WA’s 2025 legislative session has adjourned. Here are some defining moments
Sunday marked the final day of Washington state’s 2025 legislative session. Much has happened in the 105 days since the session started Jan. 13.
Tears were shed, brawls were fought. Descriptors for this year’s proceedings have ranged from “really hard” to “grueling.”
“Certainly today, it feels like the toughest one that I’ve been through,” House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, a West Seattle Democrat, said at a Sunday evening press conference. “But I’m sure every session to come will have its own challenges, too.”
Earlier this year, then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson traded in his old title for a new one: governor. Washington said goodbye to longtime Gov. Jay Inslee. And residents got a glimpse of how the state could fare under the second administration of President Donald Trump.
The Capitol saw policy squabbles and budget quarrels, thousands-deep protests and unexpected deaths.
Washington lawmakers received a stormy revenue forecast in March, unwelcome news at a time when the state is facing a budget gap estimated between $7.5 billion and $16 billion, depending on the source.
But it remains to be seen whether a special session will need to be called. Ferguson has kept mum about whether he’ll approve lawmakers’ final operating-budget offering; Democrats also passed capital and transportation budgets, too.
In a lengthy statement Sunday, the governor thanked lawmakers for their hard work this session.
“I look forward to carefully reviewing the budgets line by line over the next few weeks,” he said. “When that review is complete, I will share my thoughts with the public in greater detail.”
Here are some of the highlights — and lowlights — of the regular session.
Fiery policy fights
Some of the biggest fights of the 2025 session centered on housing.
Among the most hotly debated bills: one that would cap rent hikes. House Bill 1217 will limit annual rent increases to 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, and up to 5% for manufactured homes.
Another bill that divided lawmakers would allow striking workers to receive unemployment insurance benefits for up to six weeks. Democrats also pursued the closure of the residential habilitation center Rainier School for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, located in Buckley in Pierce County.
One short-lived, but controversial, proposal would have created a redesign committee charged with overseeing a makeover for the state flag.
WA Democrats’ tax ideas
Democrats broadcast a slew of revenue options this year. Republicans, naturally, objected — and Ferguson also poo-pooed the suggested mountain of taxes as being far too high, citing looming federal threats to funding, programs and jobs.
The majority party this session gave the green light to a 6-cent increase on the state’s gas tax to help address the transportation budget’s own multi-billion-dollar deficit.
Tesla would get hit with a new tax under one House proposal. Democrats also attempted to tax the state’s wealthiest residents, a concept that Ferguson has said he’d be open to discussing with a $100 million figure. The bill cleared the Senate but stalled out in the House.
Republicans pushed back against Democrats’ efforts to lift the 1% annual property-tax growth cap. They also slammed a proposed 50% increase on the price of state-park Discover passes and other taxes on “joy.”
Ferguson hasn’t said which taxes he would support.
Political tension in WA Legislature
Republicans registered outrage after House Democrats tweaked the rules on floor debate, accusing majority-party leadership of “censoring” dissent. Democrats, incidentally, said the rule changes would help focus debate and end redundant filibustering.
One explosive moment occurred in the House days before the end of session. State Rep. Jeremie Dufault, a Selah Republican, was prohibited from returning to the House chamber following an outburst that interrupted proceedings on the so-called parental bill of rights. (He was still allowed to participate virtually.)
Ferguson also ruffled feathers after suggesting that most state workers should take furloughs one day per month over two years to assist with the state’s budget problem.
Federal uncertainty looms large
As the state scrambled to fix its own budget woes, the Trump administration took a chainsaw to federal funding, programs and jobs.
Shortly after assuming office as attorney general, Democrat Nick Brown came out swinging against the Trump administration. Months into Trump’s second term, Washington state has led or participated in several lawsuits against the federal government.
Litigation topics have included alleged unconstitutional federal executive orders, including attempts to end birthright citizenship and restrict mail-in voting.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, has led a one-woman charge to warn against perceived ills emanating from the White House. And earlier this spring, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins said that if federal Medicaid funding were ever yanked, “there is not a state in this country that can backfill that in any way, shape or form.”
Ferguson has also directed state lawmakers to brace for additional federal hostility.
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, himself a former Democratic state lawmaker, doubled down on the state’s position concerning the ability of transgender athletes to play in girls’ sports and undocumented-student protections.
In memoriam of WA lawmakers
The Washington Legislature mourned the lives of multiple state leaders.
State Sen. Bill Ramos, an Issaquah Democrat, died unexpectedly April 19 while on a trail run near his home in Issaquah. Ramos’ Senate colleagues commemorated him Sunday as someone who made Washington better.
Former longtime Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, a Seattle Democrat, died last month from cardiac arrest at age 71. Ferguson described him as “a force in Washington politics.”
Days before Chopp’s passing, former Republican Secretary of State Ralph Munro died at 81. Democratic Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said his predecessor had “embodied the drive and attitude of a true statesman.”
After lawmakers released the final operating budget on Saturday, Sen. Chris Gildon, the upper chamber’s Republican budget lead, was called away because his wife of more than 31 years, Autumn, was discovered unresponsive at her workplace. She died of unknown causes.
“Legislators are people first, and at a time like this, our families are more important,” Senate Minority Leader John Braun of Centralia said in an emailed statement. “We hold Chris and his family in our hearts and pray that they will find comfort and peace.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2025 at 8:51 PM.
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