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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we enter the final three weeks of the 2026 legislative session, I want to give you a brief update on the session so far, including specific bill information I think you’ll find interesting. There are also several issues that need your input and an opportunity to join us for 7th Legislative District Telephone Town Hall. Read on for information!
How many bills are introduced during a “short” 60-day session?
You may be surprised at how many bills are introduced during a short, 60-day session. In odd-numbered years, the 105-day sessions are when the Legislature writes a two-year operating budget and introduces, debates, amends, and eventually passes large policy changes that significantly chart the future of our state.
But we are a part-time Legislature. The 60-day sessions are typically designed for budget tweaks in a “supplemental budget,” small alterations to new policies that need to be adjusted after seeing how they’ve been implemented, or changes to existing law that need to be altered for a variety of reasons. Lately, however, short sessions are being treated as an opportunity to expand the size and scope of government as the ruling party in Olympia has unfettered power in the Legislature and the Governor’s Mansion.
In the minority party, it is our job to represent the various – and oftentimes, OPPOSING – viewpoints of a majority of our constituents. This often leads to confrontation and serious parliamentary efforts to either amend bad bills to make them better or kill the really bad ones altogether. It is important to note, however, with the near-supermajorities Democrats currently have in Olympia in both chambers, they do have the power to get any bill across the finish line at any time they want. In some cases, it’s our job to make it as hard as possible and to outthink, outmaneuver, and outwork the majority party.
For a detailed look at the bills introduced this year, including bills killed, amendments offered, and a historical context, you can access our “Battle Damage Assessment” here.
Sign in to support my license plate bill
House Bill 2114 is a constituent bill that would reduce or eliminate fees when vehicle license plates have the paint peel in their first 5 years. This is a major issue in eastern WA that has been happening more and more in the past several years and it’s just common sense that when the state sells a defective product they are expected to make it right. My bill passed the House unanimously and has a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, Feb. 23, at 4:00 p.m. You can sign in to testify, submit written testimony, or simply register your support for my bill here.
I am opposed to this bad law enforcement bill
Senate Bill 5974 would allow unelected bureaucrats to potentially remove a duly elected county sheriff without further voter input. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 23, at 1:30 p.m. in the House Community Safety Committee. I urge you to submit written testimony or sign in as “opposed” to this unconstitutional law by going here.
In a nutshell, this bill:
- Disqualifies sheriff candidates from appearing on the ballot unless they are deemed “suitable for employment” by the Governor-appointed Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and by meeting statutory requirements.
- Is undemocratic and unconstitutional under Article 1, Section 19 of the Washington State Constitution which guarantees the right to free and equal elections.
- Gives power to the unelected Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify and remove an elected sheriff from office for many reasons, notably speech.
- Is undemocratic and unconstitutional under Article 1, Section 33 of the Washington State Constitution which guarantees that only citizens may remove a person from office through the official recall process.
- Compromises law enforcement capabilities and public safety by restricting the roles of volunteers, youth cadets, and specially commissioned peace officers.
- Allows housing male and female inmates in the same jail cell.
Again, you can let your voice be heard here. We need as much community support as possible. Don’t let them steal your county sheriff!
Sign in against the Democrats’ attempt to impose a state income tax on so-called “high earners”
As Rep. Hunter Abell and I previously stated in our recent ***Action Alert*** the Democrat bill (Senate Bill 6346) to impose a state income tax on so-called “high earners” is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 8:00 a.m. in the House Finance Committee. You can weigh in on this bad policy here.
More than 61,000 citizens officially signed in as “opposed” when the bill had a hearing in the Senate. Those numbers are even higher for the public hearing in the House. I urge you to let your voice be heard. I am absolutely convinced – and Democrat leaders have all but admitted – that a “millionaire’s tax today, will be on all of us tomorrow.”
7th Legislative District Telephone Town Hall
Please join us for our annual 7th Legislative District Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6:00 p.m. We will send calls out right before the event, but if you don’t get a call, or want to be sure you can participate, you can call (509) 404-3050 any time after 5:45 p.m. on that day. You can listen to our community conversation, ask questions, and take part in our surveys. These telephone town halls are a great opportunity for us to hear from you on the issues that are impacting you and your family. Your feedback helps us serve you better in Olympia. I hope you can join us!
Sincerely,
Andrew Engell
