This week on The Capitol Buzz Headlines with Hanna Scott…
With less than a week remaining in the 2026 legislative session, Washington lawmakers are racing to finish major spending plans and policy proposals before the March 12 adjournment. House Democrats approved a supplemental operating budget nearing eighty billion dollars, drawing criticism from House Republicans who say the plan grows government while families face rising costs. Republicans also offered amendments during the floor debate, including a proposal to increase funding to address fentanyl exposure among children, but it was rejected.
Lawmakers did reach bipartisan agreement on a sixteen-and-a-half billion-dollar supplemental transportation budget focused on highway and bridge maintenance. Meanwhile, debate continues over a proposed state income tax backed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, and Republicans are warning about the long-term implications. Republicans also raised concerns about a bill expanding the investigative authority of the state attorney general, saying it grants sweeping powers with limited safeguards.
The Capitol Buzz Radio Headlines program is a roundup of state legislative news sent out each week on Fridays during the 2026 legislative session from Washington House Republicans for broadcast on radio stations across Washington.