BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: $245 MILLION

We increased inpatient behavioral health capacity and rates for long-term civil commitments in the community; and we’re funding behavioral health personal care for those with exceptional needs, as well as diversion and outpatient care.

FENTANYL & OPIOID RESPONSE: $215 MILLION

We’re addressing the fentanyl and opioid crisis with increased access to use disorder treatment, programs, and supplies; and supporting the safety of families and children with public health awareness and prevention, including outreach and support for Tribes.

HEALTH CARE & PUBLIC HEALTH: $444 MILLION

To improve health outcomes, we’re continuing the Medicaid Transformation Project, funding health equity for uninsured adults, expanding provider rates and reimbursements, and increasing funding for the Cascade Care Savings Program.

CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES: $115 MILLION

Our commitment to children, youth and families is about our values and the kind of society we want for ourselves and for future generations. To that end, this session we expanded early support for infants and toddlers, increased childcare slots and expanded eligibility, and increased provider rates and reimbursements including basic foster care and ECEAP

K-12 EDUCATION: $335 MILLION

Because every student deserves access to resources, opportunities, and assistance throughout their entire educational journey, this session we increased the cap to allow more funding for special education, increased participation for free student meals, directed new funding to support paraeducators, and increased funding for schools’ daily basic operating costs.

HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: $135 MILLION

With the challenges of today’s knowledge-based economy, the way to a gainful, productive, and fulfilling future is squarely dependent on marketable skills. This is why we are expanding workforce & training programs, as well as adding student supports.

HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING: $230 MILLION

To address the housing affordability and stability crisis, this session we’re increasing funding for low and moderate-income clean energy assistance, addressing the growing need for local homeless services, adding support to existing local housing programs to back-fill the document recording fee, and housing vulnerable populations by supporting tenants’ rights and home-ownership.

CLIMATE, CLEAN ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES: $335 MILLION

Clean energy, agriculture and natural resources play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and preserving our natural heritage. The investments we are making this year include forest health & wildfire protection; water quality & availability; salmon production, habitat & recovery; clean energy and climate programs; and payments to exempt agricultural fuel users.

PUBLIC SAFETY, LEGAL AID & CORRECTIONS: $70 MILLION

Protecting our communities and supporting victims of crime are critical responsibilities of the state. The investments made this year are geared toward giving law enforcement tools to keep families safe, such as boosting criminal justice training, reentry support, and increasing compensation for crime victims.

OTHER INVESTMENTS

• Economic development & small business supports: $13 million.
• Disaster response recovery & assistance: $728 million (nearly all federal funds).
• Digital equity, literacy, and broadband access: $8 million.

The $1.3 billion supplemental construction budget will fund vital projects and infrastructure in every corner of the state, including the 21st District. It also invests heavily in solutions for two of our toughest challenges: affordable housing and the pressing need for behavioral health facilities.

PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

• Support for local schools: $79 million increase for local school construction, with the school. Construction Assistance Program increasing from $272 to $375 per square foot.
• Skill centers and career/technical education: $69 million.
• Small school district: $114m for the Small District & Tribal Compact School Modernization program.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

• Community beds: $82.7 million in behavioral health community capacity grants, to build behavioral health care facilities in communities across Washington.
• Tribal centers: Expanded investment in tribal behavioral health centers, which are innovative new projects being developed in partnership with tribes and the federal government to provide behavioral health and substance abuse treatment.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

• Housing Trust Fund: $127.5 million, building on the record-breaking investments in affordable housing made in 2023.

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Our district received $834,000 in important community and conservation grants for local projects. Those include:

• $300,000 for the Edmonds Boys & Girls Club.
• $250,000 for the PAWS Community Support Center.
• $284,000 to correct the North Creek fish barrier.

The changes we made boosted spending by $1 billion, for a new total of $14.6 billion over the two-year transportation budget. It keeps projects on schedule, addresses cost overruns, continues to invest in our vital ferry system, improves traffic safety, and delivers on carbon reductions through the Climate Commitment Act (CCA).

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS & PRESERVATION

• $275 million for I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program.
• $150 million for fish passage barrier removal.
• $100 million for highway preservation.

FERRIES

Our “highway in the ocean” has been historically underfunded; while these investments are good news, they will take time to implement.

• $196 million in CCA funds for hybrid electric vessel construction and terminal electrification.
• $73 million in 2023-25 to cover cost increases for hybrid vessel construction.
• $22.9 million for increased staffing, workforce development, and increased service.

CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT

• $40 million for public/private initiatives to switch to zero-emissions technology through commercial vehicle vouchers, alternative fuel charging infrastructure, car share programs and more.
• $35.5 million for rail/port electrification.
• $30 million for public transportation electrification.
• $33 million for Local Programs, including pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure and local electrification initiatives.
• $4 million for electric school buses.
• $12 million for zero emissions vehicle supply equipment.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

• $8.5 million for public education and enforcement efforts, and to increase grants to local jurisdictions and community-based organizations for projects such as improving bike, pedestrian, and school zone safety.
• $4.2 million to reduce accidents and improve road safety programs.
• $1 million to develop a highway speed safety camera pilot program.

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL

• $6.2 million to restore vacancy savings.
• $5.9 million for additional trooper training.
• $691,000 for WSP to retain seasoned troopers.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

This year, there were discussions about putting some projects on hold. Fortunately, budget writers were able to avoid that and important ongoing projects in our area are still on track, including:

• $191.3 million to relocate the aging Mukilteo terminal to a new site with improved efficiency and capacity, new overhead loading, dedicated bicycle and HOV lanes, bus transit center, and improved connections to adjacent commuter rail station.
• $47.2 million to improve mobility for all modes on SR 526 between I-5 to the east and the SW Everett industrial area and Boeing west access road to the west, including freight access to and from SR 526 and industrial land in SW Everett.
• $15.1 million for the Harbour Reach Extension to improve freight mobility and connectivity near SR 525 & Paine Field.
• $28.2 million for Edmonds Terminal improvements: Recurring payments to Unocal to monitor the land area of the new Edmonds multimodal terminal. Update of network servers at the Terminal. 2009 Long range plan allowance to enhance multimodal connections to Edmonds ferry terminal.
• $61.6 million for Edmonds Terminal preservation: Replacing the existing tollbooths with one ADA compliant tollbooth and two remodeled tollbooths; replacing the existing timber trestle with a concrete trestle and preserving the tower to improve its capacity in a seismic event; and replacing security assets including video cameras, cables, conduits, and network systems.

We appreciate your taking the time to read our e-newsletters and hope you find them informative.

We’re working on a print mailer, along with Sen. Marko Liias, that will focus on the bills we passed this session. It should reach households in early May, if you don’t receive it, you’ll find it posted on our websites.

During election years, there are certain restrictions on our public communications to ensure no state resources are used for campaign purposes. They include a halt to newsletters and a freeze to our websites and social media. This means that from May 6, until after the general elections have been certified in the Fall, you will not receive legislative updates from us, and no new content will be uploaded on the web.

However, if you have ideas, questions, or comments about legislative issues, please don’t hesitate to give our offices a call, or send us an email with your concerns.

Sincerely,