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Covington lobbyist briefs council on 2026 session: modest wins, funding for aquatic center liner
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Summary
Emily Shea told the Covington council that the 2026 state session produced a supplemental budget with transport and capital grants; Covington secured $375,000 toward an aquatic center liner replacement and the legislature adopted modest local tax-authority measures that could benefit cities.
Covington — During the April 14 meeting the city’s contract lobbyist, Emily Shea of Gordon Thomas Honeywell government relations, delivered an end‑of‑session summary outlining statewide outcomes and what they mean for Covington.
Shea said the 2026 session was a short, 60‑day biennial session that finalized supplemental operating, transportation and capital budgets. She flagged several statewide totals — an operating budget figure and transportation and capital budget comparisons — and summarized that the supplemental package added $40 million to WSDOT’s Highway Maintenance Program and $300 million for the Highway Preservation Program. "The supplemental transportation budget retains all the funding for SR 18 and the new timeline needed for washout to complete the project," she told the council, highlighting the city’s priority to protect the SR‑18 widening and safety project timeline.
Shea also said Covington’s capital request for a failing aquatic center liner was included in the final budget at the senate appropriation level; "the city did secure the necessary funds, the 375, that will go towards that full replacement of the liner," she said. Shea summarized other bills that passed or failed of interest to cities (including the failure of House Bill 2489 and the passage of measures expanding limited local tax authority). She recommended the city continue outreach to its legislative delegation and noted that Association of Washington Cities work on priorities will continue in May.
Council thanked Shea for the report and for advocacy on the city’s behalf. Shea said next steps include distributing a comprehensive written end‑of‑session report and starting to develop the 2027–2029 priorities.
What’s next: Staff and the city’s legislative advocates will follow up with monthly briefings and continue to refine the city’s 2027 priorities ahead of the next, longer legislative session.
