Published date: March 2, 2026
Week 8 Legislative Update
Budget Proposals Released
Last Sunday, the House and Senate unveiled their supplemental operating and capital budget proposals. On Monday, both chambers released their supplemental transportation budgets, with the House Transportation Committee holding a hearing that afternoon on HB 2306.
- House Transportation Budget Materials
- Senate Budget Proposal
- How City Budgets will be impacted
- How Counties will be impacted (podcast)
Both supplemental operating budgets include additional sweeps from the Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA). Representatives from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) testified in opposition to continued PWAA transfers during operating and capital budget hearings, citing impacts to local infrastructure financing.
The Senate Transportation Committee held its budget hearing Tuesday. A key difference between the chambers: the Senate proposal relies more heavily on bonding to fund state maintenance and preservation, while the House proposal shifts a larger share of funding from “Program Z” (local projects). The House redirects approximately $227 million from local projects, compared to $100 million in the Senate proposal.
The Senate passed its budgets on Friday; the House followed Saturday. Formal budget negotiations begin Monday.
Deadlines & Final Stretch
With less than two weeks remaining in the 2026 session, key deadlines are rapidly approaching. The final policy committee cutoff passed last Wednesday, and March 2 marks the fiscal committee deadline. The Legislature now pivots to floor action, with only four days to vote on bills from the opposite chamber.
After floor cutoff, attention turns to reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of bills — whether through concurrence, receding from amendments, or conference committees. Budget negotiations will proceed concurrently, with lawmakers aiming to reach agreement before the March 12 adjournment deadline.
Hearings of Interest:
Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 3/2 @ 8:30am
E2SSB 5061 – Exec Session – Requiring certain wages in public works contracts to be at least the prevailing wage in effect when the work is performed.
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 3/2 @ 10:30am
ESSB 6302 – Exec Session – Concerning misclassification in the finishing trades on public works projects.
Transportation (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 3/2 @ 1:00pm
2SSB 5690 – Exec Session – Concerning actions of the department of transportation to notify utility owners of projects and seek federal funding for utility relocation costs.
ESSB 6262 – Exec Session – Increasing the maximum weight of certain vehicles subject to transportation benefit district vehicle fees.
Transportation (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 3/2 @ 1:30pm
SHB 1823 – Exec Session – Modifying transportation improvement board provisions.
SHB 2203 – Exec Session – Creating the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations.
E2SHB 2251 – Exec Session – Concerning climate commitment act accounts.
ESHB 2172 – Exec Session – Concerning route jurisdiction transfer and abandonment.
E2SHB 2251 – Public Hearing – Concerning climate commitment act accounts. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee