All Ready for a Big Week!

(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)

Trivia!

Reba J. Hurn was the first woman to serve in the Washington State Senate as well as the first woman admitted to the Washington State Bar Association. Which county did she represent in the State Senate?

Highlights of the Week

Senate and House Release Respective Budget Proposals

Before we get a recap of the Senate and House budget proposals, a reminder that Start Early Washington produced a comparison of the Senate and House budget proposals. It has been updated to reflect amendments adopted in fiscal committees to Transition to Kindergarten. Feel free to bookmark as we will continue to update throughout the process. Thanks to those who provided helpful feedback – we’ve included your suggested changes.

On Sunday afternoon, the Senate released its proposed $79.3 billion supplemental budget and the House followed shortly thereafter with their $79.2 billion proposal. The Senate’s proposed budget reflects $2.3 billion in increased spending, while the House’s includes $2 billion in additional investments.

Both budgets tap into the state’s Budget Stabilization Account, with the Senate proposing a $750 million transfer and the House an $880 million transfer. As a reminder, because the state’s economic growth is less than 1%, the Legislature can accomplish that transfer by a majority vote.

Budget writers commented that last week’s positive revenue forecast eased their assignment for the moment, but caseload increases and other mandatory cost increases nearly offset these increased revenues.

Check out this recap of the budget rollout in the Washington State Standard, Additionally, you may find this Monday Senate media availability from operating budget writers informative. There were several media questions about the Senate’s approach and rationale for Working Connections Child Care attendance policy changes.

What Comes Next?

On Wednesday, the Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations Committees weighed potential amendments to their proposed budgets. These amendments ranged from technical clean-ups to legislators looking to insert investments that were excluded from the original proposal. Any adopted amendments that cost money reduce available dollars on the balance sheet.

The Senate is expected to debate and vote its budget off the Floor later today (Friday), and the House is expected to do the same on Saturday. This is another opportunity for amendments to be considered, although the majority party is often reluctant to accept amendments other than technical changes at this juncture.

From there, Senate and House budget writers will meet in “conference committee” to resolve the differences between the bodies’ approaches.

Ideally, this will all come together before the scheduled March 12 Sine Die.

Working Connections Child Care – Comparison of Senate and House Proposals

With the release of the Senate and House budgets, and with public hearings on the bills to make statutory changes to implement the new policies, there’s now a clearer sense of the direction the Senate and House are taking relating to Working Connections Child Care. And while the Senate and House proposals are quite similar, we can expect shifts as the two chambers negotiate the final approach.

Currently, the primary difference between the two bodies lies in their approach to Working Connections Child Care attendance policies and, as summarized in Start Early Washington’s budget comparison document, these differing approaches lead to varied projected savings. The Senate approach to attendance assumes savings of (-$107.17 million) for SFY 27 and the House assumes savings of (-$61.095 million) in SFY 27. Over the four-year budget outlook, that assumed savings grows to (-$426.701 million) for the House approach and (-$682.208 million) for the Senate.

Following is a comparison of the two policy bills to operationalize budget savings in Working Connections Child Care. Please note the House summary is based on the proposed substitute to HB 2689 (Gregerson) that is scheduled to be heard on Thursday, February 26. The accompanying committee materials for HB 2689 includes a fiscal impact chart prepared by committee staff.

Another note – the summary of SB 6353 (Robinson) reflects the latest version of the bill as heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on February 19. It does not reflect any amendments the Committee may be considering for adoption.

The Washington State Standard covered these proposed changes in a February 26 article.

Session Schedule Update

We are at the point in the legislative session where it feels like nearly each day brings another cutoff date. Wednesday served as the deadline for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber’s policy committee.

On Thursday, focus turned to fiscal committees as they dove into the remaining bills available for consideration in advance of the Monday, March 2 opposite chamber fiscal committee cutoff. Building on the theme of cutoff after cutoff after cutoff, next week will also bring the opposite house cutoff on Friday, March 6. Mind you that at the same time budget writers are busy negotiating final operating, capital and transportation budgets and legislative leadership is busy whipping votes on “big” bills, including the millionaire’s tax. It’s go time!

As a reminder, each Thursday, Start Early Washington updates its bill tracker with the latest information on bills we are following. If we have missed any bills of interest, please reach out and flag them for us!

Interestingly, next week brings not one, but TWO food related days. For consecutive days, the Capitol campus will be filled with the aroma and offerings of “seafood” and “beef” days. There’s probably some symbolism to be taken from that pairing…

Trivia Answer!

Senator Reba J. Hurn

1881-1967

(Photo Courtesy: Washington State Secretary of Staete)

Senator Hurn represented Spokane County during her two terms in the State Senate.

The Washington State Historical Society document “A Lady in the Senate: The Political Career of Reba Hurn” looks back at her career and features direct quotes from Hurn’s speeches as well as press coverage from her tenure in office to give us a look into what it may have been like for Hurn as the first woman to serve in that body.

Born in Iowa in 1881, Hurn attended college at Northwestern in Illinois and did graduate work at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. She received her law degree from the University of Washington and practiced law in Spokane County.

Long active in Republican politics, including work in New York on the presidential campaign of William Jennings Bryan prior to attending law school, it was not a surprise when Hurn ultimately ran for office. The question was whether she would run for the State Senate or the House of Representatives. Following is Hurn’s description of her rationale for running for the State Senate, as quoted in the Washington Historical Society document:

I have decided to run for the senate rather than the house because there have been five women elected to the house and none have been re-elected. The reason for this is plain. The woman member has been considered a curiosity, written up in papers, observed and reported on every time she raises her voice or puts on a dress. She was there for but one session and the men did not become accustomed to her presence.

In the senate it is different. The state senator serves through two sessions. Perhaps I will be a novelty for a while but by the close of the first session they will be in the habit of taking me for granted, and by the time the second session comes around I shall have a foothold and be capable of worthwhile constructive work. My handicap at the first session attended will be no greater than that of a man, as what senator takes an outstanding role at his first session?

During her first campaign, Hurn famously said, “I have no causes. I am in favor of no reforms, unless it would be enactment of fewer laws and more concentration on codifying the mass of legislation which has been piling up in this state for years.”

Saying she had no causes wasn’t entirely true. Throughout her time in elective office, she remained fiercely in favor of Prohibition, proudly declaring she was “third generation ‘dry.’” She was also tight with the purse strings and looked to avoid increased state expenditures at any opportunity.

In 1922, Hurn defeated George Belt 2,697 votes to 1,299 to begin her elective career representing the 7th Senatorial District. When she arrived in Olympia, she found she did not have anywhere to store her coat or hat as the men’s cloakroom was off-limits to women. She considered wearing her hat on the Floor, but she decided against that because she never wore a hat when she was in court. In the end, the press offered her a space in the press office for her items. Not surprisingly, the Senate did not have a woman’s restroom at that time either. Of course the Senate Cherberg Office Building referenced in a recent Trivia was not constructed in the early 1920s, so Senators did not have personal office space.

The open smoking of cigars on the Senate Floor was a practice during that era and, in recognition that a woman had joined their ranks, the male Senators added a box of candy to the regular distribution of cigars passed around among Senators on the Floor. Presumably, Senator Hurn would be included in the ritual with candy while the male Senators enjoyed a cigar? And now I’m wondering how many years it took to get the cigar smoke out of those chambers.

It was important to Senator Hurn that she not be treated differently than her male peers. During her 1926 re-election campaign Hurn was quoted as saying, “People often think of me as the woman’s senator, … as though I represented women alone. I have always considered myself as the representative of my entire district and not of its women residents only. I have always dreaded being a woman’s minority at Olympia. After all, there are no woman’s issues.”

Press coverage of Senator Hurn often included references to her attire, including this January 1925 Spokane Woman article which gave more attention to her clothing than her remarks to the Young Men’s Republican’s Club: “A new black satin gown, the skirt of which is beaded in various shades of blue which she will wear at the opening session of the legislature…. One of the chief charms of Spokane’s woman senator is that she is essentially feminine, as the wardrobe which she is taking to Olympia will attest.”

Senator Hurn did chair a committee, not surprisingly, the Senate Public Morals Committee. She was, however, not limited to the traditional “women’s issue” committees and served on the Senate Appropriations Committee where she was able to put into practice her “tighten the purse strings” positions.

In 1925, Senator Hurn took on newly elected Governor Hartley on child labor issues, siding with Congress as they were looking to regulate the labor of persons under 18 years of age. Despite having served in the Senate for two years, Hurn delivered her first floor speech on this issue, forcefully stating “… do we believe children of 14 years of age or 16 years of age ought to work in mines, mills, or factories? I don’t know how many are working in such places and I don’t care – if there is one, that is too many.” Her remarks were met with applause. Coverage of her remarks also included coverage of her clothing worn that day.

In 1930, Senator Hurn ran for her third term on the following platform: 1) continuation of Prohibition; 2) opposition to state-funded pensions because “a legislator should not be philanthropic with other people’s money; and 3) supportive of a state income tax because it is “… the only fair way to tax intangibles.”

Senator Hurn lost in the 1930 primary, largely due to the nationwide turn toward Democrats and her district’s opposition for her desire to get rid of the township system of county government. She never served in public office again, but she did return to her law practice and traveled the world extensively up until her death.

Sources

Washington Historical Society

Washington State Legislature: Political Pioneers

When trauma ripples through a community, it doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes it shows up as silence, curtains drawn, doors unopened, families staying inside, routines quietly shifting to keep people safe.

That’s what the ParentChild+ team at Start Early Washington began hearing earlier this year.

Home Visiting as Connection—and Resistance

As these stories surfaced, the ParentChild+ team asked a simple but powerful question: What can we do?

The answer wasn’t to dismiss the fear or pretend home visiting could fix everything. It was to recognize that connection itself, especially in moments like this, is powerful.

For some families, opening the door to a home visitor is an act of resistance. For others, logging into a virtual visit when it doesn’t feel safe to be seen is resistance. Choosing to read with your child. Choosing to laugh for a few minutes. Choosing to let someone in, even briefly, when the world feels hostile.

“Home visiting continuing to happen in the face of all this,” Marcella says, “that is resistance.”

ParentChild+ has always been a remedy for isolation. In this moment, that role feels even more vital. Home visitors create a trusted space where families can talk openly, ask questions, check rumors against reality, and regain a small sense of control. They help families slow down enough to think clearly when fear pushes them into fight-or-flight. They remind parents that they are still the experts on their children. And that they are not alone.

Strength Through Connection

Out of these conversations, and the weight of what the field was carrying, the Strength Through Connection campaign was born.

Pam describes it as a way to “wrap our arms around the field as they wrap their arms around families.” The campaign centers a simple truth found across cultures, faiths, and traditions: we are stronger together than we are alone.

For ParentChild+, Strength Through Connection is both message and practice. It’s a reminder that even when resources are limited, connection multiplies strength. That community care is self-care. That choosing relationship, again and again, is how families survive and heal.

Every family in ParentChild+ will receive a small but meaningful symbol of that commitment: a sticker representing a mother and child embraced by the outline of Washington state. A reminder that they belong. That they are supported. That ParentChild+ is part of their family, not just during the program, but beyond it.

Choosing Hope, Together

What stands out most in Pam and Marcella’s reflections is not only the fear—but the courage.

Families are still calling every day asking to enroll. Grandparents who once participated are reaching out for their grandchildren. Home visitors and coordinators are exhausted, afraid, and still showing up often outside work hours, to make sure families have what they need.

There is no single right way to respond to trauma. Some families say yes. Some say not right now. ParentChild+ meets them where they are without judgment, without pressure, trusting families to know what they need in each moment.

“In times when people feel powerless,” Marcella says, “community rises.”

Strength Through Connection is about honoring that truth. About naming fear without letting it win. About recognizing that in moments of opposition, resistance often looks like care. Quiet, persistent, human care.

And about believing, even now, that hope can grow when we choose to stand together.

This Black History Month, we’re celebrating the power of reading together, and the role it plays in shaping who children become. Reading with young children helps build a strong sense of identity, fosters resilience, and creates early opportunities to talk about history, fairness, and belonging. Black history is American history, and at a time when that truth is being challenged or erased, books offer families a tangible way to celebrate culture, honor lived experience and affirm pride. For ParentChild+ coordinators and home visitors, choosing books that reflect Black families, Somali families, Muslim families, and families from many cultures is a powerful way to support children in seeing themselves, and each other, as valued and worthy.

Books are a “sneaky” and powerful way to start important conversations, especially the ones families may not know how to begin. Children are already making sense of the world around them, and when stories are missing, they fill in the gaps themselves. That’s why ParentChild+ intentionally selects books using the Anti-Bias Checklist for Books for Young Readers, a resource created during COVID to guide thoughtful, inclusive choices. These carefully vetted books, written and illustrated by Black and multi-cultural authors and artists, offer multiple entry points, allowing families to engage at a depth that feels right for them. Whether sharing stories about where a family comes from, celebrating Ramadan, or honoring Black leaders and everyday Black joy, these books create safe, meaningful opportunities for children to see themselves, learn about others, and explore the world with curiosity and confidence.

When Stephen Cockrell steps into a ParentChild+ site, he doesn’t arrive as a distant national leader, he arrives curious, energized, and ready to listen.

Since joining ParentChild+ as Chief Executive Officer this past September, Stephen has been traveling to communities across the country, reconnecting with a model he first encountered in 2013 while working in Birmingham, Alabama to identify promising early learning practices. Even then, ParentChild+ stood out. The relationship-based approach and its potential for true community transformation resonated deeply. Now, more than a decade later and a father himself, Stephen says he sees his own family reflected in the work. “It feels like the next right step,” he shared.

For Holly Bamford Hunt, community isn’t an abstract idea, it’s a relationship. And relationships, she believes, begin with listening.

Raised in Tacoma, Holly grew up in a family where showing up for the community was simply part of daily life. Around the dinner table, values like service, education, and care for others weren’t debated, they were practiced. Her mother, a former teacher, volunteered extensively with organizations serving children and families, including United Way of Pierce County and CASA as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, supporting children and families involved in child welfare. Her father also gave his time through the YMCA and community programs. From an early age, Holly and her siblings were invited into that work, collecting donations, babysitting, volunteering, and learning to pay attention to what people around them needed.

Philanthropy as Partnership, Not Prescription

The Bamford Family Foundation was established in 1990 by Holly’s parents, following the success of a multigenerational family business. In its early years, grantmaking closely reflected her parents’ volunteer commitments and personal relationships across Pierce County.

As the Foundation evolved, the family came together to ask deeper questions: What do we care about most? And how do we ensure our giving reflects what the community is actually asking for?

Through that process, clear priorities emerged: access to basic needs, education across the lifespan, early childhood and caregiver support, out-of-school time, and postsecondary pathways. Underlying all of them was a shared understanding: families cannot access education or opportunity without housing, food security, health, and a sense of belonging.For Holly, stewardship of the Foundation means resisting the urge to prescribe solutions. “Many funders are looking at the landscape and saying, ‘Where are the gaps?’” she explains. “But you can’t answer that without listening to the organizations and families who live with those gaps every day.”

That belief has led the Foundation to emphasize trust-based philanthropy and prioritizing general operating support, long-term relationships, and opportunities for organizations to learn from one another. “Community organizations know what their families need,” Holly says. “Our role is to support their ability to respond.”

When Listening Turns Into Systems Change

Some of the clearest examples of community listening turning into systems change emerged during the pandemic. In Pierce County, nonprofits, school districts, parks, healthcare providers, and philanthropy came together quickly to respond to urgent needs, especially childcare for essential workers.

What stood out to Holly wasn’t just the speed of the response, but how deeply it was informed by community voices. Families, providers, and grassroots organizations identified what was missing -childcare access, diapers, safe spaces for children, and systems adapted. Emergency solutions evolved into lasting infrastructure, including expanded diaper banks and collaborative afterschool models that continue to serve families today.

“These networks didn’t just disappear,” Holly notes. “They stayed because they were built around real needs that people named themselves.”

She sees the same principle at work in rural and unincorporated parts of Pierce County, where childcare access often hinges on transportation, permitting, or facilities. Progress happens, she says, when philanthropy and systems partners take the time to understand local realities and trust communities to lead.

A Future Defined by Belonging

Looking ahead, Holly is excited about the Foundation’s continued evolution, including recent steps to eventually include community members on its board. For a geographically focused foundation, she sees this as a natural extension of listening, bringing community voices into governance, not just grantmaking.

When asked what she wishes for every baby born in 2026, her answer reflects the heart of her work:

“I want every child and the caregivers who surround them to feel completely supported to be the families they want to be,” she says. “That starts with belonging and with listening to what support actually looks like in each community.”

For Holly, thriving families are the result of systems that pay attention, adapt, and invest with humility. It’s why she believes early childhood work must always be connected to policy, advocacy, and collaboration across sectors. She notes that the foundation is grateful for organizations like Start Early Washington, who offer programs and professional development, while also leading in policy and advocacy focused on strengthening the system.

As she puts it simply, “You can’t have a thriving community unless all children are thriving.”

And thriving, she reminds us, begins by listening.

The Campus Looking Lovely on a Sunny Sunday

(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)

Trivia!

How many kinds of pollinators are on the Capitol campus?

Highlights of the Week

Revenue Forecast

On Tuesday, February 16, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council met to receive the latest Revenue Forecast from the State Economist, Dave Reich. Because we are all in need of good news, I will cut to the chase:

• The forecast of funds subject to the budget outlook for the 2025-27 biennium increased by $827 million and
• The forecast of funds subject to the budget outlook for the 2027-29 biennium increased by $1.028 billion.

Reasons for the improved economic outlook since the November 2025 forecast include improved personal income and employment. We are also starting to see revenue come into the state’s coffers from the tax policies adopted by the Legislature during the 2025 legislative session.

Forecasted total revenue for the 2025-27 biennium is projected at $75.276 billion, a 12.1% increase over the 2023-25 biennium. For the 2027-29 biennium, forecasted total revenue is expected to come in at $80.381 billion, a 6.8% increase over the 2025-27 biennium.

For the first time, we are seeing initial forecasted total revenue for the 2029-31 biennium, with revenue projected to total $86.568 billion, a 7.7% increase over the 2027-29 biennium.

Impact on State Budget Gap. My mind immediately went to the question of how much this increased revenue helps with the state’s budget gap? The short answer is that it does. But, let’s get a bit more specific.

At the December “Committee Days,” House Appropriations non-partisan staff estimated a negative Near General Fund ending fund balance for the 2025-27 biennium of -$1.519 billion (and a negative ending fund balance of -$4.3 billion for the four-year outlook). This estimate took into account Maintenance Level adjustments (the estimated budget needed to maintain current program service levels, accounting for caseload, enrollment and inflation) as well as the November 2025 Revenue Forecast.

With this positive $827.4 million revenue gain from the February 2026 Revenue Forecast, part of the budget gap shrinks to $691.6 million. Please note this number is not a complete reflection of the budget gap because it does not include increased costs associated with the February caseload forecast nor any costs associated with new policies under consideration by the Legislature this session.

A Final Note. Because our state’s employment growth remains lower than 1%, the Legislature is able to take two actions. First, they are able to draw funds from the state’s Budget Stabilization Account with a simple majority vote. Second, they are able to opt out of the four-year balanced budget requirement. Given that the state still faces a significant gap in the four-year outlook, the Legislature has the option of balancing the budget for the 2025-27 biennium only, rather than balancing through the 2027-29 biennium. This is the same approach Governor Ferguson took when he proposed his Supplemental Budget back in December.

Senate Previews Budget Approaches to Working Connections Child Care and Transition to Kindergarten

This week, Senate budget writers previewed their budget response for Working Connections Child Care and Transition to Kindergarten through introduction of SB 6353 (Robinson) and proposed amendments to SB 6260 (Wellman), respectively.

Following are summaries of key provisions of the bills:

SB 6260 (Wellman). This is a larger education related bill. The provisions related to Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) include:

• Tying state-funded TTK enrollment to funding provided in the budget;
• Basing state-funded TTK eligibility at free or reduced lunch or household income or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level; and
• Allowing schools to supplement state-funded TTK with local levy funds, tuition payments or other resources.

SB 6353 (Robinson). This bill relates to Working Connections Child Care and includes the following provisions:

• Maintains income eligibility at 60% of State Median Income, removing increasing eligibility increases provided in the out-years through the Fair Start for Kids Act.
• Changes the attendance policy for child care centers beginning October 1, 2026, and signals a change for all providers beginning July 1, 2027.
  • Under the new system, if a child attends at least one day within a 15-day period, the provider is paid for 15 days. The provider is then paid a daily payment for each additional day the child attends beyond the 15 days within a month.
  • An example: If a child attends 3 days in a month, the provider would be paid for 15 days. If a child attends 19 days in a month, the provider would be paid for 19 days.
• Signals a rebasing of all child care provider rates to the 75th percentile of market rate as of July 1, 2027. Both child care centers and family child care homes would continue to be paid at the 85th percentile of the market rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
• Makes references to the child care cost methodology statute Washington State RCW 43.216.829 to align with ESSB 5500 (Alvarado) which is working its way through the legislative process this session.
• Specifies that beginning July 1, 2026, providers may not receive a child care subsidy rate that is different than the rate for the subsidy region in which the provider is located. This impacts four counties – Benton, Clark, Walla Walla and Whitman.
• Specifies the scope of Family Child Care bargaining. (See the bill for a specific list).
• Repeals authority for prospective payments.
• Contains an emergency clause which would make the act take effect upon the Governor’s signature.

Both bills had public hearings in the Senate Ways and Means Committee last night, February 19. Because they are Necessary to Implement the Budget, or NTIB, they are not subject to cutoff deadlines. As of this writing, fiscal notes are not available. I would expect to see cost details when the Senate operating budget is released.

House of Origin Cutoff Was on Tuesday – “5:00 Bills”?

Good thing I’m not a gambler because last week I incorrectly guessed the Senate’s “5:00 bill” on the House of Origin Cutoff would be ESSB 6346 (Pedersen), the “Millionaire’s Tax.” Instead, the Senate ran ESSB 6346 on Monday, February 16. And, after lengthy debate, the Senate passed ESSB 6346 by a 27-22 vote, with three Democrats (Senators Cortes, Krishnadasan and Hansen) joining the Senate Republican Caucus in opposing the bill.

