Leavenworth outlines 2026 state legislative priorities, prioritizes home rule
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Summary
City staff presented a draft 2026 state legislative agenda emphasizing home rule, monitoring countywide sales tax proposals and property valuation caps, and supporting water planning, housing incentives and local behavioral health; commissioners asked staff to track earnings‑tax proposals and keep elections nonpartisan in odd years on the agenda.
City staff used the study session to run through a draft state legislative agenda for 2026, telling commissioners that defending home rule remains the city's top priority and asking for direction on several state policy items.
Staff described how some recent and potential state actions could limit municipal authority and said the commissioners present generally supported taking a strong position in favor of home rule. Staff identified countywide sales/use tax proposals and property valuation cap discussions as items to monitor, and commissioners asked staff to adopt cautious language that recognizes tradeoffs.
Other items the draft agenda includes are water‑supply and wastewater planning, housing tools and redevelopment incentives, and strengthening local mental/behavioral health response systems. Staff noted the city often provides county‑level services for mental health and homelessness and asked for state partnership and support.
Commissioners discussed election timing and nonpartisan status, with several members favoring keeping local elections nonpartisan and held in odd‑numbered years to limit Hatch Act impacts on city employees and to preserve voter turnout considerations. Staff also raised an earnings‑tax proposal being discussed at the state level and asked whether commissioners wanted staff to monitor and report back if the issue gained traction; commissioners said to track it with input from the League of Municipalities.
Staff agreed to follow up on items that required more detail and to refine the draft language before formalizing the city's legislative packet.
