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News & Updates

State Legislators Visit UW Campuses for Capital Budget Tours

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The 黑料老司机 has a robust tri-campus capital budget agenda for the upcoming 2027 legislative session. This month, all three of the UW鈥檚 campuses welcomed state legislators and Washington state government staff聽to tour each campus鈥� proposed project.

On October 15, Senator Yasmin Trudeau, Representative Jake Fey, and capital budget and higher education staffers toured UW Tacoma, where they saw the historic Swiss Hall, F.W. Wild Building, and Tioga Building. UW Tacoma is requesting $67 million in capital funding to revitalize the campus core and create a student-centered support network that will integrate admissions and enrollment, financial aid, social mobility programs, wellness and disability services, military support, first-generation and foster youth resources, and student leadership.

In the morning of October 22, Representatives Lisa Callan, Shelley Kloba, Davina Duerr, and Osman Salahuddin visited UW Bothell and learned about the $73.3 million capital budget request to construct a new Husky Hall, which will replace an existing one-story building on campus that was a former nursing home. The new Husky Hall will house needed classrooms and learning spaces, a simulation lab for the School of Nursing & Health Studies, and the School of Business, which is currently located in a leased space off campus.

In the afternoon of the same day, Representative Lisa Parshley and legislative staff members learned about the $100.2 million Climate Commitment Account request for phase 2 of the Power Plant decarbonization project on the Seattle campus. The Seattle campus is diligently working through a long-term plan to decarbonize the Power Plant to meet the requirements the Climate Commitment Act and Clean Building Performance Standard. Last legislative session, the state funding phase one of the project, which includes installing a hot water loop from the Power Plant to the new Chemical Sciences Building. Attendees participated in a golf cart tour to see where the hot water loop with be installed and learn how phase 2 will build on the project. The also had the opportunity to tour the Power Plant to see how it currently functions and hear about the visions for the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions?

For questions about state advocacy, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at kchang28@uw.edu.

Governor Ferguson Attends Groundbreaking Ceremony of New UW Seattle Chemical Sciences Building

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On Wednesday, September 30, Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson joined UW President Robert Jones and the leadership team of the UW College of Arts & Sciences to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new chemical sciences building. This project received $5 million in the state’s 2024 supplemental capital budget and $124 million in the 2025-2027 capital budget. It was also included in Governor Ferguson’s budget proposal.

Its flexible and state-of-the-art lab design will also help foster collaboration between faculty, student, and industry partners, while providing a space for hands-on independent research projects and the development of modern interdisciplinary courses.

All STEM-related degrees require taking basic courses in chemistry as part of the curriculum, so this new facility will help UW remain competitive in providing top quality education in these fields.

 

 

Questions?

For questions about state advocacy, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at kchang28@uw.edu.

WA Economic and Revenue Forecast Council Releases Third Revenue Forecast of the Year

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On Friday, September 25, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its for 2026. The forecast shows that tax collections are about $22 million higher for the current biennium, which ends June 30, 2027, compared with the June forecast. However, the increase is seen in the Education Legacy Trust Account and Washington Opportunity Pathways Account. In contrast, the general fund has decreased by $55 million and the Workforce Education Investment Account, which funds many higher education needs and priorities, is down $70 million.

As such, the state is expected to have operating and transportation budget deficits in fiscal year 2028 and the state legislature, which convenes again starting on Monday, January 11, 2027, is still expected to make tough budget decisions in light of the fiscal challenges. Governor Ferguson released a on the same day, indicating that the state is still facing short-term budget challenges. As a reminder, the Washington State Office of Financial Management issued budget directions聽in June directing state agencies to prepare for budget cuts.

In contrast, the September forecast shows improvement after fiscal year 2028. This is largely due to the inclusion of revenue from the 鈥淢illionaire鈥檚 tax鈥�, which passed last legislative session and is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2028.

 

Questions?

For questions about revenue forecasts or state advocacy, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at kchang28@uw.edu.

WA State Legislators Visit UW STEM Summer Camp in Chehalis

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This week, the 黑料老司机 hosted high school students at W.F. West High School in Chehalis for its annual STEM Summer Camp. This year, students learned from UW experts in the fields of dentistry, nursing, and engineering through hands-on experiences. The four-day STEM Camp helps expose high school students in the region to engineering and the medical sciences and spark interest in exploring postsecondary education and STEM-related careers.

