Record-Breaking Opposition Is Shaking Olympia

With one of the biggest deadlines of the  legislative session now behind us, something important has happened in Olympia.

A long list of bad bills quietly died.

Under legislative rules, non-fiscal related bills had to pass out of their chamber of origin last week, or they’re effectively done for the year. Dozens failed to make the cut. And many of the most troubling proposals stalled after weeks of intense public engagement from  citizens who simply want common-sense public policy restored.

Here are just a few of the bills that are no longer moving forward:

• Initiative Killer – SB 5973. This bill would have severely restricted the initiative process, making it harder for citizens to bring measures directly to the ballot. In a year when hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians have already signed initiatives, limiting citizen lawmaking was an especially tone-deaf priority.
• Encampment Restrictions – HB 2489. This proposal would have constrained how local governments address encampments, further tying the hands of cities already struggling with public safety, open drug use and homelessness.
• Bottle Tax – HB 1607. A new beverage container tax dressed up as environmental policy — but ultimately another cost increase for working families already squeezed by inflation.
• Daycare Public Records Exemption – SB 5926. This bill would have carved out new public records exemptions related to daycare facilities, reducing transparency in an area directly affecting parents and children.
• Payroll Tax Increase – HB 2100. Another proposed payroll tax expansion at a time when businesses are already grappling with rising costs and economic uncertainty.
• Tire Ban – HB 2421. A product restriction bill targeting certain tires, raising consumer costs and supply concerns with questionable environmental upside.
• Car Tabs – SB 6167. A vehicle fee proposal that would have increased costs for drivers statewide. It never even received a floor vote.
• Public Grocery Stores – HB 2313. This proposal would have allowed government-run grocery stores to compete with private retailers, inserting the state into the food business instead of focusing on core responsibilities, and risking taxpayer dollars on a venture already handled by the private market.

None of these bills advanced. And that’s not a coincidence. For weeks, thousands of you have signed in, emailed lawmakers, shared information, and demanded better priorities. Olympia notices when tens of thousands of citizens show up.

Which brings us to the bill they’re still trying to push: the unconstitutional state income tax proposal, SB 6346, where the public response has been historic. More than 60,000 people signed-in to oppose it for the Senate hearing. More than 116,000 signed-in to oppose it for the House hearing.

For perspective, the previous record for committee sign-ins on a specific position was around 40,000 — set last year during opposition to a property tax increase.

And yet, instead of reflecting on what that means, some lawmakers have tried to downplay it. Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) publicly suggested that lawmakers like her do not base decisions on how many people show up or sign in on legislation under consideration. They’ve floated claims that the Con sign-ins were bots, duplicate entries, or fraudulent — despite no evidence of widespread abuse.

When elected officials openly signal they’re indifferent to record-breaking civic engagement, that should concern everyone — regardless of party.

Democratic leaders in Washington state just flat out admitted they don’t actually care how many citizens oppose their income tax proposal. In other words: Shut up and obey, serfs. pic.twitter.com/mRzdK2aOYH

— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) February 25, 2026

At the same time, legislative leaders have refused to give hearings to citizen initiatives that gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures, including measures focused on strengthening parental notification and protecting girls’ sports. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) and Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) have both indicated these initiatives will not get hearings, despite the state constitution requiring the Legislature to prioritize them.

When citizens organize, engage, and participate in record numbers — and the response is to question the rules, dispute the process, or ignore the message — it sends the wrong signal.

But here’s the good news: Your voice is working. Bad bills are dying. Expansive new taxes are facing massive resistance. The initiative process is being defended in real time.

That doesn’t mean the fight is over. Some of the biggest proposals — including a state income tax — are still alive. And the louder and more consistent the engagement, the harder it becomes to dismiss.

Lawmakers may argue about procedures. They may try to minimize the numbers. They may pretend the outcry is overstated.

Civic engagement at this scale is rare. It’s powerful. And it’s making a difference.

The message from the past several weeks is clear: When Washingtonians speak up, policy changes.

Now the task is simple: keep going. Some of the biggest proposals, like the state income tax, are still alive. The louder and more consistent the engagement, the harder it becomes to dismiss.