How Washington State Proposes to Fund the Future—And How You Can Stay Involved
As the 2025–27 budget takes shape, both the Washington State House and Senate have released their proposed operating budgets—and while they share some common ground, their priorities reflect different paths for spending.
The Senate’s $78.5 billion proposal puts a spotlight on education, with increased funding for special education. To balance costs, it also includes furloughs—a cost-saving measure requiring some state employees to take unpaid days off. Meanwhile, the House’s $77.8 billion plan emphasizes law enforcement funding and does not include furloughs.
Notably, both proposals recommend delaying certain early learning expansions, including extended eligibility for ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) and child care services—a key concern for many families and educators.
Want a deeper dive?
Read Start Early’s comparative budget analysis: [Read Here]
Watch TVW’s budget breakdown: [Watch Here]
As we move toward the close of the legislative session, here are the dates to keep on your advocacy radar:
- April 2: Final day for committees to report bills in their original chamber
- April 8: Deadline for opposite-house committees to report bills
- April 16: Final day of regular legislative session
- April 27: Session officially ends
- May 20: Deadline for the governor to sign or veto bills
These deadlines are critical moments as lawmakers finalize the budget and move bills forward.
Even with the session nearing its end, there are still meaningful ways to get involved:
Track hearings and schedules on the Washington Legislature website
Attend or testify (virtually or in-person) during public hearings
Contact your legislators to share your perspective on funding priorities and proposed legislation
Whether you’re passionate about special education, early childhood programs or overall school funding—your voice matters.
If you have any questions or want help getting involved, please feel free to contact Zahra Eslami and Kameh Saman, LWPTSA Council Advocacy Co-VPs, at Advocacy@LWPTSA.net.