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Bonney Lake reviews 2026 legislative priorities amid PRA and indigent defense concerns
Summary
City staff presented a 2026 legislative packet for City Action Days that highlights automated license plate readers and Public Records Act reform, a request to protect $75M in the Public Works Assistance Account, Growth Management Act changes, Climate Commitment Act funding requests (including $1.2M to ASCA), and concerns that new indigent‑defense caseload standards could sharply increase municipal costs.
Bonney Lake staff presented the city's 2026 legislative priorities packet Jan. 20 ahead of Association of Washington Cities (AWC) City Action Days. The packet includes positions and letters on automated license plate readers (ALPRs), Public Records Act (PRA) policy, the Public Works Assistance Account, Growth Management Act reform, Climate Commitment Act funding for local resilience projects, and indigent defense standards.
Staff said the ALPR item and PRA concerns were developed with input from the police chief and the city attorney and that the city has drafted letters outlining its positions for the delegation. The staff summary also notes concern about the “monetary weaponization” of PRA requests and highlights model‑rule comments the city submitted to the attorney general’s office. “That bill…would have really addressed a lot of the monetization and weaponization of the Public Records Act by these professional requesters who really don't care about having the records,” a staff presenter said while summarizing past legislative efforts that failed to pass.
The packet calls out a proposed gubernatorial budget sweep of $75,000,000 from the Public Works Assistance Account, which staff said they oppose because the account funds local infrastructure grants. The packet also urges Growth Management Act reform to restore local decision‑making and lists a Climate Commitment Act funding request—cited in council discussion as a $1,200,000 request to the Alliance for Sustainable Climate Action (ASCA), with roughly $519,904 earmarked for two limited‑duration staff positions hosted by Pierce County’s Office of Resilience and Climate Change.
City legal counsel described concerns about proposed Washington Supreme Court or attorney regulatory changes to indigent defense standards that would lower caseload floors for public defenders; counsel said the changes could require many more defense attorneys and dramatically increase per‑case costs for cities.
Council members discussed outreach to legislators; staff confirmed meetings with Representative Stokesberry, Representative Penner and Senator Fortunato during City Action Days and said printed and emailed handouts will be available. Staff also recommended council members use AWC’s bill tracker to monitor specific bills and public hearings. No formal legislative endorsements were taken during the workshop; staff said the packets and letters will be used during meetings with the delegation.
