Washington's 2026 Legislative Session Ends With Historic 9.9% Millionaires Tax and $80 Billion Budget Deal

Washington states 2026 legislative session adjourned on March 12 after intense debates, capping a year of bold policy shifts and budget balancing amid economic pressures. Top headlines include the historic passage of a 9.9 percent millionaires tax on income over one million dollars, expected to raise over three billion annually for education, child care, and health services, now awaiting Governor Bob Fergusons signature, according to KUOW and FOX 13 Seattle. Lawmakers also finalized an nearly eighty billion dollar operating budget, tapping the rainy day fund for eight hundred eighty million while cutting child care and transitional kindergarten funding due to inflation and federal cutbacks, as reported by KUOW. Other key wins featured transportation investments of one point two billion dollars this biennium and housing reforms allowing development on commercial land to tackle shortages, praised by business groups like the Washington Roundtable. In government and politics, Democrats advanced measures countering federal actions, such as limiting immigration inspections of worker records and protecting voter data, though some stalled. The National Federation of Independent Business noted a ninety percent kill rate on bills they opposed, including expansions of Attorney General powers, but supported a new Wage Recovery Fund. Locally, Seattle City Council imposed a one-year moratorium on new ICE detention centers, per KUOW, and King County saw a twenty-two percent crime drop after gun turnovers to abusers, according to KNKX. Economically, business leaders from the Association of Washington Business expressed concerns over the tax making Washington less competitive, amid projected deficits. Positive notes include small business B and O tax exemptions and expanded Working Families Tax Credits reaching four hundred sixty thousand more households, as detailed by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Employment remains steady, with infrastructure like Spokaness Waste-to-Energy facility gaining relief from climate penalties via HB 2416. Community updates highlight foster youth guaranteed full-ride college tuition and UW civil rights trainings, alongside Lake Stevens museum construction. Public safety advanced with bills regulating license plate readers and allowing sheriff removals. No major recent weather events were reported, though Snoqualmie Pass prepped for winter storms per KIRO 7. Looking Ahead, watch for Fergusons bill signings by April 4, potential NFIB campaigns to repeal the millionaires tax, and growing budget shortfall debates projected at four billion dollars. Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.