Deadlines and Budget Battles

Sen. Judy Warnick sent this bulletin at 02/26/2026 05:28 PM PST

Feb. 26, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The 2026 legislative session is moving at a breakneck pace. Yesterday, February 25, marked a major milestone: the cutoff for policy bills to pass out of committee in the opposite house. We are now in the final stretch.

As we look toward the scheduled end of session on March 12, several critical deadlines are fast approaching:

Monday, March 2: Cutoff for fiscal committees to pass bills from the opposite house.
Friday, March 6: Deadline for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber entirely.

While policy deadlines pass, budget-related bills remain "alive" until the very end.

This week, budget proposals were released, and I am deeply concerned by the direction they take. My colleagues across the aisle continue to push for reckless spending, growing the size of government, and imposing new taxes—including an unconstitutional income tax that voters have repeatedly rejected. I will dive deeper into these fiscal concerns below in this newsletter.

Finally, I extend a sincere thank-you to everyone who participated in our recent 13th District virtual town hall. Your thoughtful questions and feedback are invaluable. Your continued participation in your government is the only way we can ensure Olympia remains accountable.

It is a true honor and privilege to serve as your voice in the Washington State Senate.

Sincerely,

Sen. Judy Warnick

Operating budget continues to spend beyond our means

This week, the Senate majority rolled out its supplemental budget proposals, and I am deeply concerned by the lack of restraint in the operating budget. While these updates should be minor "course corrections," this proposal treats your tax dollars as an unlimited resource.

For the first time in state history, spending would exceed $80 billion—an 11.3% increase from the previous biennium. This includes $1.7 billion in NEW spending above what is actually needed to maintain current services. While 13th District families tighten their belts to afford groceries and gas, state spending is growing at twice the pace of family budgets.

Despite the majority’s talk of "affordability," this budget does nothing to reduce your cost of living. Instead, it relies on $114 million in higher taxes and slashes the share of funding for our students. K-12 education spending drops to 42.2% of the budget, the lowest share in over a dozen years, while higher education hits a new low of just 7.6%.

To balance the books, the majority is "robbing Peter to pay Paul." They are draining nearly half of our rainy-day fund and even taking money from state parks to cover operating costs.

Worse yet, the largest cost increases aren't for services—they are paying for the mismanagement of state agencies. We are seeing massive legal payouts due to failures at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), yet the majority recently tried to remove oversight of that very agency.

Washingtonians deserve a "back-to-basics" budget that prioritizes education, safety, and true affordability. I will continue to fight for a state government that lives within its means—just like you do.

"Teach with TVW" and the Future of Higher Ed

This week, I had the pleasure of participating in the "Teach with TVW" series, where we welcomed student pages into the heart of the legislative process. These students brought some incredibly important questions to the Senate Higher Education Committee.

They asked how Washington can ensure community and technical college pathways are equally valued in our workforce, how we should address the rise of artificial intelligence in education, and whether middle-income families can still truly afford a college degree. I sat down with Chair T’wina Nobles to discuss these issues from both sides of the aisle.

You can watch videos of our conversation here:

In the News

Warnick advances measure to bring transparency to wildfire insurance
"Wildfire risk assessments can be a mystery for many Washington homeowners. Senator Judy Warnick wants to change that. Today, the Senate passed her proposal to demystify the complex risk models used by insurance companies."
Senate unanimously passes Warnick bill for Port of Moses Lake rail expansion
"...the Washington State Senate voted 49-0 to pass a targeted measure sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick to provide the Port of Moses Lake with the financial tools necessary to complete major infrastructure improvements."
Senate unanimously advances Warnick bill to evaluate DCYF child welfare assessment practices
"The Washington State Senate has acted to bolster child safety and system accountability by commissioning a thorough review of how child welfare referrals are screened and managed by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)..."

Listen & Watch

Click to watch Sen. Warnick in this week's Republican Media Availability.

VIDEO: Republican legislative leaders criticize proposed income taxes, budget growth, and cuts to childcare, education, and healthcare. They talk about concerns over duplicate sign‑ins on the income‑tax bill, transportation, pension proposals, and overall state spending, emphasizing affordability, accountability, and protecting rural and working‑class communities. Click here to watch now.

Other recent videos and soundbites:

Student Spotlight:
Almira Coulee Hartline High School student serves as page

Josie Emerson, a freshman at Almira Coulee Hartline High School in Coulee City, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. I was happy to sponsor Josie, who was one of 23 students who served as Senate pages for the sixth week of the 2026 legislative session.

Josie was an excellent page who was always ready to help when needed. She was fantastic with every task she was assigned. I’m happy to hear her time at the Legislature was a rewarding and impactful experience.

During her week, Josie delivered messages, attended page school to learn about parliamentary procedure, and even drafted her own bill for a mock session. “It taught me how to work in a professional manner, which helped with my confidence,” Josie said.

Interested in the Page Program? Applications for the 2027 session open Nov. 1, 2026. Learn more here.

Make Your Voice Heard!

The short 60-day session is almost over, and it is more important than ever that 13th District residents speak up. The decisions made in these final days regarding the budget and new taxes will affect your family's bottom line for years to come.

Watch the Action: You can follow floor debates and committee hearings live on TVW.org.
Contact the Governor: Ask Governor Bob Ferguson to veto bad legislation, such as the proposed state income tax.