Pierce County adopts 2026 state legislative priorities after amendments on bridges, policing and childcare

Pierce County’s Council on Oct. 21 adopted a resolution (R2025‑211S) setting the county’s state legislative priorities for the 2026 session, a short 60‑day session. Council members said the package will guide the county executive and government relations team on funding requests and legislative positions for the coming year.

The 26‑statement agenda centers on five focus areas including local government funding, indigent defense caseload standards, behavioral health needs, justice services resources and homelessness responses. Council members moved four floor amendments during debate. The council adopted changes adding Fox Island Bridge as an example of aging bridge infrastructure in need of state assistance and adding a new item asking the state to evaluate how in‑state recruitment and retention bonuses affect certified law enforcement staffing, local shortages, and taxpayer investments in training. A rewording to strengthen an existing childcare expansion priority was also adopted.

One proposed amendment to remove county support for a draft state bill that would enable a local short‑term rental tax (up to 4%) failed on the floor after members voiced split views. Supporters of removing the priority argued short‑term‑rental operators are legitimate small businesses and that adding a tax could harm them and local tourism; opponents said short‑term rentals can affect housing affordability and that a short‑term rental tax could fund housing programs and enforcement costs. The amendment failed on a 4‑nay, 3‑aye outcome in committee floor votes and the item remained in the adopted priorities package.

Council staff and the county’s government relations team walked members through Exhibit A in the packet, which attaches funding magnitudes where appropriate (for example, a $50 million estimate attached to bridge funding needs was described as a magnitude estimate informed by prior requests). Staff said the priorities package had been reviewed by the Rules and Operations Committee and that the administration’s government‑relations staff will work the priorities during the 2026 session.

The council adopted R2025‑211S as amended by unanimous roll call (7–0). The adopted priorities now direct the county’s legislative engagement for the coming session.

The resolution was adopted on a unanimous roll call and will be used by county departments and the government‑relations team to track and advocate county priorities during the 2026 legislative session.