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Bellingham council adopts 2026 state legislative agenda, seeks funding for municipal court and day shelter planning
Summary
The council unanimously approved the city’s 2026 state legislative agenda, prioritizing funding for renovation of the Bellingham Municipal Court, day-shelter feasibility and operations for unsheltered people, MTCA-related Bay cleanup grants, housing access, and infrastructure needs.
The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 5 to adopt the city’s 2026 state legislative agenda, which the mayor’s office and the city’s Olympia lobbyists presented for council direction.
Key priorities on the agenda include seeking funding to support renovation of the historic federal courthouse to house the Bellingham Municipal Court, planning and operational support for day-shelter facilities for unsheltered residents, preservation of Bellingham Bay cleanup grants through MTCA funding, efforts to improve access to housing and address vacant buildings, and monitoring transportation, utility and health-care access measures. Mayor Lund said the agenda contains both city-specific requests and items the city will monitor in partnership with Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham.
The presentation was prepared by the city’s government relations staff and updated materials are posted on the City of Bellingham website on the state government relations page. The council moved and seconded approval of the legislative agenda and recorded a unanimous vote, 7-0.
Council members emphasized the short timeline of the legislative session and the need to prioritize items the city can realistically advance in Olympia this year.
