OLYMPIA—The operating and transportation budgets proposed by the House of Representatives will protect vital services in a time of declining revenue, said local lawmakers Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Port Townsend) and Rep. Adam Bernbaum (D-Port Angeles).
“Our state always has a balanced budget,” said Tharinger, who serves on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee. “It was balanced when we left town last year—but trade wars, federal budget cuts, and inflation created a gap. The House proposal closes that gap in a balanced way.”
To save money, Tharinger said, most programs are held at their current funding level. Some are delayed or cut.
House Democrats also released their transportation budget proposal.
“We worked with Republicans to finish projects that are already started and preserve the roads, bridges, and highways we have,” said Bernbaum, vice chair of the House Transportation Committee. “This budget also includes funding to help our ferry system, which is vital for folks in the 24th District.”
The transportation proposal includes funds to finish fish passage work and safety projects while setting aside a reserve fund for inevitable cost increases on construction projects.
On Monday, March 31, the House will release its capital budget proposal.
“The construction budget is about hope for the future,” said Tharinger, chair of the House Capital Budget Committee. “It will create jobs today for construction workers and engineers—and jobs for generations to come as we enjoy the infrastructure, schools, housing and parks funded by the budget.”
Sidebar: Operating budget proposal from the House of Representatives
2025-2027 Budget Highlights
LONG TERM CARE AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
- Consumer-Directed Employment, Agency Parity & Adult Family Home Agreement: $833 Million
- Funds Nursing home rates, delays rebase, and transitions clients to community settings: $20 Million
- Residential Habilitation Center Closures & Transitions to Community Settings: ($77 Million)
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
- Funds Non-native substance use disorder services at Tribal Facilities: $128 Million
- Funds Phase 4 of the Trueblood Settlement: $72 Million
- Reduces funding for facility and bed delays & utilization: ($309 Million)
HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
- Continues funding for the Apple Health for Immigrants program
- Protects funding for the Cascade Care Savings Program: $84 Million
- Medicaid MCO Physical Health Rates reduced by 1%: ($82 Million)
- Dental Rates Reduced by 50% from recent increases: ($68 Million)
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
- Increase Child Care Family Home Rates: $375 Million
- Delay Child Care Center Parity 1-year: ($140 Million)
- Delay WCCC Income Expansion: ($394 Million)
- Delay ECEAP Entitlement: ($327 Million)
- ECEAP Rate Increase: $54 Million
- ESIT Multiplier Increase: $31 Million
- JRA Capacity & Security: $85 Million
K-12 EDUCATION
- No changes to teacher’s National Board Bonuses
- Funds school meals and summer EBT for kids: $45 Million
- Funds Special Education and Local Effort Assistance: $1.1 Billion
- Transition to Kindergarten capped at 2024-25 levels: ($200 Million)
- Eliminates all OSPI grants and pass-through programs: ($276 Million)
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
- No Tuition increases
- Maximum Washington College Grant awards funded at 60% median family income: $22 Million
- UW Hospital Support: $10 Million
- WSU Native Scholarship Program: $2.2 Million
- Reduces institutional support by 2% for the four-years and 0.5% for the CTC’s: ($121 Million)
- Ramps down Evergreen State College per pupil funding to align with other institutions: ($33 Million)
- Career Connected Learning Reduction: ($60 Million)
HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING
- Local Government Housing Backfill: $118 Million
- Youth Homelessness Diversion Funding: $6 Million
- Tenant Right to Counsel Program: $6 Million
HUMAN SERVICES AND POVERTY REDUCTION
- Funds Food Security & Assistance: $133 Million
- Immigrant, Refugee, and New Arrival Supports: $40 Million
- Community Reinvestment Program: $50 Million
- Delay ABD Recoveries Elimination: ($118 Million)
- Delay 100% Child Support Pass-Through: ($49 Million)
CLIMATE, CLEAN ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
- Wildfire Response, Suppression, and Recovery: $50 Million
- Invasive Species Prevention: $11 Million
- Reduce Hatchery Operations: ($9.2 Million)
PUBLIC SAFETY, LEGAL AID AND CORRECTIONS
- Local Law Enforcement Grants: $50 Million
- DOC Custody Staff Support: $53 Million
- Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women Closure: ($35 Million)
- Reentry Center Closures: ($34 Million)
- Reentry Center Conversions: $26 Million
- Crime Victims Support: $29 Million
- Simple Possession Advocacy & Representation Program: $16 Million
- Basic Law Enforcement Academy Local Cost Shift: ($18 Million)
STATE GOVERNMENT
- Funds Collective Bargaining Agreements for State and Higher Education Employees: $1.9 Billion
- No furloughs for state employees
- No health care premium changes
NOTE: Dollar amounts are the 4-year outlook numbers (fiscal years 2026 – 2029)
For more information:
House Democratic Caucus 2025-2027 operating budget proposal news conference available on TVW here.
Budget details from the House Office of Program Research available at fiscal.wa.gov.
Public Hearing on the House budget proposal in the Appropriations Committee (Tuesday, March 25, 4PM) available on TVW here.
Revenue proposal press release here.