On Tuesday, Senator John Braun stopped by the camp to engage with the students as they participated in dentistry skill stations. Sen. Braun even got in on the action by taking part in a skills station where students practiced placing orthodontic brackets on teeth molds.

On Thursday, Representatives Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt visited the STEM Camp to watch the students test the bridges they made during the engineering portion of the camp. Both legislators were able to give the students words of encouragement before they began the competition and cheered them on throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions?

For questions about UW engagement with legislators, please contact Morgan Hickel at聽mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at聽kchang28@uw.edu.

WA State Representatives Visit UW School of Nursing鈥檚 Annual Camp for High School Students

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This week, the UW School of Nursing hosted high school students from across Washington state for the annual Nurse Camp. Washington State Representatives My-Linh Thai and Steve Bergquist visited the camp on Tuesday and saw the students in action performing various tasks at training simulation labs. The legislators also met with the UW Nursing School leadership to discuss the importance of the nursing workforce and ideas to ensure the workforce pipeline, including through early educational exposure to the nursing field.

During the free, week-long Nurse Camp, high school students are able to participate in a wide variety of activities. Highlights include shadowing nurses in UW Medicine hospital units, completing CPR and HIPAA training, and learning about important skills ranging from taking blood pressure and vitals to infection control and proper hand-washing techniques. Students also get the opportunity to connect with nurses from multiple areas of health care, including public health, forensics, emergency care, and research.

 

 

 

 

 

Questions?

For questions about UW engagement with legislators, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at聽kchang28@uw.edu.

Washington’s June Revenue Forecast Reflects Continuing Fiscal Uncertainty

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The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its聽 on Friday, the state’s second forecast of 2026. The forecast presents a mixed fiscal outlook. Non-economic factors, including stronger than expected capital gains tax collections and legislation passed during the 2026 session, boosted projected state revenue, while the underlying economy weakened since the February forecast and other General Fund-State (GF-S) tax collections declined.

The state collected approximately $1.5 billion from the capital gains tax, almost double the amount projected in February, providing a significant boost to the state鈥檚 fiscal outlook. Additionally, much of the increase in projected GF-S revenue for the 2027鈥�29 biennium is driven by recent policy changes, including the new tax on high-income earners, reductions in sales tax exemptions, and higher Business & Occupation (B&O) tax rates on prescription drugs.

However, beneath those gains, economic activity has declined. The June forecast shows lower personal income, weaker employment growth, and lower-than-expected real estate excise tax collections and housing construction. Absent non-economic increases, projected GF-S revenue would have fallen by $423.2 million in the current biennium and $508.6 million in the 2027-29 biennium.

Given this, along with rising costs for state programs and services, state lawmakers continue to caution that Washington is likely to face a budget shortfall in the next biennium. For the first time, the forecast also includes revenue from the new statewide tax on high-income earners, also known as the 鈥淢illionaires Tax鈥�, contributing to the higher than projected revenue. However, collections are not expected to begin until Jan. 1, 2028, and the tax remains subject to legal and potential ballot challenges, adding further uncertainty to the state’s long-term revenue outlook.

罢丑别听聽the state continues to face a tough budget cycle next biennium. In Washington state, the Governor kicks off the budget process by releasing his proposed operating, capital, and transportation budgets in December. Earlier this month, the Governor鈥檚 office issued their聽2027-29 budget instructions聽to all state agency directors asking state agencies to brace for a budget shortfall and prepare for reductions.

Overall, the June revenue forecast indicates that while projected revenue has increased, much of the growth depends on new and uncertain policy rather than sustained economic growth, resulting in a cautions long-term fiscal outlook for the state.

The next revenue forecast is scheduled for September will further inform the state鈥檚 financial situation. In the meantime, the UW must submit its legislative priorities for the 2027 legislative session.

Questions?

For questions about state advocacy, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at聽kchang28@uw.edu.

UW Faculty Meets with Elected Officials Across Washington State on Faculty Field Tour

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Last week was the annual UW Faculty Field Tour where faculty members new to Washington travelled to destinations across the state to learn more about the unique communities from which UW students come and that the University serves. The five-day bus tour started on Monday and included stops in Tacoma, Olympia, Mt. Saint Helens, Vancouver, Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Quincy, Ritzville, Spokane, Grand Coulee, Nespelem, and Leavenworth.

During the tour, faculty members were able to meet with several elected officials, including Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck at the State Capitol in Olympia to learn about the legislative process and functions of the state government. The faculty also met with State Representative Gloria Mendoza in her district at the Yakima Valley Farm Worker鈥檚 Clinic and State Senator Mark Schoesler at his family wheat farm in Ritzville.

