Budget Decisions Ahead – Let’s Make Sure Working Families Aren’t Left Behind

Dear friends and neighbors,

As we enter a critical stage in the legislative session, I want to take a moment to share where things stand on the state budget—and why your voice matters more than ever.

One thing that often surprises folks is how we build our budget in Washington: we start by identifying what our state needs to fund—education, health care, housing, public safety—and then we figure out how to raise the revenue to meet those needs.

Right now, the House and Senate have reached agreement in principle on several major tax proposals. The Governor has weighed in throughout the process and is expected to respond to the final package later this week.

Here’s a quick look at what’s under discussion:

• A Business & Occupation tax increase (HB 2081) that would impact many industries—including healthcare and housing.
• Modernization and rate increases to the estate and capital gains taxes (SB 5813).
• Expanding sales taxesto new sectors like online classes, tech consulting, temporary staffing, and custom website development (SB 5814).
• Allowing increases to local school enrichment levies, and updating how the state supports districts in lower-income areas (HB 2049).
• Repealing outdated tax preferences as recommended by JLARC (SB 5794).

These are serious proposals, and they deserve serious scrutiny—because for all our talk about raising revenue, we have to make sure working families aren’t footing the bill in ways they simply can’t afford.

I believe we can fund the services our state needs without increasing costs on everyday essentials like food, fuel, healthcare, family outings, or small business operations. People are already feeling the pinch. We can’t afford to add to that.

We also need to be cautious about policies that could drive away jobs and investment. Washington’s economy has been a national leader in innovation—and we should protect the ecosystem of small businesses, tech workers, and entrepreneurs that make that possible.

We can still make meaningful investments in schools, public health, infrastructure, and public safety without asking working people to pay more for basics. That’s my line in the sand.

A Personal Note

This session has been incredibly tough. We’ve felt the loss of two friends and incredible public servants.

We lost former Speaker Frank Chopp, whose passion for housing and justice shaped this state more than most will ever know. He was a giant in Olympia, and someone I learned a great deal from in my early years as a legislator.

And just days ago, we lost Senator Bill Ramos, who passed away suddenly while out for a run. Bill and I came into the House at the same time, and he brought warmth, integrity, and a deep commitment to his community. His death is a heartbreaking loss for all of us.

These moments are a reminder of how precious our time is—and how important it is to show up for each other. Please—take a moment to check in on your neighbors. Then, reach out to your elected officials and let us know how we can help you. We are here to listen, to serve, and to do the work with you and for you.

Warmly,

Amy Walen
State Representative, 48th Legislative District