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Washington State Senate adopts supplemental operating budget after split floor debate
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Summary
On March 12, 2026, the Washington State Senate adopted the conference committee report and gave final passage to Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,998, a supplemental operating budget that its supporters said protects health care and education while critics warned it relies on one-time reserves; the bill passed 28–21.
The Washington State Senate on March 12 adopted the conference committee report on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,998 and gave the bill final passage after floor debate and a roll-call vote that produced 28 ayes and 21 nays. The presiding officer declared a constitutional majority and the bill passed. The title will be the title of the act.
Senator Robinson, who moved adoption of the conference committee report, described the measure as a negotiated supplemental operating budget that reflects work between the House and Senate and aims to protect health care, long-term care, behavioral health, K–12 education and other core services. "The supplemental operating budget agreement reflects a lot of work between the House and the Senate," Robinson said, and called the package the "best effort at this time to respond to the challenging challenges before us."
Senator Gildan urged a no vote and criticized specific elements of the package, citing a proposed $230 million working families tax credit and what he described as an $880 million draw from the budget stabilization account. "I don't think that it is the intention of the budget writers to provide tax incentives or tax credits to people who earn north of $100,000," Gildan said, and warned the budget could be "underwater by July or September" and projected to be $878,000,000 underwater by 2028.
Other senators defended the agreement. "These are very challenging budget times," said Senator Conway, who urged support and described the budget as a responsible response to fiscal pressures that preserves services and investments. Senator Schoessler pressed revenue assumptions and historical comparisons, saying the current moment is serious but disputing the characterization that it is the most challenging budget in decades.
After debate, the secretary called the roll for final passage; the presiding officer announced 28 ayes and 21 nays and declared the bill passed. The conference committee report had been transmitted by the House indicating the bill was passed as recommended by the conference committee.
The passage sends the supplemental operating budget forward as the chamber prepares to conclude the regular session and carry out implementation steps required by the statute. The Senate then continued consideration of related measures and later adjourned sine die.