Dear friends and neighbors,
We’re in the home stretch of the 2025 legislative session, and the focus in Olympia is squarely on one thing: the state budgets.
Budget breakdown
Each session, the Legislature must pass three main budgets:
- The operating budget, which funds day-to-day services like K-12 and higher education, health care, public safety, and social services.
- The capital budget, which funds construction and infrastructure projects like school buildings, community centers, affordable housing, and environmental restoration.
- The transportation budget, which I help lead as Chair of the House Transportation Committee. This budget supports road maintenance, bridge repairs, ferry operations, public transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and climate-focused transportation investments, as well as needed highway improvements—projects like the Gateway Program, which will support our international trade abilities at the Port of Tacoma.
The House and Senate have each released and passed our versions of these budgets. Now, we’re in the crucial negotiation phase where we work together to reach final agreements. These negotiations involve reviewing priorities from both chambers, analyzing updated revenue projections, and making strategic decisions to ensure a balanced and responsible outcome.
In the transportation budget, I’ve been advocating for investments that reflect the needs of communities across Washington — including
- preserving our existing infrastructure,
- keeping ferries running reliably, enhancing safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, and
- following through on our commitments to sustainability and accessibility.
We’ve also prioritized funding for fish passage restoration, rural road safety, and transit access in historically underserved areas.
We must finalize all three budgets before Sine Die — the official end of session — which is scheduled for Sunday, April 27. Between now and then, we’ll be working day and night to wrap up negotiations, pass the final budget bills, and close out the session.
This is one of the most important times of the year in Olympia. The decisions we make now will shape the lives of Washingtonians for years to come. I’m committed to ensuring that the final transportation budget — and our overall state budget — delivers on our shared priorities: a stronger economy, safer communities, more affordable housing, a cleaner environment, and opportunity for all.
As always, thank you for staying engaged and informed. Your input matters, and I encourage you to reach out any time.
Scam Alert: Don’t Click on Those Toll Bill Texts!
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeing a rise in scam texts impersonating state’s toll bill system, Good To Go! The texts warn of overdue bills, ask for final payment, even threaten legal action, and direct people to fake websites for payment. This is a way trick people into sending money and to capture folks’ credit card information.
Good To Go! will never send a text asking for payment.
WSDOT encourages anyone who receives a fraudulent text to file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
LYAC Applications are Open!
The Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is the only nonpartisan youth-led committee established by state law in 2005 to represent the official voice of Washington youth to the Legislature. It is entirely student-led and administered by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Washington State Leadership Board.
The deadline to submit application packets is April 30. Go to the applications site to see if you or someone you know meets the qualification requirements.
Teens ages 14-18 from a wide variety of geographic, political, and socioeconomic backgrounds get the chance, among other things, to:
- Meet with legislators to advocate for issues relevant to Washington’s youth.
- Testify before committee for or against a bill.
- Advise government officials, policymakers, and leaders in various fields.
- Collaborate with nearly 200 community organizations to promote statewide change.
- Talk with media outlets about student voice.
- Write bills.
- Make sure youth are at the table when decisions are being made.
Warm regards,
Rep. Jake Fey
27th Legislative District