Dear friends and neighbors, 

The 2026 legislative session is moving quickly, and each week brings new bills and hearings that will shape our communities for years to come. I want to share a quick update on a few key issues moving through the Senate right now, including housing affordability, protecting public health funding, and concerns I have heard from our district about automatic license plate reader cameras. Thank you for staying engaged and following along. 

MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE 

In the constituent survey I sent, many of you cited affordable housing as the top priority the Legislature should address in 2026. I hear you, and that is why housing is one of the biggest issues we are working on right now in Olympia. 

This session, the Senate is considering several housing bills aimed at increasing supply, lowering costs, and making it easier to build the kinds of homes our communities need, including: 

  • Senate Bill 5496 limits bulk purchases of single-family homes by large corporate entities. 
  • Senate Bill 5884 supports the redevelopment of underutilized commercial property into housing. 
  • Senate Bill 5938 supports the foreclosure prevention program which helps homeowners stay in their homes. 
  • Senate Bill 6001 updates state building code rules to allow “scissor stairs,” which can support more housing design flexibility. 
  • Senate Bill 6015 creates state-approved “permit-ready” residential building plans to help reduce permitting delays and speed up housing production. 
  • Senate Bill 6237 strengthens rental disclosure requirements around flooding history and flood risk, so renters have clearer information before signing a lease. After the floods in December 2025, we learned that renters don’t receive the same notice about moving into a flood area that homeowners do — this bill will fix that. 

We are also looking at bills that strengthen affordable housing funding and expand the tools communities can use to build and preserve housing, including: 

  • Senate Bill 6026 allows residential development in more commercial and mixed-use zones. 
  • Senate Bill 6027 updates allowable uses for local revenue related to include operating and maintenance of affordable housing and services.  
  • Senate Bill 6028 creates a revolving loan fund to support mixed-income affordable homeownership development. 
  • Senate Bill 6069 makes it easier to site permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and indoor emergency housing and shelters. 

At the end of the day, this work is about making sure everyone in Washington can afford a safe place to live — whether that is a first apartment, a starter home, or a stable place to stay as families navigate hard times. We need to build more housing, protect affordability, and make sure our communities remain places where working people, seniors, and young families can put down roots and thrive. 

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING 

Last week, my bill to update Washington’s tobacco and nicotine tax structure was heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. This legislation is about protecting public health and making sure our state is keeping up with a nicotine marketplace that has changed quickly in recent years. 

Just as important, it is about where that revenue goes. Senate Bill 6129 helps reinforce funding for foundational public health services — the core work that supports prevention, early intervention, and local health systems across Washington. Those investments matter in every community, whether it is helping reduce youth nicotine use, strengthening long-term health outcomes, or ensuring public health agencies have the resources needed to respond when challenges arise. 

When we prioritize stable public health funding, we are making a choice to protect people before problems become crises and to build a healthier future for Washington. 

 

Image Credit: The Everett Herald

WHAT WE’RE HEARING FROM YOU 

In communities across Washington — including right here in our district — I have heard growing concerns about automatic license plate reader cameras, including Flock cameras, and how the data collected through these systems is stored, accessed, and shared. People want safety, but they also want clear rules and real safeguards around powerful surveillance technology. 

Senate Bill 6002 is one of the proposals before the Legislature that would establish statewide regulations for these cameras. The bill does not ban them, and it recognizes that law enforcement should be able to use tools that help solve crimes. But right now, Washington does not have clear laws on the books governing how this data is handled, and that gap has raised real questions in our communities. 

In recent months, news reports and research have highlighted concerns about ALPR data being accessed and shared in ways many Washingtonians do not support — including use by immigration enforcement — as well as broader concerns about transparency, security, and misuse. There have also been troubling examples nationally of this kind of data being used to target people seeking reproductive health care or to stalk private citizens. 

As this conversation continues, I am focused on making sure we get the balance right: supporting public safety while putting strong guardrails in place to prevent misuse, protect privacy, and ensure these tools align with Washington’s values. 

WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT 

In early 2023, we launched the Working Families Tax Credit. Since then, it has provided refunds to hundreds of thousands of Washington households statewide. Applications for the 2025 cycle open on Feb. 1 and are available through the end of the calendar year. To check if you are eligible for the rebate of up to $1,330, click here. Plus, you can still apply for the 2022, 2023, or 2024 tax year. 

STAY IN TOUCH  

Staying connected with the people I represent is one of the most important parts of this job. Your insights and feedback help shape the work we do in Olympia, and I value the conversations we have — whether it’s over email, on the phone, or in person. I encourage you to reach out, follow along for updates, and stay engaged in the legislative process. 

Sincerely,   

 

Sen. June Robinson