Bill proponents spoke to the state’s antiquated tax code; the need to fully fund core services such as health care, education and child care; and support from constituents for this action. It is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on February 24 and executive session (vote) on February 27.

As noted in last week’s newsletter, legislative leadership often schedules controversial bills to run as the “5:00 bills” because if debate starts prior to the clock striking 5:00 p.m., it can go on all night. This year, the “5:00 bill” in the Senate was SB 5360 (Trudeau) relating to environmental crimes, and the House’s “5:00 bill” was HB 2389 (Cortes) relating to Juvenile Rehabilitation.

Both chambers experienced some amount of drama with Senate Minority Floor Leader Shelly Short successfully deploying a parliamentary procedure close enough to the 5:00 hour requiring the clerk to read aloud a bill in its entirety. This action ate up time, preventing the Senate from taking up several bills. The Senate then went “at ease” for a few hours to figure out if they could return to consider the other bills they had hoped to get to prior to their 5:00 bill. Later in the evening, Senate Majority Floor Leader Marcus Riccelli returned to the Floor to formally adjourn the body without further action or debate.

Over in the House, there had been hallway chatter throughout the day as to whether HB 2389 would be the “5:00 bill” given questions over whether the bill had sufficient support for passage. Immediately after taking the bill up prior to 5:00 p.m., the House Democrats and Republicans went to their respective caucuses where they stayed for hours. Somewhere after 7:00 p.m., House Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore Clyde Shavers returned to the rostrum to adjourn the House. The body never debated nor voted on HB 2389.

Move over Shrinking and The Pitt, the real drama is in the Legislative Building.

Quick Trip Back to Policy Committees – This Time in the Other Chamber

During a short session, there’s barely time to take a breath before the next cutoff is bearing down. Following the Tuesday House of Origin cutoff, policy committees returned to action first thing Wednesday morning to consider bills passed by the opposing chamber.

In recognition that the number of bills still in play is waning, the Policy Committee Cutoff in the Opposite Chamber will come quickly – next Wednesday, February 25.

This is where it comes in handy to have a “companion bill” in the opposite chamber as it increases the odds the opposing policy committee has already considered the merits and arguments for the bill. I’m working on a bill that was able to skip a public hearing in the opposing chamber and went directly to executive session for consideration because that policy committee already heard and voted to approve the House bill’s Senate companion. Having that ability to “Skip Go and Collect $200” is a benefit in a short session.

As a reminder, each Thursday, Start Early Washington updates its bill tracker with the latest information on bills we are following. If we have missed any bills of interest, please reach out and flag them for us!

What’s on Deck for Next Week?

House and Senate Budget Releases

In addition to the various free food days, budget release days are the most highly anticipated days in Olympia. We do expect the Senate and House to both release their Operating budget proposals later in the afternoon on Sunday, February 22. (This place really has no sense of boundaries of work/life balance, I tell you!). We expect the Capital budget proposals to be released the day after.

Both The Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations Committees will hold public hearings to receive public feedback on their Operating Budget proposals on Monday, February 23 starting at 4 p.m.

Start Early Washington plans to release a special edition of Notes From Olympia early next week containing our analysis of the Senate and House approaches to early learning in the Operating and Capital budgets. Keep a lookout for an email containing this information.

Opposite Chamber Policy Cutoff & Fast Fiscal Review

Despite the focus on the Senate and House budget releases, work continues on bills.

As mentioned above, the Policy Committee Cutoff in the Opposite Chamber is next Wednesday, February 25. From there, the Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations Committees will do a final review and vote on bills with fiscal impacts prior to the March 2 Opposite Chamber Fiscal Committee Cutoff. Phew!!

A Quick Look at Upcoming Key Dates*

• February 22: Public Release of Senate and House Operating Budgets
• February 23: Public Hearing on Senate and House Operating Budgets/Public Release of Senate and House Capital Budgets
• February 24: Public Hearing on Senate and House Capital Budgets
• February 25: Opposite Chamber Policy Committee Cutoff/Executive Action on Senate and House Operating Budgets
• February 26: Executive Action on Senate and House Capital Budgets
• February 27: Floor Action on Senate Operating Budget
• February 28: Floor Action on House Operating Budget
• March 2: Opposite Chamber Fiscal Committee Cutoff
• March 6: Opposite House Cutoff (Deadline for non-NTIB bills to pass out of opposite Chamber)
• March 12: SINE DIE!

*Budget dates are subject to change

Dairy Day Does Not Disappoint

Thanks for the Post Cutoff Pick Me Up!

(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)

Trivia Answer!

There are at least 7 different kinds of pollinators on campus. Yes, pollinators, not polluters. Polluters put harmful substances into the environment, especially the air and water. Pollinators on the other hand are critters and insects that carry pollen from one plant to another.

Atop the Plaza Garage on the East side of the Capitol Campus you will find a garden full of pollinator-attracting plants that sustain the various fauna that visit our campus and support our ecosystem. The beautiful and useful Pollinator Garden was created in 2023 in partnership between the Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Woodland Park Zoo, and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

View of the Legislative Building from the Pollinator Garden

(Photo Courtesy: Washington Department of Enterprise Services)

The seven kinds of pollinators that visit our Capitol Campus, and are the main patrons of the Pollinator Garden, include butterflies, honey and bumble bees, hummingbirds, moths, beetles, flies, and more. Pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem, transferring pollen between flowers, which then produce fertile seeds, which become food for people and wildlife. As we all look forward to the blossoming of the Sine Die Tree, we have these diligent critters to thank for the upcoming Spring blooms!

Sign on campus snapped while on the move during an early morning walk!

(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)

Pollinators face threats to their existence and survival through habitat loss and degradation, pesticide use, invasive species, and climate change. Gardens and green spaces help preserve pollinator habitats and provide much needed food, water, shelter, and protection for these hard-working Washington residents! The Pollinator Garden is a prime example of an intentional space created to sustain pollinator species while beautifying our Capitol Campus.

Sources

Sources Capitol Pollinator Garden – Woodland Park Zoo

Pollinator Garden – Washington Department of Enterprise Services

Pollinator Friendly Parks – Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

A Look Inside the Capitol Dome*

(Photo Courtesy: Washington State House Democrats)

Trivia!

One last tangentially related football trivia for the year…

What did longtime Lt. Governor John Cherberg teach in high school prior to becoming a football coach at the University of Washington?

Highlights of the Week

Fiscal Committee Cutoff

After five quick – but grueling – days following the February 4 Policy Committee Cutoff, Monday, February 9 served as the Fiscal Committee Cutoff.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee did not meet over the weekend, leaving a hearty 69 bill agenda on Monday. Even with the contentious “Millionaire’s Tax” as one of those 69 bills, the committee managed to conclude its business by a decent hour on the Fiscal Cutoff date.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee approved the Millionaire’s Tax on Monday (SB 6346) after adopting amendments proposed by the prime sponsor, Senator Jamie Pedersen. You can read all of the details from the Washington State Standard. Following the committee’s vote, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman stood up to personally address the Committee. His out-of-order remarks were met by an escort out of the room from Senate Security. The bill was pulled out of the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday, February 12 and is now eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.

The House Appropriations Committee ran long on both Friday and Saturday evenings and concluded their work on Monday as well. In a preview of challenging budget decisions likely coming our way, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to HB 2688 (Gregerson) in their Saturday evening meeting that would take funding levels for the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers program down to 2008 levels.

As a reminder, each Thursday, Start Early Washington updates its bill tracker with the latest information on bills we are following. If we have missed any bills of interest, please reach out and flag them for us!

