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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2026 legislative session has officially wrapped up. Over the past two months, lawmakers approved three supplemental budgets that will shape state spending over the next year: the operating, transportation, and capital budgets. While there were some areas of progress, this session also highlighted ongoing concerns about affordability, government growth, and missed opportunities to better serve the people of our state.
A closer look at the operating budget
“You cannot fix a spending problem with accounting tricks and wishful thinking.”
The majority party passed an operating budget exceeding $80 billion, continuing a trend of rapid government growth that is outpacing the ability of taxpayers to keep up. This budget relies on unstable revenue assumptions, one-time fund shifts, and policies that raise serious legal and financial concerns.
At the same time, it reduces support for programs many communities depend on, including health care services, education, child care, and long-term care. These are not abstract numbers. These are real impacts that will be felt in our schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods, especially in rural areas.
Families are already dealing with higher costs for fuel, groceries, housing, and insurance. This budget does little to ease that burden and instead grows government while leaving many of those challenges unresolved. I was a strong “NO” on this budget.
Investing in local communities through the capital budget
“When we focus on real needs instead of politics, we can deliver results people can see and use.”
One area where the Legislature continues to find common ground is the capital budget. This year’s plan invests roughly $890 million statewide in infrastructure, housing, and community projects, including more than $32 million for communities across the 12th District.
These investments will support public safety, housing, infrastructure, and community services throughout North Central Washington. Projects funded in our district include:
- Monroe Correctional Complex domestic water and HVAC systems: $13.8 million
- Skykomish school construction: $6 million
- Echo Glen secure facility improvements: $1.7 million
- Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank: $1.28 million
- Monitor Park Farmworker Housing: $1 million
- Middle Fork Snoqualmie land transfer: $900,000
- Performing Arts Center infrastructure: $716,000
- Lake Chelan Senior Center improvements: $548,000
- Old Swim Hole revitalization project: $393,000
- Snoqualmie Tribal Police Station: $360,000
- Chelan River Heights affordable housing project: $258,000
- CAFE Community Multi-Service Center: $258,000
- Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council commercial kitchen: $252,000
- Wenatchee Crail Cottages: $248,000
- Sultan Main Street lighting project: $141,000
- BSG gymnasium restroom project: $113,000
- Manson Grange remodel: $100,000
- Riverside Park picnic shelter: $40,000
- Chelan Library improvement project: $21,000
These are meaningful investments that will benefit our communities for years to come, and I was proud to support them.
Transportation budget: keeping our commitments
“Taking care of what we have should always come before taking on more.”
In its most recent Highway Report, the Reason Foundation ranked Washington state 48th in the nation in overall cost-effectiveness and condition. In essence, we need to take care of what we have!
The transportation budget continues important work on maintenance, preservation, and completing projects already underway. That is the right focus in a supplemental year and helps ensure our roads, bridges, and infrastructure remain safe and reliable.
While I do have concerns about adding long-term debt through additional bonding, the overall direction of the budget keeps the emphasis where it should be, on maintaining the system people depend on every day.
The income tax debate and constitutional limits
“If it violates the constitution, it should not become law. It is that simple.”
One of the most significant moments of the session came during a 24-hour floor debate over legislation creating a state income tax.
I opposed this proposal for two reasons. First, it would make life less affordable for families and small businesses. Second, and just as important, it conflicts with long-standing constitutional law.
For nearly a century, the Washington State Supreme Court has been clear. In Culliton v. Chase, the court ruled that income is property, and property must be taxed uniformly. A graduated income tax violates that requirement. That precedent still stands today.
All amendments to acknowledge this constitutional reality were rejected. And, despite several of my speeches on amendments, final passage, and my strong NO vote, the majority party approved the bill.
The structure of the policy deserves close attention. It establishes an income tax on everyone, with a current exemption at a certain threshold. That threshold can be lowered at any time with a simple majority vote.
If lawmakers truly want to pursue an income tax, the honest path is a constitutional amendment and a vote of the people, not an attempt to work around both.
Public safety and government overreach
“When government gains power at the expense of the people, it rarely gives it back.”
Several bills passed this session raise serious concerns about the direction of public safety policy and the balance of power between government and the people.
One measure allows an unelected state commission to effectively remove a county sheriff from office by revoking certification. Sheriffs are elected by the people. If they fail the public trust, voters already have the power to remove them. Taking that authority away from voters weakens accountability and undermines the role of local elections. I introduced HB 2387 to combat this misguided effort. However, the majority party killed my bill in committee, instead siding with extreme anti-police elements within their ranks.
Another bill expands the Attorney General’s authority to demand documents, records, and testimony before a lawsuit is even filed. That means individuals, businesses, and even local governments can be compelled to turn over information based on suspicion alone, with the burden on them to fight it in court. That is not how due process is supposed to work.
We also saw proposals that would restrict how law enforcement officers can protect their identity while doing their jobs. Anyone who has spent time in law enforcement understands there are situations where that protection is necessary, not just for the officer, but for their family as well.
After more than 30 years in law enforcement, I have seen what happens when policy ignores reality. Public safety decisions should be based on real-world experience, not political agendas.
What’s also frustrating is the fact that the $100 million grant program funded by the Legislature last year to hire more law enforcement officers has not been utilized to hire one officer! As I said in an interview with The Center Square:
“I had chiefs reaching out to me saying, ‘What in the world’s going on? What do we have to do to get this done?’ And they’re really frustrated.”
You can read or watch that interview here.
What we fought for and what remains unresolved
“Even in the minority, standing up and stopping bad policy matters.”
This session, my colleagues and I worked to slow policies that would have made life more expensive and communities less safe.
We pushed back against new taxes and fees on everyday goods, opposed policies that would weaken public safety, and challenged regulations that increase costs on families, farmers, and small businesses.
Still, there is more work to be done. The Legislature did not deliver meaningful relief for rising housing or child care costs, nor did it take action on citizen initiatives addressing parental rights and fairness in sports. In fact, when the majority party refused to hold public hearings on these two initiatives to the Legislature, minority Republicans in both the House and Senate held “listening sessions” to let the public – on both sides of the issue – be heard.
Despite this effort, Democrats continued to ignore the initiatives. Had they been brought up for a vote, I would have supported both. The voters will now have the final say in this fall’s election.
We also missed opportunities to make real progress on public safety. Instead of focusing on the needs of victims and communities, too many policies moved in the opposite direction.
Representing our region on the national stage
“If we want better outcomes, we need to be willing to learn, lead, and bring those solutions home.”
I was honored this session to be appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures Law and Public Safety Committee. This group brings together legislators from across the country to collaborate on policies related to crime, law enforcement, and community safety.
With more than three decades in law enforcement, including serving as Chelan County sheriff, I will bring the perspective of our communities to national discussions while also learning from what is working in other states.
This role is an opportunity to share what we are doing here in Washington, but just as important, to bring back ideas that can help us better protect victims, support law enforcement, and keep our communities safe.
In closing, thank you to everyone who took the time to stay engaged this session. Whether you reached out, attended meetings, or followed along through these updates, your input matters and helps guide the work we do in Olympia.
It is an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Brian Burnett
