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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are doing well! As always, thank you for staying engaged in what’s happening in Olympia and here at home. Your voices truly matter, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent you and keep you informed through my Weekly Session Snapshot.
We just wrapped up Week 4 of the legislative session and reached our first major deadline: policy cutoff. In plain terms, this is the point when bills that do not impact the state budget must clear their policy committees to stay alive this year. It is an important milestone because it shows which ideas are moving forward and which, unfortunately, are being left behind.
Legislative update on the less restrictive alternative in Kennewick
I want to start with what is top of mind for so many families in our community: the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) placement in Kennewick.
This week, the Senate Human Services Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6339, sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres. I want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to sign in and testify in support. Your participation matters, and your voices were heard.
Unfortunately, despite strong community engagement, the bill did not move forward.
In addition, a package of eight public safety bills focused on the LRA, introduced by Rep. April Connors and me, was not even considered. The majority party chose not to prioritize the safety of our communities, especially Kennewick, this session. As a result, none of these bills will be moving forward this session.
That is deeply disappointing.
Families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Victims deserve a system that prioritizes public safety. While the legislative effort did not advance, please know I’m not giving up. This is a setback, not the end of the fight. I will continue to stand with our community and push for accountability, transparency, and common-sense protections, because your safety matters too much to walk away.
Even as we face these challenges, important work continues in Olympia, and I want to share where things stand on several other issues impacting our district and our state.
Washington’s first state income tax proposal
This week, the majority party introduced Washington’s first state income tax proposal through Senate Bill 6346.
This proposal would impose a 9.9% tax on individuals and families with Washington taxable income exceeding $1 million, effective January 2028. That threshold applies to the combined income of married couples, not per person, and it would also affect many small businesses that file as individuals. The bill is projected to raise about $4 billion per year, applies to income on public pensions, and even rewrites voter-approved law to carve out an exemption to Washington’s prohibition on income taxes.
This proposal comes on the heels of the largest tax increase in state history and would put parts of Washington, including Seattle, among the highest combined tax environments in the nation.
I am adamantly opposed to this bill.
We have seen time and time again that taxes sold as “only on the wealthy” do not stay that way. Once a state income tax is established, it becomes easier to expand coverage and raise rates. The majority party has already done this with other taxes and fees, and even supporters of this proposal have acknowledged that future expansion is likely.
Just as important, this proposal would hurt Washington’s competitiveness at a time when we should be attracting jobs and investment. The data is clear: over the past five years, states without income taxes have outperformed those with income taxes in economic growth, job creation, and personal income. If we truly want to lead, we must strengthen our innovation economy and support job creation, not pile on new taxes that slow growth and drive opportunity elsewhere.
We’d like to know what you think about this proposal. Please share your thoughts with us by clicking on the graphic at the beginning of this section or here.
This week’s legislative update: Bills, progress, and what’s ahead
In my biweekly video, I walk through what policy cutoff means, provide updates on several of my bills, and share what comes next in the Legislative process. I also discuss the LRA situation in Kennewick and why staying engaged right now truly makes a difference. You can watch my video update by clicking on the photo below or here.
Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the bills I highlight in my video update and where they stand in the process:
- House Bill 2186 (MATCH Act) establishes a statewide matching program to enable local communities to compete for federal funding for infrastructure, housing, and workforce development. Simply put, this helps ensure Washington communities do not leave federal money on the table. This bill has moved to the House Appropriations Committee for budget review.
- House Bill 2278 supports tourism promotion areas, allowing communities to reinvest in tourism and small businesses. Tourism brings jobs, local revenue, and stronger communities, especially in areas that depend on visitors. This bill was heard in the House Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 5.
- House Bill 2446 develops Washington’s quantum technology strategy to help position our state to compete in emerging industries that create high-paying jobs and attract investment. Other states are moving quickly in this space, and this bill helps ensure Washington does not fall behind. It is now in the House Appropriations Committee for budget review.
Several additional bills are now awaiting a full House vote after clearing their policy committees and carrying no fiscal impact.
- House Bill 2133 makes permanent a property tax exemption for multipurpose senior centers, helping ensure these vital community spaces can keep their doors open.
- House Bill 2135 expands and extends tax relief for disabled veterans who need to adapt their homes for accessibility. Simply put, this helps veterans make necessary modifications so they can safely live in their homes. This is about honoring service with meaningful, practical support.
- House Bill 2329 improves health care flexibility by allowing licensed midwives to collaborate more effectively with medical assistants and lactation consultants, helping expand access to care.
- House Bill 2606 strengthens the Office of Privacy and Data Protection to better protect personal data in an increasingly digital world.
These bills represent practical steps forward for families, seniors, veterans, patients, workers, and local communities. I am grateful to everyone who testified, shared their story, and helped advance these efforts.
District at the Dome
In other news, closer to home, I had the pleasure of welcoming Page Deeptha Sathuvalli to the Capitol. Deeptha is a 10th grader at Southridge High School in Kennewick. It was wonderful to have her represent our community in Olympia. It is always inspiring to see young people step into civic life, learn how government works, and bring fresh energy to the Capitol.
Looking ahead
Starting next week, we move into floor action. In simple terms, this means the House will begin debating and voting on bills that have passed committee. These proposals cleared both policy and fiscal cutoffs and are now up for consideration by the full House.
This is where ideas turn into real decisions.
I will carefully review each bill, speak on the House floor, and vote with our community’s values in mind. I encourage you to stay engaged and continue sharing your thoughts as we enter this important phase of session.
As always, thank you for staying engaged. Your emails, calls, and conversations truly matter. They help guide my work and remind everyone in Olympia that these decisions affect real people and real communities.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Barnard
