Kirkland adopts 2026 legislative agenda, adds contingent homelessness item

Kirkland’s City Council unanimously approved its 2026 state legislative agenda on Nov. 18, adding a conditional amendment to include the city’s Homelessness Continuum of Care Action Plan if that plan is adopted by council in December or January.

Adrianna Campbell, interim government affairs manager, summarized updates to the draft agenda and said it included new monitoring language for education and additions such as Cascadia College and the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce under other issue areas. Mayor Kelly Curtis moved an amendment to add the homeless continuum plan to the list of general principles “if the council adopts the homeless continuum of care action plan in December or January,” she said, and urged that it be added now so staff and legislators can incorporate the plan in forthcoming meetings with state lawmakers.

Council debated whether the amendment should take effect automatically if the action plan passes, and members confirmed the intent was to make the addition contingent on formal adoption of the homeless plan. The motion to amend carried, and the full agenda — as amended — was adopted by a unanimous voice vote.

Campbell said the agenda will guide council and staff engagement through the upcoming legislative session and listed timing items including the first legislative‑delegation coffees and a Dec. 9 follow‑up meeting for final documents.

The council also briefly discussed and authorized staff to submit a sign‑on letter supporting a regional request for state funding to modernize the mybuildingpermit.com permitting platform; that sign‑on and related direction were moved and approved during the same meeting.

The legislative agenda now stands as council guidance for state lobbying efforts in early 2026, with the homelessness continuum item to be formally added if and when the council adopts the action plan in the coming weeks.