Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Federal Way lawmakers tout 2026 session wins, explain "millionaire's tax" provisions
Summary
State Sen. Claire Wilson and Rep. Jamila Taylor told the Federal Way City Council that a short 2026 session produced targeted wins — restored crime victim funding, expanded Working Families Tax Credit, and child-care investments — while acknowledging budget constraints and ongoing legal and implementation questions about the proposed millionaire’s tax.
State Sen. Claire Wilson and Rep. Jamila Taylor summarized outcomes of the short 2026 legislative session Monday night at the Federal Way City Council.
Wilson, chair of the Senate human services committee, said the 60-day session meant many bills did not clear the process but that the delegation secured restores and targeted investments the city requested. "The governor had proposed $12 million [for crime victim services], which was a significant cut. We were able to restore it to $20 million," Wilson said, framing that restoration as a priority for victims’ services.
The lawmakers described the three-part approach to the proposal widely called the "millionaire’s tax": state-level progressive tax reform, an initiative route that would allow voters to approve the policy, and an expected legal review. Wilson said the package also includes expansions of the Working Families Tax Credit and several consumer protections, including elimination of sales tax on essentials such as diapers and over-the-counter medications.
"Approximately 80 individuals in the 30th legislative district would be affected," Wilson added, addressing local concerns about who would pay under the proposal.
Taylor and Wilson highlighted child-care and early-learning investments: the Legislature preserved the Working Connections subsidy from proposed cuts and advanced a Balmer Pre-K Promise concept — a $1.7 billion, 10‑year plan to add seats in the state-funded pre-K program. They also noted federal changes (SNAP, Medicaid) and other trends that complicate state budgeting for basic needs.
Council members used the presentation to press on indigent defense and court-unification matters, areas the lawmakers said will need additional work in the coming year. "Indigent defense continues to be a priority and a concern in Washington state," Wilson said, describing recruitment challenges and the prospect of growing costs to cities and counties.
Why it matters: The report maps the state-level trade-offs council members can expect to see in municipal budgets and services. Funding restorations like crime victim services and early-learning grants can translate to local program capacity, while choices about new statewide taxes and legal challenges could have flow‑through effects for city revenues and residents’ pocketbooks.
What’s next: Wilson and Taylor said many issues deferred by the short session will be revisited in a longer 2027 session. The council requested more detail about the millionaire’s tax amendments and asked staff to follow up on how sales‑tax changes could affect city revenue streams.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 231, topfinish SEG 771.
