Here’s a look at several high-impact bills that are likely to be considered in Olympia over the coming weeks.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington lawmakers convened Monday for the start of the 2026 legislative session, a 60-day sprint that will unfold under mounting budget pressure and growing uncertainty tied to federal policy changes.
Legislative leaders say the compressed timeline will force lawmakers to prioritize a specific set of policy bills.
“We need to be focused on the job the people sent us here to do,” House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, told lawmakers in opening remarks. “We will spend the next 60 days doing those things, and those things only.”
As in 2025, legislators begin the session facing a projected budget shortfall, driven in part by higher inflation, economic uncertainty and the fallout from federal actions under President Donald Trump. State officials say the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies and changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs could affect hundreds of thousands of Washington residents and place new strain on the state budget.
Republicans argue the shortfall reflects unchecked spending growth rather than a lack of revenue. Rep. Andrew Engell, R-Colville, said renewed calls for tax increases follow last year’s historic tax package.
“Families and employers were told last year that massive tax increases were necessary to stabilize the budget,” Engell said. “Now we’re being told we need even more taxes because spending wasn’t brought under control.”
Here’s a look at several high-impact bills that are likely to be considered in Olympia over the coming weeks.
One of the hot-button proposals this session would regulate so-called AI companion chatbots. The bill would require companies to clearly disclose users are interacting with artificial systems, not humans, and establish safeguards when users express self-harm, suicidal thoughts or emotional distress. Additional protections would apply to minors, including restrictions on sexually explicit content.
Another bill drawing attention would limit the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers while interacting with the public and require officers to be clearly identifiable by name or other visible information.
Lawmakers are also considering legislation that would require cities and counties with populations of 30,000 or more to allow residential development in areas zoned for commercial or mixed-use purposes.
The bill would prohibit local governments from requiring ground-floor retail or special permits as a condition of housing construction.
Another proposal would expand protections for immigrant workers by requiring employers to notify employees when federal I-9 employment audits occur and outlining additional standards for employer conduct during those reviews.
A closely watched House bill would create a new payroll expense tax on large operating companies for wages above $125,000, with exceptions. The proposal would levy a tax on high-earning jobs, with revenue split between the state general fund and a newly created Well Washington fund.
Key deadlines ahead
Lawmakers face a series of early cutoffs that will quickly narrow the field of active legislation:
Feb. 4: Policy committee cutoff
Feb. 9: Fiscal committee cutoff
Feb. 17: Last day to consider bills in their house of origin
Feb. 25: Policy committee cut off for bills from the opposite house, except for House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means
March 2: Cut off for opposite house fiscal committees
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