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March 23, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I had a great session in Olympia in 2026. With my first year behind me, I made real progress building strong trust and confidence with staff and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Together, we passed several important bills that will benefit Washingtonians. I’m eager to return next session to continue collaborating with good people on legislation that makes our state more affordable and safer for everyone.

As you know, our short, fast-paced session has come to an end. Following are the highlights of some of the major stories, decisions and developments that took place.

Majority Party Passes State Income Tax Unwanted by Most Washingtonians

Arguably, the biggest story from the 2026 session was the majority party’s decision to pass the first-ever state income tax in Washington, Senate Bill 6346.

We have received a lot of feedback about this bill both before and after it passed. Of the nearly 900 emails we have received from constituents in the 17th District, 79% oppose it. Additionally, between the House and Senate hearings, of the 210,000 people who signed in pro or con on the bill, 84% opposed it.

Despite that opposition, the measure passed following an intense floor fight that lasted more than 24 hours, as we worked through the night to push for amendments that would’ve better protected taxpayers. Every House Republican, along with eight House Democrats, voted against the measure, which imposes a 9.9% tax on household income above $1 million.

Proponents say the proposal is targeted, but the revenue it generates will ultimately flow into the state’s general fund without meaningful reforms to Washington’s regressive tax structure. It relies heavily on promises about future spending rather than firm protections for taxpayers.

There was a lot of talk about intent, but very few concrete guarantees. Our caucus offered amendments that would have protected residents, increased accountability, and improved the policy. One such idea introduced by Senate Republicans was an amendment that would have ensured this tax was never applied to people making less than $1 million. Those ideas were all rejected.

History shows that once government creates a new tax stream, it becomes more likely to expand. The bill also places too much emphasis on generating new revenue rather than improving budget discipline. Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a results problem.

State government needs to learn to live within its means and stop spending other people’s money without stronger accountability. Taxpayers expect us to be responsible stewards, especially during an affordability crisis.

Majority Party Grows the State Operating Budget Again

Another cause for concern is the recently passed supplemental operating budget (Senate Bill 5998), which now exceeds $80 billion. The Washington State legislature entered the 2026 session facing a $4.3 billion operating budget deficit, despite passing $9 billion in new taxes in the 2025 legislative session.

This new budget increases expenditures by $2.3 billion over current spending levels, a 3% increase over current appropriations and an 11.5% increase since the 2023-25 biennium. This budget assumes $2.7 billion in tax increases over the four-year outlook, raids the Rainy-Day fund, and uses LEOFF 1 pension funds to backfill ongoing spending obligations.

This proposal guts Medicaid by $202 million on top of the $780 million cut in the previous budget. It also slashes 250 million from K-12 education, specifically targeting rural schools, low-income students, and early learning programs. It hedges the entire budget on an unconstitutional income tax and a legally untested raid on pension funds to balance reckless spending. Lastly, it spends $4.9 billion more than it takes in, draws down reserves, and relies on billions in one-time funds to balance.

This is bad budgeting that does nothing to help people who are struggling to make ends meet. The affordability crisis in Washington is real, and we need to address it. The legislature must conduct a thorough review of all state-funded programs and eliminate or reform those failing to deliver a positive return on investment. We need targeted, results-driven programs that produce measurable benefits, rather than continuing to spend and expecting the taxpayers to make up the difference.

Capital Budget Wins for the 17th District

The Legislature also passed the supplemental capital budget (Senate Bill 6003), which allows lawmakers to adjust funding for construction and infrastructure projects, including schools, housing, water systems, parks, and public buildings. The capital budget is funded through a variety of funding sources, including general obligation bonds, dedicated cash accounts, federal funds, and alternative financing contracts. I’m happy to report that our district received more than $14 million in additional funding for the following projects.

• $6 million for construction in the Goldendale District under the Small District and STEC Schools Modernization Program.
• $6 million for construction in the Stevenson-Carson District under the Small District and STEC Schools Modernization Program.
• $2,218,000 for the Washougal Community Library building project.
• $258,000 for the Washougal Veterans Memorial.
• $475,000 for Northwestern Park access.
• $515,000 for the Carson Elementary HVAC project.
• $515,000 for Skyline Hospital improvements.
• $500,000 for the White Salmon Valley Pool.

