Dear friends and neighbors,  

As the 2026 legislative session approaches, I hope you will continue sharing the issues that matter most to you and your family. Your input guides my work in Olympia.  

My seatmates and I are hosting a drop-in coffee chat this Sunday at the Bothell Library Meeting Room (18215 98th Avenue NE, Bothell) from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. This is an informal opportunity for us to hear your questions, concerns, and ideas for how we can better serve our community. I hope to see you there!

This session will be another challenging one, as we confront the fallout from the federal administration’s cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in H.R. 1 (the “One Big Beautiful Bill”). These cuts have real consequences for families across our state at a time when many people are already struggling to make ends meet. We will work hard to protect access to health care, food assistance, and other services people need to thrive.  

My priorities

A sustainable budget 

Responsible budgeting ensures Washington stays strong, even amid uncertainty coming from the federal government. We must stay focused on fixing our nearly century-old tax code that currently asks working and middle-income families to pay a far higher share of their income in taxes than the top 1%. Making our tax code fairer will ensure we can fund the public schools, health care, and public safety we all benefit from. 

Public school funding 

Public education allows every child to have an opportunity to succeed. In 2025, the Legislature preserved maintenance-level funding for K-12 education while making a significant new investment of more than $1 billion over the next four years for special education and the growing daily costs districts face. In addition to direct state funding, the Legislature gave school districts greater levy authority. We must work to protect these investments and live up to our constitutional duty to amply fund education for all children in Washington.  

Protecting the rights of all Washingtonians 

We will not turn our backs on the most vulnerable in the face of disturbing federal actions targeting our immigrant communities. In recent years, we’ve advanced laws that relieve local police from the burden of federal immigration enforcement, protect private health data, push back against hate, and ensure the Attorney General’s Office has the resources needed to pursue justice on behalf of all Washingtonians.  

Several proposals are already in the works to stop law enforcement from hiding their faces; make clear that ICE must have a warrant before entering non-public areas of K-12 schools, colleges and universities, daycares, and health care facilities; and to put guardrails on law enforcement’s use of automated license plate readers. From reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights to immigrant rights, we will continue fighting every day to ensure Washington remains a place of safety, opportunity, and dignity for everyone who calls it home. 

How to participate 

  • Watch your democracy in action at tvw.org 

Flood resources 

It will take time for our state to recover from this month’s devastating floods. I’m grateful to the many crews who worked around the clock to keep people informed, make rescues, and safely reopen roads. King County’s Emergency News blog has information on what to do if your home or business has damage. Snohomish County has similar information on its public safety hub flood page. More recovery and insurance guidance is available on the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s website. Additional resources can be found here.   

My office is here to help whenever you have questions or concerns. It is an honor to represent you. 

Sincerely,  

Sen. Derek Stanford