“Floor Time”

Attention turned to the Senate and House chambers Tuesday as both bodies focused on the long list of bills awaiting action before the February 17 House of Origin Cutoff. While it is not unusual for this “Floor Time” to extend into the early morning hours (particularly in the House), both the Senate and House eased into floor session activity and largely avoided late night action. I expect that to change in the House the closer we get to the February 17 House of Origin cutoff date. The Senate generally prefers to conclude their business at a reasonable hour and get home. I respect that approach.

While tempted, I did not purchase the wearable beanbag mentioned in last week’s newsletter. Yet.

Caseload Forecast

On Wednesday, February 11 the Washington State Caseload Forecast Council met to receive the latest projected caseloads (expected enrollment and participation) for state entitlement programs such as K-12 education, long-term care, and prisons. The Caseload Forecast is an important benchmark for legislators in drafting House and Senate budget proposals as the forecast directs how much the state must spend on various entitlement programs.

These forecasts are predicated on current law and policy, meaning they do not reflect any legislation currently being considered by lawmakers this session. The November forecast included updated projections based on legislation passed in 2025 as well as impacts of H.R. 1 as we understand them to date. Currently, the greatest risks to the predictability of forecasts across entitlement programs are immigration enforcement activities and general economic conditions.

One of the summary documents prepared by the Caseload Forecast Council breaks down where state program forecasts came in higher, lower, or negligible/unchanged from the previous forecast in November. In tight budget times, “lower than” and “unchanged/negligible” forecasts are preferable over those higher than the previous forecasts.

Programs forecasted in February to have higher caseloads than the previous forecasts will in turn drive higher costs for the state budget. The DOC Community Custody Violators, College Bound Scholarship, and Extended Foster Care programs have the highest increases from the November forecast with 15.4%, 10.7%, and 7.9% increases in their forecasts respectively. The Community Custody Violator program’s increase is based on a policy change that restored 30-day maximum confinements for high-level violations. The College Bound Scholarship program increase is in part due to soft labor market conditions for younger people and an increase in the number of pledges meeting income eligibility. Extended Foster Care caseload increases are following a similar, but delayed, trend as seen in Licensed Foster Care.

Early Learning Caseloads

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) caseloads were unchanged/negligible for the second forecast in a row. Funded slot utilization reached roughly pre-pandemic levels in the early part of the 2025-26 school year and now enrollment has been closer to funded capacity for the current school year. This forecast does not reflect the impact of the anticipated Ballmer Group investment since the PreK Promise Account is still under consideration. Following the passage of HB 2159 / ESB 5872, the June 2026 Caseload Forecast would reflect the projected impact.

Working Connections Child Care

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) caseloads are projected to be lower than the November forecast due to step adjustments modeling the caseload impact of ESSB 5752 copayment schedules, prospective payments, and the repeal of expanded eligibility for child care employees.

Transition to Kindergarten

Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) also has an unchanged/negligible forecast because its caseload is capped by funding in the 2025-27 biennial budget. Its caseload remains at 7,266.

Town Hall Reminder

Many legislators are slated to be back in their home districts or plugging in remotely in the coming weeks for mid-session town halls, with several slated for February 21. Lawmakers will be sharing updates on the bills they’re working on and priorities for the remaining weeks of session, answering questions, and hearing from constituents. You can find your legislative district here and a list of town halls with House & Senate Democrat members here.

House and Senate Republicans have not yet announced mid-session town halls, but we encourage you to check on their respective news and events pages for future town hall announcements.

What’s on Deck for Next Week?

Revenue Forecast Scheduled for Release on Monday

A reminder that the Washington state legislative clock runs for 60 days in even-numbered years, including weekends and federal holidays. This session has, and will, feature a lot of weekend activity, and the Legislature always works on federal holidays. A large benefit of “being open for business” on the federal holidays is the ability for Washingtonians who have a day off to come to the Capitol to advocate for issues of import.

This Monday, Presidents Day, the state’s updated Revenue Forecast is scheduled for release at noon. This highly anticipated report prepared by the state’s Chief Economist provides the official forecast of the state’s revenues. It takes into account revenue collections; potential impacts of global and national events on the state’s economy; and includes optimistic and pessimistic projections.

The last Revenue Forecast in November 2025 projected a $2.3 billion shortfall in the 2025-27 biennium. This February 16 Revenue Forecast will provide an updated number and will be used to inform the Senate and House budget proposals that will be released shortly thereafter.

House of Origin Cutoff – Guesses on the 5:00 Bill?

Our next cutoff deadline will arrive on February 17 at 5:00 p.m. Legislative leadership often schedules a controversial bill in each chamber as the so-called “5:00 bill.” This is because if debate starts before 5:00 p.m. on the House of Origin cutoff, it can last as long as necessary. Scheduling a controversial bill for this time slot is a strategic decision not to use precious floor time on a bill that would “gobble up” time and end up killing other good bills because there’s not enough clock time.

So, what will the 5:00 bill be next week? If I were a betting person (which I’m not), I’m going with the Millionaire’s Tax in the Senate. I’m not sure about the House. What’s your guess?

Dairy Day!

If you are looking to come to campus next week, Dairy Day is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18. Another favorite, unless you are lactose intolerant.

Trivia Answer!

The Late John A. Cherberg

1910 – 1992

(Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia)

TYPING! Believe it or not, typing used to be an actual class that many of us (including the author) took in high school on actual typewriters.

My guess is Lt. Governor Cherberg taught many a student the importance of inserting two spaces after a period (never giving that up!) and oversaw countless timed typing tests (I may have started to sweat a bit remembering those).

Although Cherberg did teach typing, he was most known as a football coach prior to entering politics. A former football player himself (his nickname was “Cowboy” on the football field for Queen Anne High), he went on to play for the University of Washington as a halfback. As a teacher and coach, Cherberg led Cleveland High School to the all-City football championship in 1937 (beating Garfield 2-0!) and then returned to his alma mater Queen Anne High to coach football and teach.

In 1953, Cherberg was hired as the head football coach at the University of Washington. His time leading UW was short as he was released after a 10-18-2 record and various concerns (let’s just say some of the “pay to play” conversations in collegiate sports we hear today do not appear to be new).

Building on his name recognition through his connection to the University of Washington football program, Cherberg made his first run for elective office in 1957. He defeated a fellow Democrat in the Lt. Governor primary and went on to defeat a Republican in the November general election. For the first 15 years in office, he also worked as an account executive for Seattle’s KIRO TV to supplement the paltry Lt. Governor salary.

Cherberg went on to serve as Washington state’s Lt. Governor for 8 consecutive terms – 32 years. At the time when he stepped down in 1988, he had been the longest serving Lt. Governor in any state’s history and had served in that role for almost one-third of Washington’s existence.

As Lt. Governor, Cherberg was known for his ability to preside over the State Senate in a fair manner as well as for his deep knowledge of parliamentary procedure. He was also known as a stickler for decorum. In my research, I read one story of how he admonished one Senator in the 1970s for wearing casual pants on the Senate Floor. I really wish that story had been accompanied by a picture.

In 1985, the former “Senate Office Building” was named to honor John A. Cherberg. Today, it is commonly referred to as “JAC” or “Cherberg.” I will look into the history of the actual building in a future newsletter. While racing through there earlier this week, I did pause and look at the display case on the south side that has memorabilia honoring Lt. Governor Cherberg. There were football references, but no typewriter.

John A. Cherberg Building (AKA “JAC”) in 1950

(Photo Courtesy: Washington State Archives)

Sources

Wikipedia

The Cleveland High Journal

Thurston County Trivia Game

*Trip Up to the Top of the Legislative Dome

In the January 23 Notes From Olympia, we wrote about how up to 10 legislators a year will now have access to venture to the top of the Legislative Dome.

