Highlights include record-setting affordable housing construction and $5 billion plan for fish culverts OLYMPIA – Senate leaders announced their proposal for the 2025-27 capital budget on Monday, which will fund construction and infrastructure projects across Washington state. “When I began our work on the capital budget this year, I had a few bedrock principles in mind,” said Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), vice chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee for the capital budget. “I wanted this budget to meet the basic needs of Washingtonians in all parts of our great state and to be responsive to our state’s most essential infrastructure needs. I think this budget accomplishes that mission. We are making major investments in social infrastructure like affordable housing, while ...

Legislation strengthening criminal penalties against corporate actors responsible for pollution spills and other environmental crimes passed the Washington State Senate Tuesday on a 29-20 vote. Under current law, violations of federal environmental law face harsher penalties than state violations. Senate Bill 5360, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), comprehensively updates state statutes to more closely align with federal penalties, enabling stronger enforcement of Washington’s clean air, clean water, and hazardous waste laws. “Cracking down on criminal pollution is more important than ever right now,” Trudeau said. “With so much uncertainty around how and whether the EPA will actually enforce federal laws for clean air and water, Washington state needs to step up and make sure the Evergreen State stays evergreen. We ...