Town hall recap

Sen. Phil Fortunato sent this bulletin at 05/01/2026 02:52 PM PDT

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As we move further into the year, state law limits the types of communications I can send from my legislative office. Because of that, this will be my last broadcast update until after the November election.

That doesn’t change my job. I still work for you, and it’s an honor to represent the people and communities of the 31st District. My office remains available year-round to help with state issues, answer questions, and hear what you’re dealing with.

Thank you for the great town hall turnout!

Thank you to everyone who came out to my recent town halls in Edgewood/Milton, Bonney Lake/Sumner, Buckley, and Orting. Unlike some legislators, I hold multiple local meetings across the district rather than a single town hall for the entire district. These smaller meetings reduce travel time and allow for more focused discussions on issues specific to your community.

Combined, we had a very strong turnout across all locations and were able to address both local concerns and statewide issues. I truly appreciate you taking the time to attend, ask questions, and share your concerns. It’s important to remember that I can’t address issues I don’t hear about, and these town halls help shape the work I do in Olympia.

What I heard from you and what needs to change

We covered a lot of ground, and the conversations were heartfelt about concerns for our state. My goal is to represent you and help pass a better state on to our families and our children.

Here are some of the key topics and solutions that came up again and again:

Fuel costs were front and center. Between the increase in the gas tax and the added cost from the Climate Commitment Act, families are paying significantly more at the pump. At the same time, there are serious questions about whether this policy is delivering meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases. Private-sector efforts are reducing emissions at a fraction of the cost. That raises a fair question: are taxpayers getting their money’s worth? We should be looking at repealing or reforming the CCA and focusing on solutions that actually work. For a better understanding check out this Washington Policy Center article.

Public safety was another major concern, including how we handle individuals in the country illegally who commit serious crimes. The expectation is straightforward: if someone commits a serious crime, there should be consequences. State policies should not prevent cooperation with federal authorities when it comes to keeping our communities safe. We should not be spending taxpayer funds to house illegal criminals in our prisons at a cost of $70,000 each year.

Concerns about SR 161 on North Hill came up repeatedly during the Edgewood town hall. Residents pointed to the stretch between 36th Street E and Dechaux Road E, where WSDOT has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction due to slide activity. It’s clear this is a high priority for the community. We’ve also received follow-up calls and messages on this issue. I will be working on this as we prepare for the next legislative session, including pushing for a long-term solution.

Housing affordability continues to be a challenge, especially for first-time homebuyers. Government-imposed costs like impact fees and excessive regulations are driving up the price of new construction. Those costs don’t disappear, they get passed on to buyers. If we want to make homeownership more accessible, we need to reduce those barriers.

We also discussed the Growth Management Act and how it limits buildable land, contributing to higher housing costs. Expanding access to buildable land would help increase supply and bring some stability to prices.

Transportation funding came up as well. With rising costs and changing revenue sources, we need a more stable, long-term approach. One idea is to dedicate an inflation-linked revenue stream, such as sales tax from motor vehicles, to ensure we can maintain and improve our infrastructure without continually increasing gas taxes.

Education funding was brought up at every meeting. Following the McCleary decision, the state significantly increased overall spending on K-12 education, and the Legislature initially took steps to limit reliance on local levies by raising the state property tax and capping how much districts could collect locally.

Unfortunately, Democrats then moved away from that approach, raising the state property tax levy by about $1.00 while allowing local levies to climb back above $2.00 in many areas, pushing total tax pressure even higher for many families.

At the same time, roughly 70,000 students did not return to public schools after COVID. Because school funding is based on enrollment, the state has still had to absorb much of that cost, even as those students are no longer in the system. These are often referred to as “ghost students,” and it raises real questions about accountability and whether funding is truly following students.

There are solutions worth considering. That includes options like education vouchers or education savings accounts, which would allow funding to follow the student directly, whether that’s a public school, private school, or another learning option. We should also be looking at updating funding formulas to better reflect actual enrollment and outcomes, while giving parents more flexibility and choice in their child’s education.

Looking ahead

None of these challenges are new, but they are becoming harder to ignore. Addressing them will require a willingness to take a hard look at current policies and make changes where needed.

Stay engaged!

There are several ways to stay informed about what’s happening in the Legislature. Here are a few resources you may find helpful:

My legislative website | Contact information, news releases, email updates, videos, opinion pieces, bills, and more.
Track a bill | Find information on specific bills.
The Weekly Roundup | Senate Republican Caucus updates, media, and key issues.
Senate Republican Caucus website
You can also stay informed on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram

If your civic group, organization or community meeting is looking for a speaker, feel free to reach out. I’m always glad to come out, share a session update, and talk through the issues affecting our region.

Serving the people of the 31st District is a responsibility I take seriously, and one I’m grateful for every day.

It is an honor to serve you in Olympia,