Title
Approval of the 2026 City of Olympia State Legislative Agenda
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the 2026 City of Olympia State Legislative agenda.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the 2026 City of Olympia State Legislative agenda.
Staff Contact:
Susan Grisham, Legislative Liaison,360.753.8441
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
At the November 13, 2025, City Council meeting, Councilmembers were presented with a preliminary list of priorities for the City of Olympia's 2026 State Legislative Agenda. Based on Council discussion and feedback, staff developed a draft legislative agenda.
On January 8, 2025, the City Council met with the 22nd Legislative Delegation to discuss preliminary legislative priorities. Following that discussion, the draft agenda was updated and is now ready to be brought forward for City Council consideration and approval.
Key areas of focus include continued advocacy for:
* Housing, Homelessness & Infrastructure: Protect and expand flexible operational funding for transitional housing and homelessness response programs while reducing barriers to successful transitions into permanent housing.
* Deschutes Estuary Project: Support $7.2 million in state funding to complete 100 percent design of the Deschutes Estuary Project by the end of fiscal year 2027.
* Revenue: Preserve critical state funding programs for cities and expand local revenue authority, including increasing the 1 percent cap on annual property tax growth.
* Policy Extensions: Extend the Annexation Sales Tax Diversion Program beyond its 2028 expiration to support continued annexation efforts.
The agenda also includes a secondary list of advocacy items that outlines a broader and more comprehensive set of policy priorities and initiatives the City of Olympia supports and will actively advocate for in coordination with local, regional and Stat...
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