Dear friends and neighbors,
As the session moves into its next phase, I want to share an update on the work underway in Olympia, including efforts to strengthen state-local partnerships, where budget work stands, and how your feedback continues to shape the priorities I’m advancing for our community.
STRENGTHENING STATE-LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
Government works best when it’s collaborative — when the state sets clear policy and local governments have the tools and flexibility to meet the needs of their communities. In Snohomish County, housing stability and emergency services depend on strong coordination across all levels of government and a shared commitment to making systems work in real life, not just on paper.
This session, I’m co-sponsoring legislation that strengthens those partnerships. Senate Bill 6027 updates existing housing tools so cities and counties can better maintain affordable housing, support permanent supportive housing, and protect investments we’ve already made as costs rise. These changes help ensure state housing dollars are used effectively on the ground and continue serving people who need them most.
I’m also supporting Senate Bill 6037, which emphasizes collaboration between cities, labor, hospitals, and local stakeholders when forming fire protection districts. It gives communities more practical options to sustain fire and emergency medical services while keeping decision-making transparent and locally accountable.
Together, these bills, which both passed the Ways & Means Committee, reflect a simple principle: strong outcomes come from shared responsibility, local expertise, and partnerships built to last.
COMING UP NEXT
Ways & Means has passed its fiscal cutoff for Senate bills, marking an important transition in the legislative process. Senate bills with a fiscal impact that moved out of committee by the deadline remain eligible to advance this session. Some Senate bills were not subject to fiscal cutoff because they are necessary to implement the budget, meaning they directly affect state revenue or spending authority and move alongside the budget itself.
Over the past week, the Senate has spent more time on the floor debating and passing the bills that advanced out of committee ahead of the cutoff, and that floor work will continue early into next week. At the same time, we continue to be in the budget-writing phase, working through priorities and fiscal constraints to develop our Senate operating budget proposal. It is expected to be released in the coming weeks, and I’ll share more details in future e-newsletters.
WHAT WE’RE HEARING FROM YOU
For years, constituents across Snohomish County have shared that the cost of health care is one of the biggest pressures on household budgets. In a recent survey I sent to the district, many of you again raised health care costs as a top affordability concern — reinforcing what I’ve heard throughout my legislative career.
Health care affordability has long been a priority for me, which is why I voted yes on Senate Bill 5993 on the Senate floor. The bill builds on Washington’s ongoing work to address medical debt by lowering the interest rate on new medical debt to 1% and stopping interest from accruing while patients are still being screened for charity care. It also requires refunds when medical debt is later reduced or found to be invalid, helping protect families from unnecessary financial strain.
This legislation follows important progress made last year, when I co-sponsored a bill that is now law prohibiting medical debt from being reported to credit bureaus and strengthening consumer protections around medical billing. Senate Bill 5993 is now under consideration in the House, continuing the state’s work to reduce the harm medical debt can cause for families in our district.
SAVE THE DATE
Please join Reps. Mary Fosse and Julio Cortes and me for our telephone town hall from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24! We will share an update on our work here in Olympia and answer any questions you might have about the 2026 session.
The call will go out to constituents across the 38th Legislative District. If you do not receive one, you can still participate by dialing 855-756-7520 and using extension 130180#.
I hope to hear from you then!
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