Per the Washington State Democrats Instagram account, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and House Capital Budget Vice Chair Lisa Callan recently made the trek to the top of the Dome.

In addition to the picture that opened this week’s newsletter, the Washington State Democrats shared the following breathtaking pictures on the Instagram account:

A personal note. I have been mesmerized by the blue crane shown in the picture above that has been in operation since the start of the 2025 legislative session during the renovation of the Pritchard Building on the Capitol campus. Apparently, I missed the memo that the crane’s work was complete and it was removed on January 31. No more diversion of watching heavy items being moved through the area to distract from a stressful budget year.

(Photos Courtesy: Washington State Democrats)

POTATO DAY!!

(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)

Trivia!

In May 2025 a new bronze marker was added to the Capitol campus commemorating the campus’ original designers. Who were these original designers?

Highlights of the Week

Potato Day!

The best way to turn a rainy Monday frown upside down is clearly Potato Day! Sponsored by the Washington State Potato Commission, the concept of “potato day” is simple – the fine folks from the Potato Commission offer up free baked potatoes with all the fixings.

And the people come – in droves! Lines started forming around the third floor of the Legislative Building for the free taters as early as 10:30 a.m. For a brief moment, there was joy in Olympia…

Policy Committee Cutoff

As we’ve been reporting, Wednesday, February 4 represented the House of Origin Policy Committee cutoff. These cutoffs serve as deadlines for bills to remain viable. As noted in last week’s Notes From Olympia, bills deemed Necessary to Implement the Budget or “NTIB” are exempt from cutoff deadlines.

For the first part of the week, policy committee agendas were packed with executive sessions full of debate and consideration on a slew of amendments. If you are following a particular bill, be sure to check the latest version on the legislative website as there’s a good chance its direction may have changed.

House Bill to Establish Child Care Workforce Standards Board Receives Hearing in House Appropriations Committee

Bills introduced in the first year of a two-year legislative session are eligible for consideration in the second year. HB 1128 (Fosse) represents one of these bills.

Scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee shortly after this newsletter hits your inbox on Friday morning, the committee is expected to consider a proposed second substitute bill. According to amendments posted on the legislative website on Thursday, February 5, the proposed second substitute would:

• Modify the purpose and scope of the Child Care Workforce Standards Board by requiring the Board to make recommendations on minimum compensation and employment standards, rather than adopting enforceable minimum compensation and employment standards.
• Remove the provisions pertaining to: setting minimum standards and conducting rulemaking; application and scope of rules; training and certifying worker organizations to conduct training; notifications to workers; anti-retaliation protections; and administrative enforcement and the private right of action.
• Require the Board to meet quarterly and make recommendations to the Department of Labor and Industries that will enhance and improve the employment standards of child care workers.
• Require the Board to prepare a series of reports with findings and recommendations, and make those reports publicly available on the Department of Labor and Industries’ website.
• Require the Board, when making recommendations, to prioritize child care worker staffing, recruitment, retention, and staffing ratios.
• Allow the Board to investigate the following: the adequacy of wage rates and compensation policies to ensure the provision of quality services and sufficient levels of recruitment and retention of child care employees; the adequacy of the role of child care employees in making decisions affecting their wages and working conditions; the adequacy and enforcement of training requirements for child care employees; the impact of systemic racism and economic injustice on child care employees and the adequacy of efforts to alleviate such impact through the development of career paths through partnerships between labor and management and other methods; and the adequacy of payment practices and policies of the state as such practices and policies relate to the reimbursement of child care employers for the provision of services under a child care program.
• Adjust deadlines by one year to account for the second year in the biennium.

HB 1128 has been scheduled for executive session (vote) in House Appropriations on Monday, February 9.

Town Halls

Many legislators are slated to be back in their home districts or plugging in remotely over the coming weeks for mid-session town halls. Lawmakers will be sharing updates on the bills they’re working on and priorities for the remaining weeks of session, answering questions, and hearing from their constituents. You can find your legislative district here and a list of town halls with House & Senate Democrat members here.

House and Senate Republicans have not yet announced mid-session town halls, but we encourage you to check on their respective news and events pages for future town hall announcements.

What’s on Deck for Next Week?

Quick Pivot to Fiscal Cutoff

Immediately following Wednesday’s Policy Committee cutoff, attention shifted to fiscal committees in advance of the Monday, February 9 fiscal committee cutoff. Despite the long-standing admonition that the state does not have available funding for new investments, lawmakers still introduced legislation that would cost the state money.

With the Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday (GO HAWKS!), the committee schedule was carefully curated to avoid Sunday committee meetings. Members of the House Appropriations Committees will need to prep their tailgate fare on Sunday as they are scheduled for a Saturday committee meeting. The Senate Ways and Means Committee had their Saturday session canceled to give them time to hit Fred Meyer and get their seven-layer dips ready.

“Working the Doors”

Following the February 9 House of Origin Fiscal Committee cutoff, the action on the Capitol campus will shift to the Legislative Building as the Senate and House of Representatives will be in their respective chambers debating and voting on bills prior to the February 17 House of Origin cutoff. Again, this is another mile marker on the road to Sine Die (end of session). All bills (except those deemed “NTIB”) must be passed by their House of Origin by this February 17 date.

This floor time can feel endless with lawmakers spending hour upon hour in their private caucus meetings discussing the merits of bills they are about to address on the Floor. It is not the most comfortable time for lobbyists as we wait for these same endless hours to try and get the attention of a legislator. This process is called “Working the Doors” as lobbyists gather outside the Senate and House doors waiting for lawmakers to respond to a handwritten note (or text) to come off the Floor to discuss a time sensitive item. The legislator may come right out, but often we wait and wait. It can be quite humbling!

Of course, the Legislative Building is not set up for comfort, and all of the standing around on unforgiving marble floors can really do a number on the body. I happened upon these Japanese wearable beanbags available for purchase online, and I am tempted. It would make this upcoming time period much more bearable.

Bills, Bills, Bills

Millionaire’s Tax Bills Introduced and Hearing Scheduled

On Tuesday, legislative Democrats introduced the much-anticipated “Millionaire’s Tax.” SB 6346 (Pedersen) / HB 2724 (Fitzgibbon) would establish a 9.9% tax on those who earn more than $1 million a year. Bill sponsors estimate the tax would apply to fewer than 0.5% of Washingtonians and would bring in an estimated $3.7 billion a year.

The Senate bill will be heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Friday, February 6 at 1:30 p.m.

For full details, check out this Washington State Standard article.

Will We Get an Official State Shark??

Because the introduction of new bills has slowed dramatically, there weren’t any new bill titles that caught my eye, so this week’s “interesting bill title section” features an update on a bill discussed earlier in the session.

HB 2447 (Reeves), which would designate an official state shark (the bluntnose sixgill shark if you are curious), received an executive session on Wednesday, February 4 in the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.

Apparently, this a bluntnose sixgill shark (Scary!)

“Jaws” traumatized me as a child, so no deep dive on the bluntnose sixgill shark, but there’s a hyperlink above if you wish to do your own research.

As a reminder, each Thursday, Start Early Washington updates its bill tracker with the latest information on bills we are following. If we have missed any bills of interest, please reach out and flag them for us!

Trivia Answer!

The Capitol Campus’ grounds were designed in the 1920s by the Olmsted Brothers landscape design firm.

(Photo courtesy: Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site via the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services)

Founded by the legendary American architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. (1822-1903), the Olmsted Brothers design firm contributed to the beauty of our nation’s capitol campus in D.C., as well as 12 other state capitols including Washington.

