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Governor signs operating budget, touts protections while acknowledging $1B in cuts
Summary
The Presenter signed the operating budget (Senate Bill 5998), citing a multi-billion-dollar shortfall, the recently enacted "millionaire's tax" (with revenue delayed until 2029), and targeted investments including Cascade Care and Planned Parenthood funding amid agency reductions.
The Presenter signed Senate Bill 5998, the state's operating budget, and framed it as a package that preserves core services while confronting a major shortfall. The Presenter noted a prior $16,000,000,000 shortfall and said the state had returned to face another shortfall, adding that revenue from a newly passed "millionaire's tax" will not be realized until 2029.
Context and trade-offs: the Presenter said the budget "allows us to continue meeting Washingtonians' core needs while also living within the state's means," but acknowledged difficult decisions. The Presenter said agencies would take about "$1,000,000,000 in reductions" after prior cuts and pointed to program-level supports intended to mitigate federal policy impacts.
Budget specifics cited: the Presenter highlighted $55,000,000 invested in Cascade Care to help with health care premiums for low-income individuals, an increase of $30,000,000 for the State Home Energy Assistance Program, and $15,000,000 to backfill Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. The operating budget also accounts for federal changes that require new SNAP IT and administration spending (the Presenter cited figures including over $9,000,000 to implement new SNAP work requirements and $16,000,000 in related IT costs). The Presenter said the budget includes nearly $20,000,000 to cover health care for about 1,200 people who lost Medicaid eligibility after federal action.
Process and acknowledgments: the Presenter thanked sponsors including Senator June Robinson and Representative Tim Ormsby, vice chairs and budget teams, and described signing logistics (multiple pens for sponsors). The signing was ceremonial and followed by photos.
Next steps: the Presenter and sponsors said agencies must implement program-level changes and that some vetoed or deferred proposals will require additional funding before moving forward.
