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Staff outlines 2025 Washington legislative session outcomes and items for Pullman’s 2026 agenda
Summary
City staff summarized key 2025 state legislation and budget outcomes that could affect Pullman — including housing preemptions, a 6¢ gas-tax increase, recycling reform, childcare and land-use changes — and outlined next steps to draft the city's 2026 legislative agenda.
City staff briefed the council on outcomes from the 2025 Washington State Legislature and flagged bills and budget issues that could affect Pullman as the city prepares a 2026 legislative agenda.
Staff said the 2025 session was long (105 days) and focused on closing a projected multi‑year revenue shortfall. Notable enacted changes that staff identified as relevant to municipal governments and Pullman include: a state preemption on certain on‑site parking requirements for cities with populations over 30,000 (reducing local flexibility where applicable); a 6¢ per gallon gas‑tax increase aimed at transportation funding; and a statewide recycling reform act that standardizes labeling and assigns new responsibilities for residential paper and packaging collection. Staff also noted bills that failed to pass but remain active for 2026, including proposals affecting emergency shelter ordinances and public camping rules.
Land‑use items highlighted: new state direction on lot splitting and childcare‑related zoning flexibility (changes to where childcare centers may be allowed and to occupancy calculations); authorization for certain electric security fences (with potential local regulatory options); and updated historic‑designation consent language. On public safety and criminal justice, staff flagged an increased cost exposure for municipalities tied to changes in public defense workloads driven by state court guidance on caseload limits and noted a councilmanic 0.1% sales tax option for criminal justice purposes now available to cities.
Staff emphasized that 2025 was primarily a maintenance‑level budgeting year: the legislature faced a multi‑billion dollar shortfall and worked to prioritize operating maintenance over program expansions. Staff said one notable proposal that did not pass was a property‑tax levy-limit change (governor signaled opposition), and several proposals will carry into the 2026 60‑day session. The city will convene council workshops this fall to set Pullman’s 2026 legislative priorities and arrange meetings with state legislators.