In honor of the original designers, the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) installed a new bronze marker commemorating the Olmsted legacy. DES staff proposed the idea of the plaque, and it was unanimously approved by the State Capitol Committee in 2024. This last May the plaque and marker were installed to the west of the Tivoli Fountain.

(Photo Courtesy: Department of Enterprise Services)

One of the notable hallmarks of the “Olmsted Approach” is the Genius of Place, which requires taking full advantage of the unique characteristics of a site. The state capitol’s location atop a bluff was intentionally central and celebrated in the Olmsted Brothers design of our capitol campus. The use of the diagonal lines, boulevards, and traffic circles around key monuments and focal elements such as the Dome also speaks to the features of the Olmsted Approach’s Orchestration of Movement to “subtly direct movement through the landscape.”

To read more on the hallmarks of the “Olmsted Approach,” check out this article from the Olmsted Network.

(Photo Courtesy: Erica Hallock)

We speak of the Legislature as “The People’s House” and not dissimilar to any other home, the open outdoor spaces, greenery, and placemaking elements are what really transform structures into homes and buildings into gathering places.

The next time you are taking a stroll around the capitol campus, take a moment to appreciate the true beauty of its design and how it has upheld over a century of community gathering, celebration, and demonstration of the people’s will.

Sources

New marker commemorates Olmsted design vision – Washington Department of Enterprise Services

Olmsted Legacy Marker – Washington Department of Enterprise Services

Olmsted Brothers: Original Landscape Designers – Washington Department of Enterprise Services

Frederick Law Olmsted: His Design Principles – Charles E. Beveridge, The Olmsted Network

GO SEAHAWKS!

(Photo Credit: Erica Hallock)

Trivia!

Who has been the only person in our state’s history to lay in state in the State Reception Room in the Legislative Building?

Highlights of the Week

Cost of Care Legislation Passes Off Senate Floor

On January 28, the Senate adopted a striking amendment to ESSB 5500 (Alvarado) before passing the amended bill off the Senate Floor by a 30-19 vote. A striking amendment – or ‘striker’ – means the full text of the bill after the title is removed and replaced with new language.

The legislation now provides a definition of “cost of quality child care” based on previous work by the Early Educator Design Team and DCYF. Specifically, the bill includes living wage salaries; benefits; planning release time; and other program and staff supports as elements of “quality care” with measurable costs. DCYF is required to complete a cost of quality care survey in even-numbered years along with a Market Rate Survey study. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

House Pre-K Promise Bill Was Scheduled for Vote in House Appropriations Thursday Night

By the time this newsletter hits your inbox, the House Appropriations Committee should have already voted on HB 2159 (Bergquist) which would establish the account to receive the Ballmer Group’s financial gift for expansion of the state’s Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP).

According to an amendment posted on the legislative website proposed by the bill sponsor Representative Bergquist, the House Appropriations Committee was set to consider an amendment that would allow the Ballmer Group’s gift to support any child enrolled in ECEAP, rather than solely those eligible for ECEAP as the bill was originally written. The proposed amendment would allow the funds to serve a broader population.

House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee Considers Bill to Direct Surplus Funding from State’s GET Program to Early Childhood Workforce

On Tuesday, January 27, the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on HB 2438 (Bergquist). This bill would establish the Supporting Our Early Education Degree Seekers (SEEDS) scholarship to provide up to 90 credits of tuition-free community or technical college for students enrolled in eligible early childhood education degrees or programs beginning in the 2027-28 academic year using surplus funds from the state’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program.

In his remarks, Representative Bergquist noted ongoing workforce challenges in child care and early learning – and the additional strain that ECEAP expansion will have on an already taxed industry.

The bill has been scheduled for an executive session (vote) on February 3.

What’s on Deck for Next Week?

It’s Cutoff Time…

The legislative process contains a number of deadlines meant to winnow down the number of bills under consideration. The first of these filters arrives next week on February 4 with the “House of Origin Policy Committee Cutoff.” This very formal sounding name means that bills must pass out of the policy committee from their originating body (House or Senate) to continue through the process this year.

With this first cutoff approaching, Week 4 will largely focus on executive sessions (votes) in policy committees. A small number of bills will see both public hearings and votes in the same week. Things can change on a dime, so it is important to stay on top of committee schedules and bill amendments, particularly during cutoff weeks.

Once this cutoff hits, there will be no rest for those involved in the legislative process as work will quickly pivot to the fiscal committee cutoff on February 9. Fiscal committees are scheduled for weekend work to meet the quick turnaround.

A couple of relevant bills that are scheduled for public hearing in House Appropriations on Monday, February 2:

HB 2607 (Connors) Concerning Child Care Regions. This bill would direct DCYF to make regional adjustments to child care subsidy base rates that reflect the actual cost of living and economic variations between regions. It would encourage DCYF to make regions localized beyond the county level. The bill further indicates that no provider may receive a lower child care subsidy base rate as compared to its prior year as a result of these adjustments.

The bill sponsor is from the Kennewick/Tri Cities area. There is a similarly themed bill (SB 6179 by Senator Dozier) that would align child care base subsidy rates in Franklin County with Benton and Walla Walla counties. SB 6179 was referred to the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee but has not been scheduled for a hearing prior to the policy committee cutoff.

HB 2587 (Cortes) Establishing a pilot program to advance funds to nonprofits to support grant performance. This bill would direct the Department of Commerce to establish the “advance funding pilot program” to advance funds to eligible grant recipients who have demonstrated the need for advance funding to perform the work required by the department grant.

Bills, Bills, Bills – and a Refresh of what “NTIB” Means

Office of Financial Management Request Legislation to Achieve Budget Savings Introduced:
HB 2688 (Gregerson) and HB 2689 (Gregerson) seek to make statutory changes needed to implement provisions of Governor Ferguson’s Supplemental Budget and achieve his proposed budget savings in early learning.

HB 2688 relates to the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. It would “decouple” the ESIT multiplier from the multiplier used for special education pre-K students. This would remove the escalating effect created through E2SSB 5263 (Pedersen) of 2025 which “hinged” the ESIT multiplier to the Pre-K special education multiplier.

HB 2689 relates to the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program. It makes a number of changes to the WCCC to achieve budget savings. These changes include:

• Pausing the acceptance of new applications to the WCCC program beginning July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Families engaged in the child welfare system (this engagement is defined in statute) would be exempt from this pause.
• Establishing an average monthly caseload cap of 33,000 families (with child welfare involved families exempt from this cap) effective January 1, 2027. New applicants to WCCC could be accepted effective January 1, 2027 as long as the average monthly caseload does not exceed 33,000 as of that date.
• Establishing a prioritization list for admission to WCCC, ensuring monthly caseload remains no higher than 33,000 families (again, with exceptions for child welfare involved families):
  • Families applying for or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
  • Families who are curing a sanction pursuant to TANF (meaning complying with efforts to bring a case back into compliance to restore full TANF benefits);
  • Families that include a child with special needs;
  • Families in which the parent is a minor in school full-time with school-sponsored on-site child care;
  • Families that received subsidies in the last 30 days and: (a) Have reapplied for subsidies; and (b) have household income of 60 percent of the state median income or below; and
  • All other families applying for WCCC.
• Modifying WCCC rate for child care centers effective July 1, 2026 to the 75th percentile of the most recent Market Rate Survey (for this year’s purpose, this was the survey conducted in 2024). The bill language also states that family child care will continue to be paid at the rate negotiated in the 2025-27 Collective Bargaining Agreement, but signals intention that both center and family child care rates will move to the 75th percentile of market rate following the next Market Rate Survey.

