San Juan County’s hired lobbyist and county staff briefed the council on June 3, 2025 about outcomes from the 2025 Washington State legislative session and potential local impacts.

Columbia Policy Advisors lobbyist Josh (last name given in staff materials) told the council the operating budget totals about $77.8 billion over the biennium and represents roughly an 8% increase with $4.4 billion in new revenues. He highlighted several measures the county tracked: House Bill 1791 provided Real Estate Excise Tax (REIT) flexibility allowing broader local use of REIT I and REIT II funds; House Bill 2015 created a Criminal Justice Training Commission grant program for local public safety and a new local option sales tax for public‑safety purposes; and transportation funding increased overall, including continued support for the inner‑island ferry route and the Orcas winter run. "The operating budget takes spending to $77,800,000,000 over the biennium. It was, this is an 8% increase," Josh said.

He also noted the capital budget appropriated approximately $7.6 billion and local community projects netted meaningful awards; the typical local community project in the capital budget was about $500,000. Josh said San Juan County did well in the capital budget and cited several local awards.

County manager Jessica Hudson and deputy manager Hillary Williams (and staff Tillery on public safety grants) outlined direct local impacts. County staff noted a $1.5 million award from the historic courthouse rehabilitation program to stabilize the courthouse for earthquake mitigation; the county must match and obligate those funds by June 2027 and can begin counting match dollars in 2025. Staff also flagged implementation uncertainties: the state’s distribution method for the Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) fund had not been finalized and the regional health officer program will be eliminated as of June 30; staff said the county will need interlocal and contingency plans to ensure continuous public‑health coverage.

On public safety funding, Tillery previewed that HB 2015 provides two options: (1) a CJTC‑administered grant program for a range of public safety uses, including personnel and behavioral health supports, and (2) a council‑level local option sales and use tax for public safety. "What this does is it creates new public safety funding options," Tillery said. Staff plan a July 15 briefing with the sheriff and county staff to present details and recommendation if council wishes to pursue the local option tax or apply for grants.

Staff also listed capital appropriations benefiting local actors and districts such as funding for Pea Patch community spaces, Lopez Sea‑center projects, Lopez Island Food Center, library renovations and other community facility grants; many items came through local community project requests or established state grant programs.

Outcome: informational briefing. Council asked staff to coordinate follow‑up briefings (notably July 15 on public safety grant options). Council members expressed interest in a summer/fall work session to craft the county’s 2026 legislative priorities and to align capital project requests by October.