These are all important projects that will benefit our communities and the people who live in them. If you know of projects in your area that need funding, please email me, and I can give you information on how to apply.

Update on My Legislation

I’m happy to report that the governor signed my bill that will reinforce Medicaid support for emergency ambulance providers and protect access to lifesaving services across Washington. House Bill 2531 updates Washington’s ambulance quality assurance fee program to promote long-term financial stability for emergency medical providers while maintaining compliance with federal Medicaid requirements.

Ambulance teams are often the first point of contact during a medical emergency, particularly in rural communities where health care access is limited. This legislation strengthens the financial foundation on which these providers depend on and ensures our state maximizes federal Medicaid support for critical emergency services.

I introduced several other bills this session, and many of them received public hearings and got voted on by their respective committees, but none of them made it to the governor. However, I will continue working on these issues going forward.

Wins and Losses from the 2026 Session

As the minority party, we rely on the majority’s support to advance our bills. As a result, much of our time is spent working to prevent legislation we believe would harm Washingtonians. Here are a few of the highlights and lowlights:

Wins and Accomplishments

1. Stopped major threats to affordability – Republicansblocked a new utility bill surcharge to fund wildfire liability costs and stopped $275 million per year in new utility rate increases for a government-run bill assistance program. We also prevented a $114 million energy tax on data centers and defeated a billion-dollar grocery tax through a mandatory bottle-and-can deposit scheme. We blocked new state fees on vehicle tires and prevented a new real estate excise tax that would have further increased housing costs.
2. Stopped devastating overregulation of business – Republicans stopped legislation that would impose collective bargaining mandates on farms, turning family agriculture into state-regulated workplaces. We also stopped a new state payroll tax on employers paying salaries above $125,000.
3. Stopped harmful public safety policies – Republicans prevented legislation that would reduce accountability for sex offenders who fail to register with law enforcement and stopped efforts to restrict local enforcement of homeless camping laws. We blocked legislation to shorten sentences for serious crimes and opposed bills allowing violent youth offenders to seek early release.

Losses and Missed Opportunities

1. Failed to fix the structural budget deficit – the majority party passed a budget that relies on an unconstitutional and unpopular income tax, a raid of the LEOFF 1 pension fund. It diverted carbon tax revenues, while ignoring the real drivers of spending growth. The Legislature also spent $4.6 billion more than projected revenues in the 2025–27 biennium, worsening the deficit it created.
2. Failed to address affordability – the majority party expanded the Working Families Tax Credit and eliminated sales tax on diapers, toothpaste and deodorant, but did not provide meaningful tax cuts to middle-class families that need them most. Skyrocketing electricity, fuel, and labor costs remain unaddressed.
3. Failed to Improve Public Safety – the majority blocked legislation to clarify the “imminent harm” standard so that children are removed from homes where fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are present. They also proposed legislation to lower criminal sentences (HB 1125) and reduce penalties for drug and gang crimes. (HB 1178)
4. Failed to improve K-12 education outcomes – in 2026, the House Education Committee voted on 226 bills. Only one addressed student performance. Additionally, the House majority cut $249 million from education, including reductions to successful programs like Running Start and Transition to Kindergarten.
5. Failed to address homelessness and housing costs – the majority enacted no meaningful regulatory relief to accelerate housing construction.

In-Person Town Hall Meetings

Lastly, I want to make you aware of several upcoming opportunities to engage with me and my seatmates in the 17th District, Rep. Kevin Waters and Sen. Paul Harris. We will be hosting five in-person town hall meetings throughout our district in the coming weeks.

In addition to the new state income tax and massive operating budget, these town hall meetings are a great opportunity for you to learn more about everything else that just happened in Olympia and get your questions answered. We are still working on the dates, times, and locations. I’ll send another update when we have those details finalized. Stay tuned.

Please Stay in Touch

It is an honor to represent you in Olympia. Thank you for trusting me to be your voice from the 17th District. Please continue reaching out with your comments, questions, and concerns. I also encourage you to stay informed on House Republicans’ efforts to fix Washington by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. It’s an honor to serve.

Sincerely,

David Stuebe