Dear friends and neighbors,
It’s hard to believe, but we’re already in the second-to-last week of the 2026 session. Before we adjourn next Thursday, I wanted to share some details about our proposals to provide relief for folks who were affected by last December’s flooding, update you on my bills that are still in play this session, and introduce you to some of my pages from the past few weeks.
Flood recovery and relief efforts
As leaders of the bipartisan, bicameral Flood Caucus, Sen. Claudia Kauffman and I have been focused on ensuring the Legislature is adequately investing in our state’s recovery and relief efforts after the historic December 2025 flooding. More than 400 homes in King County were damaged, including many in our district. Kent Mayor Dana Ralph estimates that nearly 1,300 people and 100 properties were affected. It’s also estimated that the damage to our state’s infrastructure totals more than $180 million.
One of my priority bills this session, Senate Bill 6343, provides tax relief for homeowners and property owners affected by the flooding. After passing the Senate unanimously, the bill made it out of the House Finance Committee and could be pulled for floor action soon. I’m also proud to share that the Senate’s proposed transportation and capital budgets, which passed unanimously last Friday, invest significantly in our recovery efforts while we wait for federal aid.
Our capital budget allocates $50 million specifically for recovery and future preparedness efforts. This includes a major investment in upgrading the Green River levee system near Signature Pointe to a 500-year flood protection level, helping protect more than 2,000 Kent residents. The budget also includes funding to improve the resilience of the Nooksack River’s floodplain, support low-income home rehabilitation projects, and award grants for debris clearance and recovery in damaged areas. It would also fund a county-by-county risk and needs assessment to help identify the highest-value flood preparedness projects so that the state can be more informed and prepared for the future.
Our transportation budget also invests heavily in our infrastructure recovery efforts. It includes $60 million for state and local highway recovery, as well as $2 million to help people who live in RVs that were damaged by the floods.
As we wrap up our legislative work this session, it’s essential that the final budgets we negotiate with the House maintain these investments. After we adjourn next week, I’ll send a post-session update outlining our finalized recovery plan.
Bill update: What’s still in play?
A photograph of Sen. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines) talking with a fellow senator on the Senate floor Feb. 17.
This Friday, we have one last important legislative deadline: opposite house cutoff. This is the last day for both chambers to vote on each other’s bills that aren’t necessary for passing the budget.
I’m happy to share the House passed three of my bills as of early evening on Wednesday: Senate Bills 5105, 5938, and 5957. Senate Bill 5105, which will now head to the governor’s desk for signature, strengthens protections against child sexual exploitation by holding predators accountable for creating, viewing, distributing, or possessing fabricated sexually explicit images of minors, including those produced through generative artificial intelligence (AI). This is a bill I’ve been working on with stakeholders for three years, and I’m so pleased see it pass unanimously in both chambers.
Building on my work to expand foreclosure protections for homeowners, Senate Bill 5938 requires the Department of Commerce to conduct a study on the feasibility of creating a statewide homeowner assistance fund for folks who’ve exhausted all their options to remain in their homes. Since the House amended the bill, it will come back to the Senate for a quick vote on the changes before heading to the governor’s desk for signature.
And speaking of housing, Senate Bill 5957 expands the membership of the Homeless Youth Advisory committee to include at least two additional people over 25 who have lived experienced being unhoused or involvement in the foster care system, and two people who represent populations who disproportionately experience homelessness or have experience in the foster care system. Representation for underserved communities among youth is critical to ensuring quality outcomes. I’m thrilled this bill will head straight to the governor’s desk for signature.
In addition to my bill providing tax relief for folks whose homes and property were damaged by last December’s flooding, I have three other bills the House can act on this week. Senate Bill 5395 prohibits private insurance companies and Washington’s public employee health programs from using AI as the only means to deny, delay, or modify health care services for patients. The other bills still under consideration would hold perpetrators of human trafficking accountable by establishing criminal liability for businesses that engage in this terrible crime, as well as make it easier for wrongly convicted people to seek compensation from the state.
The fight continues to protect our critical infrastructure
While many of my bills are still in play this session, I’m disappointed my bipartisan bill to protect our critical infrastructure did not move forward last month. With copper wire theft on the rise, especially from our Sound Transit light rail system, Senate Bill 6190 would have held thieves accountable and helped preserve the infrastructure we all rely on. This issue really affected our community last month when thieves disrupted our light rail service twice, including on the day of the Seahawks Super Bowl parade.
Thankfully, Sen. Marko Liias, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, adopted an amendment that incorporates parts of my bill into House Bill 2711, this year’s vehicle for transportation funding. The bill includes provisions from my proposed legislation that would require scrap metal businesses to share specific transaction information with the Washington State Patrol, create civil penalties for scrap metal businesses that purchase stolen copper that was used in light rail or state transportation communications infrastructure, and criminalize the destruction of light rail and other infrastructure.
I will continue fighting in the days ahead to ensure these provisions are kept in the final bill!
A word of thanks to my recent pages
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting four pages in my office. Before session ends, I want to share a little bit about these incredible teenagers and thank them for their service and engagement. Hosting pages is one of my favorite things about being a legislator — I’m constantly inspired by their passion and engagement.
Wayne Griffith
Wayne, a freshman from Kentlake High School in Kent, served as my page during the fifth week of session. In his free time, he enjoys playing Minecraft and reading fantasy novels. As a page, he sponsored a mock bill to establish a standardized state curriculum on climate change. He said he appreciated the grandeur of the Capitol Campus buildings and the kindness of staff.
Bo Bjordahl, Anika Lintao and Paige Watson
Bo, Anika, and Paige all served as my pages during week six of session. Bo is an active eighth grader from Sylvester Middle School in Burien, and he plays soccer, runs track, and codes. He said he was excited to meet legislators while gaining new experiences.
Anika is a sophomore from Kent Meridian High School. She enjoys running around the mall with friends and competing on her school’s debate team. As a page, she sponsored a mock bill requiring police officers statewide to wear body cameras.
Paige, a junior from Seattle Academy, thought working on the Senate floor was exciting. In the future, she hopes to serve her state as a senator — I have no doubt she’ll achieve that dream!
Keep in touch
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact my office when you have feedback, questions, or concerns. You can reach me at Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov or 360-786-7664. I hope to hear from you!
Sincerely,
