OLYMPIA — Senate Democratic budget leaders on Monday unveiled a proposed 2025–27 supplemental operating budget that continues key investments in health care, education, and behavioral health while maintaining access to essential services Washington families rely on every day.
The proposal updates the state’s current 2025–27 operating budget to reflect increased demand for services including Apple Health coverage, behavioral health treatment, and long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as rising costs to continue programs already in place. The proposal also accounts for ongoing uncertainty at the federal level that could shift additional costs to states and put pressure on services Washington residents depend on.
To meet those growing needs, the proposal includes approximately $1.7 billion in maintenance-level funding for the 2025–27 biennium to continue services the Legislature has already committed to provide. These maintenance-level investments reflect the rising cost of continuing services already in place, as more Washingtonians qualify for health care, long-term care, and behavioral health supports.
The proposal also includes a $750 million transfer from the state’s Budget Stabilization Account to help maintain access to core supports such as long-term care, developmental disability services, food assistance, and affordable health coverage.
Under the four-year outlook, the Senate proposal is projected to maintain approximately $1 billion in Near General Fund–Outlook ending fund balance and $3 billion in total reserves, helping ensure Washington remains well-positioned to respond to continued economic and federal uncertainty.
The proposal prioritizes maintaining access to supports for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, including long-term care, developmental disability services, and food assistance, helping Washingtonians remain in their homes and communities, access needed care, and meet basic needs.
The proposal does not include broad-based tax increases.
“Developing this proposal required incredibly difficult decisions in a constrained fiscal environment,” said Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett), chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee. “There are reductions in this budget, and none were made lightly. Our priority throughout this process has been to protect the services people rely on every day, preserve the progress Washington has made in expanding access to health care and behavioral health supports, and maintain the long-term fiscal stability that allows us to continue investing in our communities. While we would like to do more, this proposal reflects the fiscal reality we are in today and the responsibility we have to protect Washingtonians with the resources available to us.”
The budget is scheduled for a public hearing 4 p.m. Monday in the Senate Ways & Means Committee and executive session 4 p.m. Wednesday. The full proposal is available here.
The Legislature must negotiate and pass a final operating budget by March 12, the end of the 60-day 2026 legislative session.