Friends and neighbors,

The 2025 legislative session officially adjourned last night in Olympia. During the 105-day session, we made important progress on a wide range of issues, including crucial investments in housing, education, public safety, health care and much more!

It was a challenging budget year, but I’m proud the Legislature embraced a fair, balanced approach. We scrubbed the budget looking for savings and efficiencies that wouldn’t threaten key essential services while also making difficult decisions to raise revenue to ensure our state continues to move forward. Here are just a few statewide highlights:

  • The state’s public schools will receive more than $1 billion more in the next four years to help close district budget shortfalls and make sure every kid has a chance to learn and succeed. Communities will also have broader power over how much money they choose to raise with school levies.
  • Several new laws will help expand affordable housing options and the capital budget includes a historic investment of $782 million to build desperately needed housing. Tenants will also be better protected from excessive rent hikes with a new 7% limit on most annual residential rent increases.
  • Public safety will get a big boost with an additional $100 million dollar investment for law enforcement and other essential services so we can all be safe and feel safe in the communities we live in.

Community investments

The new state budgets include important projects for Spokane that will improve lives, and the 3rd District delegation fought hard to secure funding for several important projects. Here are a few highlights:

  • $3 million to design and build a new crisis relief and sobering center next to the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center where people can receive comprehensive behavioral health services to address mental health, substance use, and the opioid crisis.
  • $2.5 million to help the Salish School of Spokane build a new Cultural and Recreation Community Center on the Spokane River.
  • $2 million to continue to support Maddie’s Place, a free-standing recovery nursery for babies experiencing withdrawal due to prenatal substance exposure.
  • $2.2 million for improvements to the Spokane River Centennial Trail.
  • $1.5 million to support the St. John’s Two senior housing project on the lower South Hill.
  • $1.5 million to help Cancer Can’t provide short-term lodging in Spokane for cancer patients from throughout Eastern Washington.
  • $1 million for the renovation of Alexandria’s House to better serve young mothers and their children.
  • $1 million for improvements to the Fish Lake Trail in West Spokane.
  • $1 million for the regional Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex.
  • $750,000 for renovation and expansion of the training facility which serves as the primary training center for SPD and other regional and state law enforcement agencies.
  • $600,000 for museum expansion and modernization at the Museum of Arts & Culture,
  • $500,000 for a federally qualified community health center to help create a community gathering space and an exam room for health providers to see patients.
  • $500,000 for MultiCare’s Spokane Internal Medicine Residency to renovate its existing clinical space for the accommodation of the residency program.
  • $480,000 for upgrades to Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition.
  • $100,000 for upgrades to Gonzaga’s soccer facilities as Spokane prepares to host a Team Base Camp for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

North Spokane Corridor still on track

I’m happy to report that funding in the state transportation budget will keep the North Spokane Corridor project on track to be complete in five years. The last two years I have worked with legislators in our region to stave off any potential threats to funding and ensure we finish what we started decades ago. This project means significant economic development, good jobs, less pollution and less travel time.

Priority Bills

I am proud to see several of my bills cross the finish line this session. These new laws should make a real difference in people’s lives in Spokane and across the state.

Senate Bill 5480 will protect Washington consumers by prohibiting collection agencies from reporting medical debt to credit agencies. This bill will help protect people from enduring financial ruin when they need to seek life-saving care.

Senate Bill 5493 is another win for health care transparency. It requires hospitals to clearly disclose the true cost of care, so patients aren’t blindsided by billing costs. People deserve transparency when making tough decisions about their health, and this bill adds a much-needed layer of protection for all Washingtonians.

Senate Bill 5244 will allow providers in the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program to perform infectious disease tests using finger-stick sampling. This change in law will help remove a major workforce barrier for community health clinics, where finding licensed staff for essential tests can be difficult.

Senate Bill 5041 will allow individuals unemployed due to a labor strike to receive up to six weeks of unemployment insurance benefits following a qualifying strike event. This will help level the playing field because workers in our state deserve to be able to exercise their right to collectively bargain for fair wages and safe workplace conditions.

Senate Bill 5545, will expand access to childcare for military families by exempting off-base military family home childcare providers on or near military bases from state certification. These providers are already certified through the U.S. Department of Defense and removing this redundant requirement will help more kids receive quality care.

Senate Bill 5662 will reduce barriers for organizations like Habitat for Humanity by allowing cities to waive utility connection fees – making it easier to build the affordable homes Spokane families need.

Senate Bill 5492 will help boost tourism by increasing funding to attract more visitors to Spokane and other parts of the state. This investment will support our local economy and hospitality industry.

Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

It is an honor to serve you!

Sen. Marcus Riccelli