And in the new category of bills that caught my attention this week simply because of their title.

SB 6322 (Braun) “Directing the relocation of the Bob Oke game farm”

OK, I checked the Internet and there’s some drama down in Lewis County surrounding a state-run pheasant farm (the Bob Oke Game Farm) that is creating nitrate contamination in Centralia groundwater. Hence the bill to relocate said game farm. And now, I’m intrigued.

As a reminder, each Thursday, Start Early Washington updates its bill tracker with the latest information on bills we are following. If we have missed any bills of interest, please reach out and flag them for us!

What does “NTIB” mean?

Every profession has its share of acronyms, and the legislative world is no exception. NTIB stands for “Necessary to Implement the Budget,” and with various cutoff dates approaching, I wanted to refresh readers on what it means and its importance in the legislative lingo.

We talk about bills needing to pass through various milestones by “cutoff” dates to remain “alive.” As mentioned above, the first cutoff date of the 2026 session is the House of Origin Policy Committee Cutoff on February 4. This means that bills must be passed out of their originating body’s policy committee to be considered for further action.

That is unless a bill has been deemed “NTIB,” or Necessary to Implement the Budget. NTIB bills are not subject to any cutoff timelines. It is not unusual for NTIB bills to sail through the process quite quickly because they reflect agreement among legislative leadership on budget decisions.

Legislative leadership makes the determination of whether a bill is NTIB. The two bills introduced this week and explained above (HB 2688 and HB 2689) are prime examples of NTIB bills.

If you are interested in a primer on Washington’s budgeting process, TVW has a short 11-minute video for you. Thank you, TVW!

Trivia Answer!

Washington State Secretary of State Belle Reeves
1870-1948

(Photo Courtesy: Washington State Legislature)

Secretary of State Belle Reeves is the only person – to date – to have ever lay in state in the State Reception Room in the State Legislative Building following her 1948 death.

Let’s learn about Secretary of State Belle Reeves, shall we?

Born in the state of Ohio, Reeves (1870-1948) originally studied to be a teacher. After marrying, she and her husband moved to Spokane where her husband worked as a reporter for the Spokesman Review.

Eventually landing in Wenatchee after a failed effort to “strike it rich” in the gold and silver mines around Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Reeves became very active in community work while her husband built his law practice. Without her knowledge, her fellow community members launched a write-in campaign for her to serve in the local House of Representatives seat and she won the primary by 100 votes. She went on to win the general election and served in the House of Representatives from 1923-1927 and from 1931-38. Of note, she chaired the “Public Morals Committee.” (What a different time…)

While in the House of Representatives, she sponsored legislation in 1925 to establish separate facilities for female prisoners. She also sponsored legislation that was ultimately vetoed by then Governor Roland Hartley that would have provided rehabilitative services for female prisoners.

In his veto message, Governor Hartley said female convicts were “diseased and beyond redemption.” Reeves used this setback as motivation to recruit more women into elected office.

Sadly, in 1933, while Reeves was on the House Floor fighting against the repeal of federal prohibition, her husband – who was in the back of the House Chamber supporting his wife – collapsed and was pronounced dead at the scene by a State Senator who was also a physician. Following her husband’s passing, Reeves continued on in elected office while also maintaining the couple’s 100-acre fruit orchard in Wenatchee.

In 1938, Governor Clarence Martin appointed Reeves as Washington’s first female Secretary of State following the sudden death of Secretary of State Ernest Hutchinson. At that time, Reeves was only the second woman to hold statewide office in Washington state and until Kim Wyman’s election to the same office in 2012, she was the only woman to hold that seat.

A few fun facts about Secretary of State Reeves’ time in this office. In her 1944 re-election campaign, Reeves received the most votes ever cast for a candidate in the state’s history. And as the third in line, Reeves occasionally served as acting Governor when the Governor and Lt. Governor were out of state. In that role, she dedicated a new road in Soap Lake and threw out the first pitch at the opening game of the Olympia Senators spring season (I could not find information on how the pitch landed).

Even as Reeves’ health declined, she refused to resign from office, famously saying she would remain in office “as long as I can wiggle one little finger.”

Reeves died in office at the age of 77 and her official funeral was held in the Legislative Building with the Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and members of the State Supreme Court serving as honorary pall bearers.

Clearly, Secretary of State Reeves was a beloved figure.

Press coverage of Secretary of State Reeves Named as first Female to Hold Seat

(Photo Courtesy: Washington State University)

Sources

Wikipedia

Washington Women’s History Consortium

As we look back on the past year at Start Early Washington, I am filled with gratitude and pride for our partners, the communities we serve, and the collective work that continues to strengthen early learning and family support systems across our state.

This year reaffirmed a fundamental belief that guides everything we do: children thrive when families are supported, and systems are strongest when they are shaped by the voices of the communities they serve.

Aligning Systems by Centering Community Voices

Over the past year, Start Early Washington deepened our presence in communities statewide, strengthening our role as a trusted partner and advocate for high-quality early learning. We launched a new Community Advisory Committee, bringing together early learning professionals to provide strategic guidance on our policy and programmatic work. At the same time, we engaged in Tribal Early Learning Community Conversations, creating space for intimate, trust-centered dialogue with Tribal partners and home visiting professionals working deep in some of Washington’s most diverse communities.

These conversations informed our 2024–25 Tribal Early Learning Report, the first in a new series that shares what we are learning directly from the field. The report is not only designed to highlight the challenges and barriers, which is typical practice, but to also highlight the strengths and success of Tribal and Indigenous communities. It elevates the integration of culture into services for families and the effort on the part of programs to provide this. In addition, the report outlines culturally specific priorities, challenges, and strengths identified through conversations with Tribal partners and home visiting professionals—and offers co-developed recommendations to shape advocacy and program design.

Strengthening the Workforce That Walks Alongside Families

A strong early learning system depends on a supported and skilled workforce. This year, we expanded professional learning and collaboration opportunities across Washington’s home visiting field, hosting statewide Professional Development Days, a Home Visiting Coordinators Retreat, and participated in national conferences.

Through nearly 1,033 training and technical assistance events in FY2025, we reached 451 professionals across 76 programs statewide, helping ensure that effective, evidence-informed practices are accessible and sustainable in communities across Washington.

We also advanced our commitment to culturally responsive practice by translating the Washington State Home Visiting Core Competencies into five languages, supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the families it serves. Our redesigned NEAR training further shifted our approach toward trauma-informed, culturally grounded care—honoring family histories, lived experiences, and resilience.

Learning from Providers Across Washington

Listening to providers is essential to strengthening the systems that support families. This year, insights from our annual Training and Technical Assistance Survey offered valuable perspectives from home visiting and early learning professionals across the state. The findings—shared in our 2025 Training and Technical Assistance Report—highlight what is working well, where additional support is needed, and how training and technical assistance can continue to evolve to meet the realities of providers’ work. Providers emphasized the importance of relationship-based approaches, culturally relevant content, and flexible learning opportunities.

Looking Ahead with Resolve

As we look ahead, we do so with both resolve and realism. We are in an extraordinarily challenging time in our country, one in which we are having to contend with difficult federal policy and funding decisions that will directly affect the health, stability, and well-being of families.

In moments like these, our shared commitment matters more than ever. Start Early Washington will continue to stand alongside families, providers, and communities—advocating for policies and investments that recognize early learning and family support as essential.

This reflects what is possible when communities lead, partnerships are strong, and our work remains grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Thank you for being part of this journey to continue building brighter futures for Washington’s children and families.