhood Park
  • $341,000 – Food distribution and storage improvements at Tri-Cities Food Bank
  • $309,000 – Municipal Services Facility backup power generator
  • $280,000 – Tri-Tech Skills Center HVAC RTU replacement
  • $88,000 – Tri-Cities Community Health

Additional regional projects benefiting the 8th District and Tri-Cities area:

  • $55 million – Columbia Basin College performing arts center replacement (16th LD)
  • $18 million – Columbia Basin College student housing construction (16th LD)
  • $4 million – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory test bed (16th LD)
  • $2.1 million – Boys & Girls Club, Prosser (15th LD)
  • $1.4 million – Boys & Girls Club, Pasco (14th LD)
  • $1.1 million – ECEAP early learning grant for Prosser School District (15th LD)
  • $1 million – Columbia Basin Health Association (16th LD)
  • $1 million – Benton REA wildfire resilience project (15th LD)
  • $1 million – Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum (16th LD)
  • $927,000 – Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center renovation and expansion (14th LD)
  • $773,000 – Port of Walla Walla storage capacity expansion (16th LD)
  • $700,000 – Grid-scale coordination (16th LD)

Projects by legislative district can be found here.

Record spending, record taxes—and real concerns

While the capital budget reflected bipartisan collaboration and meaningful investment, the same can’t be said for the operating and transportation budgets. Despite rising state revenues, the majority party chose to push forward with unprecedented levels of spending, backed by billions in new taxes.

The $77.9 billion operating budget represents an 8% increase over current spending and leaves the state with less than half the reserve recommended by the State Treasurer. To fund this growth, the majority approved more than $9.5 billion in new taxes over the next four years—the largest tax increase in Washington’s history.

These new taxes will hit working families, retirees, and small businesses across the state—adding to the pressure of already high costs of living. Now, all eyes are on Governor Ferguson, who must decide whether to approve the budget as passed or use his veto authority to address concerns.

Here are some of the more troubling bills tied to these tax increases:

Many of these policies place an unfair burden on those who can least afford it. Rather than showing fiscal restraint, the state government is growing faster than our economy. Even editorial boards—from The Seattle Times to The Columbian—are sounding the alarm about the impact of these decisions. I voted NO on these tax increases and the final operating budget.

Read more:

Transportation Budget: Missed the Mark

The final $15.5 billion transportation budget also came with a heavy cost. To fund it, the majority party passed over $3.2 billion in new transportation-related taxes and fees, including:

  • A 6-cent gas tax increase, starting July 1, tied to inflation with automatic 2% annual increases
  • A 12-cent diesel tax hike
  • Higher vehicle registration and weight fees

Looking Ahead

After a long and intense session, it’s a relief to be back home in the Tri-Cities. As your state representative, I remain committed to fiscal responsibility and putting people before politics. Families across Washington manage their finances carefully, and the state should too. I’ll keep working to rein in spending, lower taxes, and stand up for our district and state.

Although session is over, my work on your behalf continues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or ideas.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,


Stephanie Barnard

State Representative Stephanie Barnard, 8th Legislative District
RepresentativeStephanieBarnard.com
431 John L. O'Brien Building | P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
stephanie.barnard@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7986 | Toll-free: (800) 562-6000