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Vancouver staff propose 2026 state legislative agenda: childcare, annexation tools, lodging-tax authority and public-safety provisions
Summary
Assistant City Manager Aaron Landy presented staff'recommended priorities for the city's 2026 state legislative agenda: include childcare under economic opportunity, tools to facilitate annexation and UGA standards, continued funding pursuit for a Southwest Washington training facility, increased lodging-tax authority, and Transportation Benefit
Assistant City Manager Aaron Landy presented the draft 2026 state legislative agenda to the Vancouver City Council on Oct. 20 and asked the council to prioritize staff'recommended action items for a short-session cycle.
Landry (sic) recommended a narrowly focused set of action asks for the short session: (1) tools to facilitate annexation, including potential financial incentives and regulatory changes; (2) a continued budget request for planning dollars for a Southwest Washington training facility; (3) an increase in lodging-tax authority to expand local options for funding projects such as a performing-arts center; and (4) Transportation Benefit District authority to enable additional local transportation revenue. He also proposed including childcare in the agenda—framed under economic opportunity and human needs—so the city can advocate for workforce and family-support policies.
Councilors asked to add further items and refine language. Councilor Stober asked that the agenda include improved transparency from the state's Labor & Industries on contractors with pending cases, noting staff needs that information when reviewing city contracts. Councilor Hansen and others raised proposals under "safe and prepared communities" that would ask the state to prohibit law-enforcement personnel from wearing face coverings during routine enforcement activities except for SWAT or covert operations, invest in trauma-informed supports for youth and families affected by enforcement actions, and seek statutory protections to limit immigration-enforcement actions in public facilities without a signed judicial warrant.
Council members asked staff to consult the police chief and other public-safety partners before finalizing proposals that could change local responsibilities or create unfunded mandates. The sheriff offered assistance with materials for the Southwest Washington training facility request.
Council did not adopt the agenda at the meeting; members signaled general support for staff'recommended items but asked for clarified wording, fiscal implications and confirmation from the police chief on operational impacts before returning with a final draft for approval.