Faculty members also visited the UW Spokane Center, which is housed in the new UW-Gonzaga University Health Partnership Building. The UW Spokane Center acts as the University鈥檚 main engagement hub in Eastern Washington and supports the UW-GU Health Partnership Program to enhance physician training and bolster the health care workforce, particularly in Washington’s rural and underserved regions.

UW faculty meets Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck at State Capitol in Olympia.
UW faculty at the Yakima Valley Farmworker’s Clinic with State Representative Gloria Mendoza.
UW faculty at State Senator Mark Schoesler’s wheat farm in Ritzville.

Questions?

For questions UW engagement with legislators, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at聽kchang28@uw.edu.

UW Tacoma Center for Urban Waters Hosts Legislators for Tour

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Today, the 黑料老司机 Tacoma Center for Urban Waters hosted legislators on the House Environment & Energy Committee for a tour and to showcase their work. The legislators viewed laboratories and the Center’s green roof and discussed several important water quality issues with UW leaders such as the presence of 6PPD tire anti-degradant chemicals in the environment.

The UW Tacoma Center for Urban Waters is a university-led applied science program dedicated to finding globally applicable solutions to urban water quality problems in the Pacific Northwest. The Center was founded in 2010 and has been an important part of the conversation around the restoration, protection, and future of the Puget Sound. More information can be found at the .

Legislators on the rooftop of the UW Tacoma Center for Urban Waters.

Questions?

For questions about UW’s engagement with legislators, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at聽kchang28@uw.edu.

WA Office of Financial Management directs state agencies to prepare for budget cuts

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Last Friday, the Director of the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) K.D. Chapman-See issued the to all state agency directors, providing guidance on developing legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

In the memo, Director Chapman-See sounded the alarm on the state’s financial situation and asked state agencies to brace for a significant budget shortfall in the upcoming biennial budget cycle. She said this will likely be the most challenging budget in recent years, citing contributing factors such as rising costs of key services, population growth, and federal funding cuts. In addition, she highlighted that the state will not be able to rely on revenue from the recently passed “Millionaire鈥檚 Tax” since revenue will not be collected until fiscal year 2029 and it is currently facing legal challenges.

To prepare for the challenging financial situation, Director Chapman-See made it clear that agencies cannot adopt a 鈥渂usiness as usual鈥� approach, and that OFM will be working with agency leaders on spending-reduction exercises and cost savings. Specifically, she said that agencies should plan to pause phase-ins of most new programs and the expansion of existing programs, while providing options to increase program efficiencies and structural reforms. The instructions also request agencies to be mindful of and consider disproportionate impacts reductions may have on underserved communities.

As a reminder, the 黑料老司机 is a public agency and must submit operating, transportation, and capital budget requests to OFM by mid-September. These requests will form the University’s agenda for the 2027 legislative session.

Questions?

For questions about the state’s fiscal situation or UW state advocacy, please contact聽Morgan聽Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at kchang28@uw.edu.

Last Day of Candidate Filing Week for the 2026 Elections

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Today, May 8, is the last day for candidates running for elected office in Washington state to officially declare their candidacy and submit all relevant documents to their local auditors鈥� office or the Office of the Washington Secretary of State. Candidates who have filed can be found on the .

Washington state voters will be able to cast their first ballot during the primary election on August 4. The top two candidates for each race, regardless of political affiliation, will advance to the general election scheduled on November 3.

At the state level, all 98 seats in the Washington State House of Representatives and 24 out of 49 seats in the Washington State Senate are on the ballot. There are five seats on the Washington State Supreme Court that will be on the ballot as well.

As a reminder, the 黑料老司机 is a public institution, and all UW employees are subject to strict campaign regulations. UW employees may not use UW resources (facilities, letterhead, emails, mailing lists, etc.) for any campaign-related activities and employees may not engage in such activities during official work hours. UW employees are personally responsible for ensuring that no campaign laws are broken, and violations may result in monetary penalties or escalating enforcement actions.

However, it is important to note that nothing prohibits UW employees from expressing personal views and participating with campaigns on personal time using personal resources.

More information about campaign regulations for state employees may be found on this website under State Lobbying & Reporting聽and the .

 

Questions?

For questions about policy or UW鈥檚 advocacy efforts in Olympia, please contact聽Morgan聽Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu聽and Kevin Chang at kchang28@uw.edu.