Dear friends and neighbors,
The 2026 legislative session has just come to a close and there’s a lot to talk about and some really good work that will show up in different ways in our community. I was proud of the votes I took to make it simpler to build homes, improve public safety and the work we did to maintain vital services in education, health care and fully fund the working families tax credit as well as reduce sales and small business taxes by asking the very wealthy in our state to pay a little more.
We’ll dive deeper into those issues in the coming weeks, but today I wanted to spend some time talking about the capital budget and a few of the great projects and improvements that we can look forward to in our district.
The capital budget invests in construction projects in communities across the state. Schools, community centers, protecting historic sites, and so much more is supported through capital budget investments. Our district will see a lot of benefit, with a little more than $53 million worth of projects coming to places throughout our community.
Below are details on a few of the projects we worked on with our tribal partners:
Hoh Highlands Resiliency and Governance Center, Forks ($4.1M): The Hoh Tribe’s governmental and emergency operations are currently located within a tsunami and flood prone coastal zone, leaving the community vulnerable to a potential catastrophe. This investment will help build the Resiliency Center and Tribal Administration Building, relocating government operations to higher, safer grounds.
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Wellness Center, Port Angeles ($3.3M) This project is years in the making. The Tribe has made due with its existing facility but funding is needed for necessary maintenance and rehabilitation. The center’s septic system has failed multiple times in recent years and without new investment, critical behavioral health service delivery could be interrupted. Addressing this pressing need also prevents potential future environmental contamination should a catastrophic failure occur.
Dungeness Railroad Bridge Replacement, Sequim ($2.55M) This bridge is a beloved and iconic stretch of the Olympic Discovery Trail. More than 335,000 visitors cross it annually. The bridge is deteriorating, but safe, although a recent inspection showed we need to act quickly to keep the span open to the public. The wooden bridge will be replaced with a steel replica, which will keep the bridge safe and sturdy for generations.
Quinault Tribal Courthouse, Taholah ($2M) In October 2024, a fire destroyed the Quinault Tribal Courthouse and Jail. The Tribe has been operating out of insufficient, temporary spaces ever since, which has proven challenging. While tragic, this has also provided an opportunity for the Tribe to locate the courthouse in a site that is more resilient in the face of potential climate change – both from fires and also from floods, and better able to deliver a growing array of necessary justice services.
We’ll talk more about these and the other community projects in the capital budget when my seatmates and I send out our full session mailer.
I’m proud to serve as deputy chair of the capital budget with Sen. Yasmin Trudeau. Together, along with our Republican colleagues, we were able to address the most pressing construction needs in communities across Washington.
Every person in every community can think of a building or project that needs a little or in some cases, a lot of work. That’s why the capital budget is almost always a bipartisan success and why this plan received unanimous support every step of the way.
Thanks for your work this week Stella!
This week Stella Bosley, a 10th grader at Port Townsend High School, served the Senate as a page.
Stella is President of the 10th Grade ASB, a member of the Redhawks’ swim team, and has been participating in ballet for 13 years!
Stella said her highlight from paging was meeting and forming friendships with the other students and pages from all over the state that shared a common interest in government.
Thanks for your work this week Stella!
Stay in touch
Session may be over, but our office is always ready to help you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us and share your thoughts or concerns.
Thank you for being such an essential part of our community and for your continued trust. It is an honor to serve you in Olympia.
Mike Chapman
