Dear friends and neighbors, 

The Legislature is officially adjourned! This was a challenging session, but during our 105 days in Olympia, we stayed focused on continuing to move our state forward. I’m excited to share what we accomplished on your behalf. 

THE END PRODUCT 

The final operating budget is now on the governor’s desk — the result of months of hard work, tough decisions, and a clear commitment to protecting vital services and investing in Washington’s future. 

As I’ve said in past updates, this was an extraordinarily difficult budget year. The shortfall we faced forced us to make hard choices. But throughout the process, we stayed focused on what mattered most: protecting the services people count on and making smart, targeted investments that reflect our values. 

What I’m most proud of is the progress we made on K-12 education. Despite the challenges, we secured $750 million over four years for special education, $213 million for school operating costs, and $200 million in additional local effort assistance for low-income districts. These investments will help ensure every student has the support they need to succeed.  

To get here, we balanced responsible reductions with new revenue and preserved strong reserves to help maintain stability in the years ahead. This budget isn’t perfect — no budget ever is — but it’s thoughtful, balanced, and puts people first. 

INVESTING IN THE 38TH 

I’m excited to share the final capital and transportation budgets deliver meaningful investments in our district, supporting both new priorities and ongoing projects that matter to our communities. 

Here are a few of the key capital investments secured this year: 

  • $5,050,000 for Compass Health’s new Broadway facility in Everett 
  • $3,550,000 for Little Wings Early Learning in Everett 
  • $3,050,000 for New Tomorrow’s Hope Center in Everett 
  • $500,000 for Bayview Trail in Marysville 
  • $1,500,000 for waterfront pedestrian safety at the Port of Everett

In addition, the transportation budget includes funding for important projects, like: 

  • I-5/NB Marine View Dr. to SR 529 corridor and interchange improvements 
  • I-5/116th St. NE, 88th St. NE and SR 528/Marine Dr. interchange   
  • SR 526 corridor improvements 
  • North Broadway Pedestrian Bridge 
  • U.S. 2 Trestle capacity improvements and westbound Trestle replacement 
  • 156th Street railroad overcrossing 

POLICY UPDATES 

Several of the bills I worked on made it across the finish line and either await the governor’s signature or have already been signed into law, including: 

  • HB 1355 updates our tax compacts by increasing revenue-sharing when a tribe completes a qualified capital investment — a meaningful recognition of tribal contributions to local economies and community development. As the sponsor of the Senate companion bill, I was glad to support this legislation and collaborate alongside the Tulalip Tribes to help move it forward. 
  • SB 5412 allows school districts under financial oversight to temporarily borrow from their capital projects fund to stabilize their general fund budgets, providing much-needed flexibility during fiscal challenges. This will support districts like Marysville by giving them tools to navigate budget shortfalls without immediately cutting services or programs for students. 
  • SB 5083 helps lower health care costs for public and school employees. By setting reasonable reimbursement limits for hospital services and investing more in primary and behavioral health care, we’re making meaningful progress toward a system that works better for families and the state. 

STAY IN TOUCH  

Staying connected with the people I represent is one of the most important parts of this job, and I want to once again thank you for all of your engagement this session. I encourage you to keep reaching out, either via email at June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov or phone at 360-786-7674. You can also follow my Facebook and Instagram (@SenJuneRobinson) pages for updates. 

Sincerely,   


 June Robinson