Senate hearing draws broad appeals for housing, behavioral-health and tribal projects in $723 million capital budget

The Washington Senate Ways and Means Committee met Feb. 24 in Olympia to hear staff briefings on the substitute Senate capital budget (SSB 6003) and to take public testimony from housing, health and tribal leaders.

Michael Buzantzen, staff to the committee, told senators the proposal relies on debt-limit bonds, Climate Commitment Act funds and other cash resources and would total $723,000,000 in appropriations with an expected $5,000,000 ending balance. "The proposal before you relies on available debt limit, bond capacity, CCA account money, and other cash resources with an emphasis on housing, clean energy, water conservation, education, and flood response," he said during the briefing.

Why it matters: The capital budget includes targeted investments in housing and homelessness ($150 million, including $128 million for the Housing Trust Fund), water conservation and clean energy ($191 million), K–12 projects ($93 million), and higher education ($63 million). Many municipalities and nonprofit providers testified that the Senate's numbers fall short of House or governor proposals for programs they said are shovel‑ready or mission-critical.

Speakers representing child-care providers, Habitat affiliates and community-action agencies urged the committee to preserve or increase funds so projects can proceed. "Investments in the minor renovation fund can go a long way toward preserving existing childcare slots by addressing emergent health and safety needs," Erica Hallock of Start Early Washington said. Ryan Donahue of Habitat for Humanity thanked the committee for funding the Cloverdale cottages and urged the Senate to move "closer to the House's homeownership funding level" so more shovel‑ready projects can proceed. "We're ready to build. Please help us get the dirt moving," Donahue added.

Treatment and family services advocates pressed for capital investments to support mothers and children. "This program is uniquely effective because it provides both substance use treatment alongside safe housing, allowing children to remain with their mothers during recovery," Kim Justice of Partners for Our Children said in support of the pregnant‑parenting and women's inpatient treatment (PPW) project that the House funded at $1.5 million.

Tribal and natural‑resource projects also drew testimony. Quinault Indian Nation Chief Judge Leona Koger asked senators to include $2 million in Climate Commitment Act funds to relocate the Quinault courthouse outside a tsunami zone after an October 2024 fire left the tribe operating in temporary, inadequate space.

Other priorities raised during public testimony included home rehabilitation grants targeted at flood‑impacted rural communities, mobile‑home park acquisition to protect residents from displacement, community food‑bank expansions and local cultural and arts projects.

Committee status and next steps: Committee staff reminded members that capital budget amendments are due at noon the following day and that the Senate and House must reconcile differences in conference. The hearing produced no recorded floor votes or final actions on any appropriation during the February 24 session.

Ending: Senators said they would consider requests during negotiations with the House and encouraged groups with technical questions to follow up with staff to clarify details and funding mechanics.