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Consultant outlines College Place priorities for 2026 Washington legislative session, urges caution on operating money
Summary
State legislative consultant Brian Enslow briefed the council on fiscal constraints heading into the 2026 session, recommended continued emphasis on capital requests and liability/unfunded-mandate protections, and said it is still possible to add a lobby item to simplify UGA rules for Eastern Washington.
Brian Enslow, the city’s state legislative consultant, told the council on Oct. 7 that the 2026 Washington Legislature faces revenue uncertainty and that College Place’s best prospects for state support are likely to be capital and targeted grant requests rather than major new operating programs.
Enslow said the state general fund outlook was uncertain, and that cascading responsibilities — federal to state, state to local — could increase pressure on local budgets. He recommended prioritizing capital requests that are “earmarkable” and protecting the city from new unfunded mandates.
“We have to look really long and hard at unfunded mandates,” Enslow said, describing court caseload standards, stormwater rulemaking and other state requirements as potential cost drivers for cities.
Recommended agenda items and process
Enslow presented a draft of the city’s proposed 2026 principles and project requests, including transportation and capital items previously considered by council staff. He said some issues that drew statewide attention last year will reappear, such as the debate over rules for use of public property and other housing-related bills, and he advised the council to watch related rulemaking and funding tradeoffs.
Council members asked whether the city could add a new priority this year to seek legislative changes to how Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) are applied in Eastern Washington; Enslow said it was not too late and that he and city staff would incorporate an item if the council and planning staff endorsed it. “It is not too late from my timeline,” he said.
Capital-focused advice
Enslow said capital budgets often remain the best avenue for specific local projects because members can request appropriations and there is typically some opportunity for projects to be included. He suggested the council and staff finalize a prioritized capital list and confirmed his office will continue working with city staff to refine language and pursue federal and state avenues.
Next steps
Enslow said he would take council feedback, update the draft legislative agenda and return a final document for council approval; he also noted that the agenda is intended as a guide and that ad-hoc opportunities sometimes arise during the session.
