Washington

Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers of the Legislature. Governor Bob Ferguson, a former attorney general who spent 12 years suing corporations and the first Trump administration, took office in January 2025. His first sessions produced immigration protections, a $244 million housing investment, and a tax on household income above $1 million.

Washington has no broad state income tax, so its budget leans on sales and business taxes.

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Governor Ferguson and ICE

Governor Ferguson called ICE enforcement actions “un-American” and “outrageous in the extreme” after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minnesota in January 2026. He said he was preparing for the worst-case scenario in Washington.

The Legislature passed SB 5855 (Chapter 115, 2026 Laws), which prohibits local, state, and federal officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks that obscure their identities during enforcement operations. Limited exceptions exist for undercover work and tactical operations.

The Trump administration cut approximately 30,000 refugees, asylees, and lawfully present immigrants from the federal SNAP food benefit program. Washington responded with $49 million in state food benefits to replace what the federal government took away.

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Washington’s Budget Gap and the Tax Debate

Washington faced a $2.3 billion shortfall in the 2025-2027 budget, about 3.5% of total spending. Ferguson proposed a $79.5 billion supplemental operating budget. Democrats balanced it using $880 million from rainy day reserves, one-time transfers, and cuts to child care and education funding.

$2.3 billion budget shortfall in the 2025-2027 cycle

The Legislature passed SB 6346, a 9.9% tax on household income above $1 million that takes effect January 1, 2028. Governor Ferguson signed it on March 30, 2026 as Chapter 238 of the 2026 Laws. The first returns are due in 2029, and supporters project $3-4 billion a year for free school lunches, family tax credits for 460,000 low-income households, and other services.

A separate bill targets tech companies with global revenue above $25 billion, meaning Microsoft and Amazon. It would raise the business tax rate from 1.22% to 7.5% and boost the payment cap from $9 million to $75 million. Another proposal adds a payroll tax projected to collect $2 billion per year from the same companies, designed to offset federal funding losses.

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Washington’s Gun Laws Since 2022

Washington continued expanding gun restrictions in 2026. Ferguson signed HB 2320 (Chapter 203, 2026 Laws), which regulates firearm manufacturing. SB 5098, which would have made parks, playgrounds and swimming areas gun-free zones, did not pass.

Since 2022, Washington has banned high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, created a mandatory permit-to-purchase system, and regulated firearm manufacturing.

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The Biggest Housing Investment in State History

Ferguson proposed $244 million for housing in his December supplemental budget, which his office called the largest supplemental budget housing investment Washington has ever made. He signed SB 6026, which requires every city and county with a population above 30,000 to allow housing in areas zoned for commercial or mixed-use development.

$244 million the largest-ever supplemental housing investment in Washington

“The need for more housing is urgent,” Ferguson said when he signed SB 6026. “We must make it as easy as possible to plan, permit and build housing to address the crisis.” Additional housing bills signed during the 2026 session target zoning barriers that have blocked construction in growing metro areas.

Washington’s housing push comes as rents in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane continue to outpace wage growth. The zoning mandate in SB 6026 requires mid-size cities to allow residential construction where only commercial buildings were previously permitted.

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Every House Seat Is on the Ballot

All 98 Washington House seats and about half of the 49 Senate seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Democrats control both chambers and the governor’s office, so the results decide the margins for the next budget and for any changes to the new income tax.

The next regular legislative session begins in January 2027. The millionaires tax does not bring in revenue until returns are filed in 2029.

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What You Can Do in Washington

1. Check your voter registration. All House seats and half of Senate seats are on the November ballot. Verify your status at votewa.gov. Washington votes entirely by mail. Your ballot arrives weeks before Election Day.

2. Know your rights during immigration enforcement. Officers must show identification. You do not have to open your door without a warrant signed by a judge. Under SB 5855, enforcement agents cannot wear masks that hide their identity.

3. Confirm your food benefits. If you are a refugee, asylee, or lawfully present immigrant who lost SNAP benefits, contact the Washington Department of Social and Health Services at 1-877-501-2233 to apply for the state replacement program.

4. Contact your state legislators. The tech company taxes, the housing mandates and the rules for the new income tax all come back to the Legislature. Find your legislators at app.leg.wa.gov. Tell them which of those proposals matters to you.

5. Show up at local zoning meetings. SB 6026 forces cities to allow housing in commercial zones, but implementation happens at the city level. Your city council decides how fast and where new housing gets built.