Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This is my second update of the 2026 legislative session, and just two weeks in, things are already heating up in Olympia. As the session got underway, I spent the first week moving between committee hearings, a joint session with my House and Senate colleagues, and meetings with constituents and visitors, while the major budget conversations began to take shape.
We are now entering the second week of the 60-day legislative session, what Olympia calls a “short” session. While the calendar is shorter, the responsibility is no less significant. Short sessions are focused on making supplemental adjustments to the operating, transportation, and capital budgets adopted during the previous long session.
In plain terms, this is when the Legislature should be checking the math and making sure the state’s spending plan still matches reality. That includes responding to updated revenue forecasts, rising costs, new federal funding, and issues that surfaced after the 2025 long session wrapped up. While policy bills are still moving, this is not the time to start from scratch.
All of that brings us back to one thing: the budget and how we choose to manage it.
State of the State and the budget outlook
 Before talking about the state’s operating budget, it helps to step back and look at the big picture. I’ve included the attached “Budget Universe” graphic to show where state operating budget dollars actually go, from K–12 education and health care to public safety, human services, and higher education. Seeing the full picture helps put the budget choices before us in perspective.
That perspective was very much on my mind on the second day of session last week, when I joined colleagues in the House chamber to hear Governor Bob Ferguson deliver his State of the State address. It was clear how much the budget conversation has shifted since his inaugural address last year, and you can watch a thoughtful response to the governor’s remarks from my Senate colleague, Sen. Keith Wagoner, 39th District, here.
In 2025, the governor said he did not support raising taxes to balance the operating budget and talked about working across party lines, a refreshing shift after years of highly partisan addresses from his predecessor. But as the session unfolded, fiscal pressures continued to mount. The governor ultimately signed a tax package totaling more than $12.25 billion over four years, and despite that historic increase, the latest revenue forecast now shows we’re heading toward a $4.3 billion budget shortfall over the next three years.
This session, the governor’s proposed supplemental operating budget would increase spending by another $1.1 billion, pushing total spending past $79 billion. Over the past decade, Washington’s operating budget has more than doubled. Looking at the full budget universe makes it clear why this session should be about setting priorities, tightening the belt, and living within our means before asking Washington families and employers to dig even deeper into their pockets.
Visitors to Olympia
 One of my favorite parts of session is welcoming visitors to Olympia, and sometimes those visits come from much farther away than you might expect. Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with Indian Consul General Prakash Gupta, who was visiting from India. We discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between Washington state and India, including opportunities for trade, investment, and collaboration that could benefit businesses and workers here at home.
I also enjoyed spending time with visitors closer to home, including Keith Johnson. He shared insights from his work as a public defender in Benton County and how policies debated in Olympia affect people and communities on the ground. Those conversations are invaluable and help ensure our work stays connected to real-world impacts.
Whether visitors come from across the globe or right here in the Tri-Cities, these meetings are a reminder that the decisions made in Olympia matter far beyond the Capitol campus. I always appreciate the chance to listen, learn, and build relationships that strengthen our district and our state.
Stay engaged and involved!
 One of the things I value most about our legislative process is its accessibility. Most bills receive public hearings before they ever come up for a vote, which means you don’t have to be an insider to be heard.
I encourage you to stay involved this session. You can share your views by submitting written testimony, registering your position on a bill, or testifying remotely or in person. If you plan to participate more than once, setting up a legislative account can make the process quicker and easier.
Your input helps guide the work we do in Olympia, and I truly appreciate hearing from you.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state Senator!
 Senator Nikki Torres
15th Legislative District
|
