A Look Back at the 2025 Legislative Session

The 2025 state legislative session wrapped up in April, concluding one of the most eventful and challenging sessions in recent memory. Marked by intense political dynamics, a $16 billion budget deficit, and the deaths of two beloved legislators, the session demanded extraordinary effort and collaboration.

Throughout the session, OIR tracked 795 bills, coordinated testimony by City departments at 34 different public hearings, and held countless meetings and hallway conversations with legislators. Despite the challenges, the City of Seattle achieved several important wins in Olympia, including:

• A long-awaited modernization of the state’s recycling system through the Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284)
• Updating alcohol regulations in some public places and special events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup (HB 1515)
• Allowing the city to designate safer “shared streets” for pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars (SB 5595)
• New public safety grants for local governments (HB 2015)
• $10 million in infrastructure funding for the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan
• $5 million for Aurora Avenue Safety Improvements

Seattle residents will also benefit from progress made on childcare, K-12 education, climate policy, parks funding, and improvements to the criminal legal system. With the 2025 session behind us, we’ll take a brief pause before turning our focus to shaping Seattle’s 2026 state legislative agenda.

Update on Fort Lawton Redevelopment

This spring, OIR partnered with the Office of Housing to host Councilmembers Kettle, Rinck, and Strauss at Fort Lawton to see the redevelopment first-hand.

The 2025 Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan is a historic opportunity to bring affordable housing into even more corners of the City and expand parks, open space, and housing opportunities for working families in Seattle.

The redevelopment will be the City’s first affordable housing investment in Magnolia and will add affordable living in a high opportunity area, converting 34 underutilized acres into a thriving community, with affordable homes, job opportunities, excellent schools, safe parks, and robust amenities.

The 2025 state Capital Budget provided $10,000,000 for the 2025 Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan with the intent of providing an additional $10,000,000 in the 2027-2029 fiscal biennium. This critical funding will help us achieve some of our early infrastructure goals at the site.

Affordable housing is a high priority for City residents and leaders alike, and the redevelopment of Fort Lawton has drawn strong regional interest. Discussions continue with local and federal government partners and philanthropic organizations, exploring ways in which our regional partners can support this historic redevelopment opportunity. OIR has helped support numerous tours of local elected officials to help familiarize them with the project and help support our regional partners’ understanding of what the Redevelopment Plan will mean for their own constituents.

To read more about the transformation and sign up for updates, please click the link below!

Learn more about Fort Lawton

Touring the redevelopment site has provided OIR and our partners unique insight to this incredible opportunity to build 500-units of affordable housing and transform 22 acres of public parkland.

One Seattle Day of Service!

The OIR team is gearing up to join Mayor Harrell, local leaders, community organizations and thousands of neighbors for One Seattle Day of Service this Saturday, July 12! With just under one year from the FIFA World Cup 26, we’ll work together to strengthen our communities and show our civic pride. This citywide volunteer effort is a chance for all of us to roll up our sleeves, work together as One Seattle, and give back to the neighborhoods we love.

Interested in volunteering for One Seattle Day of Service? Click the link below!

Sign Up for One Seattle Day of Service

One Year to Go to the FIFA World Cup 26 Seattle^TM

ICYMI: Seattle is now less than one year away from hosting its first games of the FIFA World Cup 26! On June 11, Mayor Harrell unveiled the official countdown clock at Seattle Center, where the Seattle Fan Celebration will held.

OIR continues to work closely with government partners in preparation for the games next summer. One example we’re excited about is House Bill 1515, which the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed this session. This bill allows small businesses in Seattle to benefit from additional services in public spaces during the tournament by updating alcohol regulations for outdoor dining and special events at the Seattle Center. This will help ensure the Seattle Fan Celebration will be a safe and fun experience for all.

For more information about how the City of Seattle is planning for the event and a list of matches, visit the website below!

Seattle FIFA World Cup Website