Tri-Cities has a lot on the line at WA legislative midpoint | Editorial

The midpoint of Washington’s 2026 legislative session arrives on Feb. 17. It is the last day for a bill to pass the chamber in which it was introduced.

Washingtonians should pay attention to a few notable bills. The three issues below are by no means exhaustive, but they are pivotal to the future of the state. New laws could shape how nuclear innovation takes root in the Tri-Cities, limit how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers may operate and impose a controversial income tax on millionaires.

Plan for nuclear power before it is too late

Washington is hurtling toward an energy crisis. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council forecasts that demand for electricity in the region could double in the next 20 years. Electric vehicles, data centers, building electrification and artificial intelligence all contribute to the increased demand. Meanwhile, even if Snake River dams survive litigation, they would not produce enough hydropower for everything.

That is why the Legislature should pass House Bill 2090, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco. The bill directs the state Department of Commerce to develop a nuclear power strategic framework by Dec. 15. It does not authorize any construction. Barnard only wants the state to think about what would be involved in expanding nuclear power infrastructure. She has bipartisan support from House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, but there are enough skeptics holding up the bill.

Barnard’s proposal is particularly important for the Tri-Cities. The region’s historical links to nuclear power at the Hanford Reservation combined with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s presence could make the Tri-Cities a hotbed of innovation. Already energy and technology companies are eyeing the region for emission-free nuclear power projects. Amazon, X-energy and Energy Northwest want to build small, modular reactors near Richland.

HB 2090 would provide the framework that policymakers and regulators need to ensure that Washington moves thoughtfully, not recklessly, toward a clean energy future that includes nuclear power.

Unmask ICE agents in Washington

If ICE agents descend on Washington in force, as they have in other states, the Tri-Cities could easily become a focal point of their activities. The large immigrant community in the region has already drawn unwanted ICE attention.

Washington cannot prevent ICE from enforcing federal immigration law, but it can impose limits. Senate Bill 5855 would prohibit law enforcement – including federal agents – from wearing face masks while interacting with the public. There would be careful carveouts for specific circumstances.

This measure falls under basic public accountability and transparency. People deserve to see who is arresting whom. It also reduces the fear that ripples through a community when masked, unidentifiable agents descend.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 6002 would impose needed regulations on automatic license plate reader cameras and bar their use for immigration enforcement. Flock and other branded cameras are becoming the ubiquitous eyes of law enforcement.

The bill might set a standard for Washington law enforcement, but it might not be enough. A University of Washington investigation found that border patrol agents gained backdoor access to data. When they lacked that, compliant local departments conducted immigration-related searches across other departments’ data. Such searches can come from out of state, so would be beyond SB 6002’s regulations. Lawmakers might need to return to the issue next year if they want to protect civil liberties.

Tax on millionaires is a Band-Aid, not a fiscal cure

Gov. Bob Ferguson’s endorsement of a 9.9% tax on annual income exceeding $1 million is a tempting, if short-sighted, fix for the state’s ongoing budget woes.

Supporters estimate that Senate Bill 6346, which would enact the income tax, could raise $3.5 billion per year. Revenue would not arrive, however, until 2028 because the bill delays implementation to allow for court challenges and potential referendum. That means it will not help solve the current $2.3 billion gap between revenue and what Ferguson and lawmakers want to spend.

Lawmakers also need to worry about driving out high earners. Real estate agents in Nevada are already reporting a surge of wealthy Washingtonians relocating to their tax-free state. Even modest attrition could upend the revenue picture. Still, if the tax does happen, it would at least begin to address second-most regressive tax structure in the nation. It could buy time to develop a bipartisan overhaul.