Republican state senators representing the Mid-Columbia were hard-pressed to identify big victories that came out of the recently concluded 2026 legislative session.

While a few wins were noted, concerns remain about additional taxes, the state budget and regional priorities.

Sens. Matt Boehnke, Nikki Torres and Perry Dozier sat down to recap the session with the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

Perry Dozier

The passage of the state’s first income tax was the culmination of a session they said laid further burdens on businesses and families, delayed right-siding the budget and left the state without a clear vision for economic development.

“They pass bills without knowing how they’ll impact things,” said Dozier, R-Waitsburg, whose district includes parts of Benton and Franklin counties.

“We definitely have a spending problem in Olympia and we have a plan for that, but the majority doesn’t want to listen,” said Torres, R-Pasco.

The senators did acknowledge gains for the region:

• Support for several local employers or economic development projects via legislation or inclusion in the budget.
• Passage of a bill aimed at improving safety at some of the most dangerous spots on local road and highways.
• Defeating bills that would have harmed agricultural operators, including legislation that would have made it easier for farm laborers to form unions and others that would have put additional costs on materials such as lubricants used by farms and ranches.
• Securing additional capital funding for a variety of projects in the region, from $3.2 million to clean up the tire pile on Twin Bridges Road outside West Richland, more than $500,000 for economic development projects at the Port of Pasco and $447,000 to line the main canal of Kennewick Irrigation District.

A bill sponsored by state Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, and passed by the Legislature will support clean energy projects by providing flexibility for them to be completed in time to benefit from urban tax area preferences. That will benefit projects proposed north of Richland, the lawmakers said.

Boehnke, R-Kennewick, said constituents need to remember that politics are a long game and that building coalitions, regionally and across the state, will ultimately lead to more transparency and accountability in Olympia.

“That’s the heavy lifting we’re trying to bring back,” he said.

Nikki Torres

Millionaire’s tax

Gov. Bob Ferguson on March 30 signed into law the legislation creating the income tax, dubbed the millionaire’s tax as it will collect roughly 10% of an individual’s earnings beyond $1 million. The state estimates it will bring in roughly $3.5 billion in 2028 following its first collection, though the law is expected to face legal challenges and referendums.

All three state senators, along with the Republican caucus, fought the bill to the end. While disappointed it passed, Dozier noted that, at least for the time being, it will not immediately impact Washingtonians. At the same time, the tax relief the new tax is supposed to provide those who won’t pay it won’t be provided.

“When we woke up this morning the cost of gas was still high, the cost of living in Washington was still high,” he said.

Torres noted that one of her amendments to the income tax bill will provide a sales tax exemption for diapers and deodorant, helping save consumers some money at the register. However, she acknowledged that it was a hollow victory.

“It was just a carrot (the majority) could dangle,” she said.

And despite that significant increase to the state’s revenues, the state senators said there were still cuts to important programs that benefit citizens:

• Education funding was cut by $80 million, impacting programs such as Running Start and levy equalization that helps smaller school districts.
• The state still hasn’t addressed the shortage of funds needed for providing sufficient indigent defense services, rejecting a proposal by Torres to have it partially funded by the new income tax.
• Early childhood programs were cut, though were backfilled by a private-public partnership.

“Even Democrats come to us saying these are bad bills and they want to kill them,” Dozier said.

Matt Boehnke

Dozier and Boehnke decried cuts being made despite them and other lawmakers raising concerns about whether state dollars were being spent properly and accounted for to begin with. They said their concerns were affirmed following the recent announcement that the state Department of Children, Youth and Families has $37 million in questioned spending following an audit.

“That’s what we should be going after – is the investment going to what it should?” Boehnke said. “We need to do that research before we pass a millionaire’s tax.”

Working as team

The lawmakers said they remain focused on working as a team to support each other’s legislation and community needs.

“It’s not just one or two districts working together,” Boehnke said.

And Torres added that the team also includes businesses and constituents, whom she saw more of in Olympia this session, a development she hopes continues.

“A lot of the businesses showed up and they’re doing it stronger,” she said. “They know more is coming down the road.”