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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2026 legislative session is now underway, and it is already clear that budget pressures and renewed calls for tax increases will be front and center in Olympia. After last year’s historic tax hikes, families and employers across Washington are again being told they may need to pay more to cover the consequences of unchecked government spending.
That approach is neither responsible nor sustainable, and it should concern anyone who expects state government to live within its means.
Budget pressures and the tax debate
Despite more than $9 billion in new taxes approved last session, the state is now facing a projected shortfall in the current biennium and an even larger gap in the four-year outlook. That reality makes one thing clear: higher taxes did not solve the problem. Still, the majority party is advancing several major tax proposals, including:
- A 9.9% state income tax on so-called “high earners.”
- A new wealth tax that would hurt job growth and drive investment out of state.
- A new payroll tax on wages over $125,000, paid by employers and threatening family-wage jobs.
- A higher real estate excise tax (REET) that will make housing even less affordable.
- An 11% tax on firearms, ammunition, and parts that targets lawful citizens instead of criminals.
I will continue to oppose new and higher taxes. Before lawmakers ask working families and small businesses to pay more, they must prove they are using existing dollars responsibly.
A focus on practical, results-driven budgeting
There is a better fiscal path forward. House Republicans have put forward a no-new-taxes budget framework focused on discipline, accountability, and results. Our four core budget principles are:
- No new taxes, rein in reckless spending, and tax relief.
- Strengthen healthcare and food security for Washington citizens.
- Restore critical programs, especially for our most vulnerable people.
- Budgeting based on results, accountability, and core priorities.
This approach is not about ideology. It is about making responsible choices and ensuring taxpayer dollars actually deliver what government promises.
Protecting public safety and voter accountability
As a former sheriff, public safety is personal to me. This session, I am sponsoring House Bill 2387 to clarify the authority of elected sheriffs and strengthen accountability to voters. The bill makes clear that only certified peace officers should personally perform certified law enforcement actions, while preserving the constitutional authority of the elected sheriff. It also ensures that when a sheriff loses certification for conduct during their term, accountability rests with the voters through a recall process, not with unelected or governor-appointed bodies.
I am also strongly opposing Senate Bill 5855, which would ban law enforcement officers from wearing protective face coverings. While marketed as a transparency measure, this bill ignores the realities officers face in volatile situations and puts them and their families at risk. Washington already requires officers to be clearly identifiable. This proposal goes further, creating new safety risks, legal exposure, and liability for local governments at a time when recruiting and retention are already strained.
Accountability matters. So does common sense and officer safety. We should not sacrifice one in the name of political symbolism. I wrote an op-ed opposing this measure for The Spokesman-Review. It was published here but may be behind a paywall unless you have a subscription. If you want to read it, you can find it on my website here.
Putting children’s safety first
Protecting children is not optional, and it should never take a back seat to politics. Since changes were made to child welfare law in 2021, the number of child deaths and near-deaths involving cases connected to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families has reached deeply troubling levels.
I am supporting straightforward legislation (House Bill 1092) that would allow social workers and law enforcement to intervene when fentanyl or other dangerous drugs place a child in immediate jeopardy. Despite the urgency, this bill has repeatedly been denied even a public hearing.
This issue is not about punishment. It is about responsibility and preventing tragedy. When ideology blocks timely intervention, children pay the price. I am asking you to contact the chair of the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee and urge him to hold a hearing on this bill so lawmakers can have an honest, public discussion about how to better protect vulnerable children.
Protecting the people’s right to the initiative process
Another troubling proposal this session targets one of Washington’s most important constitutional rights: the citizen initiative process.
Senate Bill 5973 would impose new pre-filing hurdles on initiatives by requiring at least 1,000 signatures before a ballot title can even be issued. Supporters claim this is about controlling signature gatherers, but in reality it puts government between citizens and their right to go directly to voters.
This bill has drawn rare and bipartisan opposition. Former Secretary of State Sam Reed warned lawmakers that the initiative process is viewed by voters as “almost sacred.” Current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, also urged the Legislature not to move the bill forward, noting that his office is already equipped to address fraud without burdening the process itself.
The initiative process exists precisely because the people do not always trust Olympia to police itself. When lawmakers start rewriting the rules to make citizen action harder, that should concern everyone, regardless of party.
I oppose efforts that weaken the people’s voice and shield politicians from public accountability. Washington’s Constitution is clear, and we should respect both its text and its intent. While the bill already had a public hearing, it’s not too late to submit written testimony. I encourage you to act in order to protect The People’s Voice!
Encouraging civic engagement: legislative pages
One of the highlights of each session is welcoming legislative pages to Olympia. The Page Program gives students under 17 a firsthand look at how state government works while earning $65 per day.
If you know a student who may be interested:
• Page Program information
• Page application
I will continue to share updates as the session moves forward. My focus remains steady: responsible budgeting, strong public safety, and accountable government that respects the people it serves.
Thank you for the honor of serving you in Olympia.
Sincerely,
Brian Burnett
