SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5998
As of February 23, 2026
Title: An act relating to fiscal matters.
Brief Description: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
Sponsors: Senators Robinson and Nobles; by request of Office of Financial Management.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/13/26, 2/23/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Makes supplemental operating budget appropriations for the 2025-2027 biennium.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Staff: Samuel Brown (786-7470)
Background:

The operating expenses of state government and its agencies and programs are funded on a biennial basis by an omnibus operating budget adopted by the Legislature in odd-numbered years.  In subsequent legislative sessions, a supplemental budget is adopted, making various modifications to agency appropriations.  State operating expenses are paid from the state general fund and from various dedicated funds and accounts.
Summary of Bill:

The 2025-2027 biennial operating budget appropriations for the various agencies and programs of the state are modified.
Appropriation: The bill makes appropriations from various accounts.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (January 13, 2026):

Please refer to the January 13, 2026 recording of the public hearing on the Senate Ways & Means Committee Schedules, Agendas & Documents website at https://app.leg.wa.gov/committeeschedules/#//WM/////year.
Persons Testifying:

K-12 Public Schools. PRO:  Dawn Rains, Treehouse; Jeanne Willard; Doug Judge, Center for High School Success; Liz Trautman, Stand for Children Washington; Aaron Yared, Building Changes.

CON:  Tyler Muench, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Erica Hallock, School Nurse Organization of Washington; Larry Delaney, Washington Education Association; Marissa Rathbone, Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA); Logan Noel-Endres, Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA); Roz Thompson, Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP); Tori Emerson, President, Washington State PTA; Brian Freeman, Inchelium School District #70; Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist; Braden Sigua, Pacific Science Center; Jim Kowalkowski, Rural Education Center; Mitch  Denning, Alliance of Educational Associations.

OTHER:  Rick Chisa, Public School Employees of Washington (PSE); Melissa Gombosky, Association of Educational Service Districts - AESD; Radu Smintina; Colleen Frerks, Quincy School District; Courtney McCoy, Royal High School; Megan Dunn, Snohomish County, District 2; Andrew Villeneuve, Northwest Progressive Institute; Jenny Morgan, Washington School Counselor Association; Charlie Brown, South Sound Superintendents.

Higher Education. PRO:  Sandy Kaiser, Evergreen Government Relations.

CON:  Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist; Cameron Gray; Chris Mulick, Washington State University.

OTHER:  Hunter Deloney, Myself; Steve DuPont, Central Washington University; Nate Humphrey, WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Dr. Ivan Harrell, Tacoma Community College; Nora Selander, Western Washington University; Morgan Hickel, University of Washington; Natalie Wellen, UAW 4121; Chelsea Kopp, UAW 4591; Willow Heidt, UAW 4929.

Early Learning. CON:  Erica Hallock, Start Early Washington; Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist; Wendy Bart, Washington Alliance of YMCAs/Olympic Peninsula YMCA.

OTHER:  Alex Galeana, Children's Campaign Fund Action.

Employee Compensation. CON:  Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist.

OTHER:  Seamus Petrie, Washington Public Employees Association; Peter Diedrick, WA State School Retirees' Association.

Mental Health. PRO:  John Heckel, WA State Music Therapy Task Force.

CON:  Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist.

OTHER:  Rashi Gupta, UW Medicine.

Human Services. PRO:  Nicole Kern, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; Jill May , Washington Association for Children and Families ; Brad Forbes, Alzheimer's Association; Michele Thomas, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Judy Ellis; Max Kauffman, Office of Civil Legal Aid; Melissa Derry, Central Washington Legal Aid; Tom McGarry, Northwest Justice Project; Ashe Tippins, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Lynn Kimball, Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Joe McDermott, State Relations Director | King County; Sarah Dickmeyer, Plymouth Housing; Jane Pak, Snohomish County Legal Services.

CON:  Sheila Morley, Family Impact Network; Jolynn Kenney, MENTOR Washington; Chloe Gale, Evergreen Treatment Services; Carolanne Sanders, P.D.A.; Bob Lindenhovius, WE THE PEOPLE   retired Veteran; Carma Matti-Jackson, Washington Health Care Association; Alyssa Odegaard, LeadingAge Washington; Len McComb, Washington State Hospital Association; Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist; Paul Waddington, Ensign Services; Samiksha Mokashi, Avamere Rehabilitation of Issaquah; Mindy Bradley, The Oaks at Lakewood; Joe Rudd, Alderwood Park Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia; Tina Levasheff, Village at the Harbor Assisted Living; Manuel Navarro, Columbia Valley Community Health; Jodi  Joyce, Unity Care NW; Mauro Hernandez, Hearth and Truss.

OTHER:  Kim Justice, Partners for Our Children; Samuel Martin, Washington Coalition for Homeless Youth Advocacy; Kate Garvey, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center; Charles Smith, The Mockingbird Society; PAULA REED, Children's Advocacy Centers of WA; Amy Brackenbury, Washington State Public Health Association; Noah Seidel, Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds; LaDessa Croucher, Resolution Washington; Aaron Czyzewski, Food Lifeline; Ramona Hattendorf, The Arc of King County; John Lemus, AtWork! - Advocacy Manager; Kat Lohman, Legal Counsel for Youth and Children; Alex Motteler, Trillium; David Wilder, Chinook Enterprises; Jason Peterson, Community Employment Alliance; Jaime Bodden, WSALPHO; Lee Che  LEONG, Northwest Health Law Advocates; Alison Price, Rural Resources Victim Services; Anna  Nepomuceno, Northwest Harvest; Shawn Latham, Self Advocates In Leadership; Jeff DeLuca, Washington State Community Action Partnership.

Natural Resources. PRO:  Mike Peroni, Northwest Agriculture Business Center; Krystyna Wolniakowski, Executive Director, Columbia River Gorge Commission; Dave Upthegrove, Office of the Commissioner of Public Lands, Department of Natural Resources; Daniel Whelan, Sustainable Northwest; Travis Dutton, Washington State Association of Counties.

CON:  Tarin Todd, Vice President of Govt. Affairs for RBAW; Darcy Nonemacher, Washington Conservation Action; Christine  Cooley, Executive Director, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency; David Mendoza, The Nature Conservancy - Washington; Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist; Leah Missik, Climate Solutions; Tony Usibelli, Sierra Club.

OTHER:  Carrie Nyssen, American Lung Association; Guillermo Rogel, Front and Centered; Nello Picinich, Coastal Conservation Association; Matt Doumit, Washington Forest Protection Association; Councilmember Kari McVeigh, San Juan County.

All Other. PRO:  Christopher Stanley, Administrative Office of the Courts; Sara Robbins,  Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid; Philippe Knab, Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid; Larry Jefferson, Director, Washington State Office of Public Defense; Ramona Brandes, Washington Defender Association/Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Linnea  Anderson, Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators; David Freeman, Whatcom County Supe.

CON:  Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist.

OTHER:  Candice Bock, Association of Washington Cities; Roshelle Cleland, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (WSCADV) ; Beth Leonard, Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid; Curtis Steinhauer, Washington State Association of Counties; Derek VanSpoor, Retired Public Employees Council of WA; Gary Rowe, Public Works Board; Alexandra Johnson, Duwamish River Community Coalition; Steve Hobbs, Office of Secretary of State; Wesley Jessup, Eastern Washington Historical Society (Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture); Melissa Spear, Tilth Alliance; Brahmi Pugh, Coalition for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture; Ryan Mello, County Executive, Pierce County.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.