When the Legislature gavels out for the year, there’s always a bit of a shift in pace — and I’ll tell you, there’s nothing quite like trading long days behind a desk in Olympia for early mornings back home on the farm with my wife. After months of meetings, hearings, and floor debates, getting back to the land reminds me exactly who I’m working for and why.
Session wrap-up: The three budgets
This year’s 2026 legislative session wrapped up with the approval of all three supplemental budgets: operating, transportation, and capital. Each one plays a different role in how the state functions, and together they tell the story of our priorities — where we invest, what we maintain, and how we plan for the future.
Operating budget
The state’s operating budget — now topping more than $80 billion — reflects the continued growth of our state and the demand for services. This year’s supplemental operating budget includes investments to keep core programs running and support communities across Washington, and there are many pieces in it that I support.
At the same time, I couldn’t support the final supplemental operating budget. I had concerns about the level of spending, especially with a projected shortfall ahead. On the farm, you learn pretty quickly that what you put in has to match what you can sustain, and that same idea applies here. It’s about meeting today’s needs while being responsible with the resources taxpayers have entrusted to us and making sure we’re on solid footing in the years ahead.