The 2026 legislative session is barely underway, and Olympia Democrats are already sprinting toward a familiar goal: expanding government authority, raising costs, and insisting it’s all for your own good. If the early weeks of session are any indication, lawmakers are doubling down on policies that hit small businesses, families, and taxpayers while quietly increasing the power of state agencies that few voters ever asked to see expanded.
Let’s take a tour through some of the early highlights — or lowlights, depending on whether you enjoy paying more while receiving less.
Expanding Government Power — Now With Fewer Safeguards
One of the more eyebrow-raising proposals this session would dramatically expand the Washington Attorney General’s investigative authority. Supporters claim it simply allows the AG to better enforce constitutional violations and civil rights protections. Critics, however, see something far more troubling.
The legislation would allow the attorney general to issue sweeping civil investigative demands — essentially granting powers that look and feel suspiciously like warrants but without the same judicial oversight. Opponents warn the vague language could open the door to politically motivated investigations, particularly against federal immigration enforcement efforts.
In short, Olympia Democrats appear comfortable giving state government broader tools to investigate political adversaries — all while framing the move as a noble defense of civil liberties. Because nothing says “protecting rights” like giving politicians more investigative authority with fewer guardrails.
Statewide Payroll Tax: Because Seattle’s Version Didn’t Hurt Enough People
Not content with Seattle’s controversial JumpStart payroll tax experiment, lawmakers are now exploring taking the concept statewide.
The proposed payroll tax would target larger employers and funnel the revenue into a newly created government fund meant to support social programs. The problem? Seattle’s version has already shown serious cracks.
The city’s tax generated significantly less revenue than projected and coincided with business closures, corporate relocations, and shifting job growth patterns. Instead of treating this as a cautionary tale, Olympia Democrats appear to see it as a beta test that simply needs to be scaled up.
Business leaders have warned that layering new payroll taxes on top of Washington’s already high regulatory burden could accelerate job losses and drive employers out of state. But in Olympia, when an economic experiment fails locally, the solution often seems to be making it mandatory statewide.
The Income Tax That Isn’t an Income Tax (Until It Is)
Behind the scenes, lawmakers are also floating proposals that would impose new income-based taxes on high earners. While supporters carefully avoid calling these proposals “income taxes,” the structure increasingly walks, talks, and calculates like one.
Draft proposals have included higher rates on top earners alongside promises of expanded tax credits and relief programs elsewhere. But critics argue these credits function less like relief and more like political sweeteners designed to make the overall tax hike more palatable.
Washington voters have repeatedly rejected income taxes at the ballot box. Yet Olympia continues to pursue variations that slice income differently, tax it indirectly, or redefine it altogether — all while assuring voters this time is somehow different.
Plastic Bag Policy: When Environmental Policy Becomes Performance Art
If you thought Washington’s plastic bag saga had reached peak absurdity, think again.
After forcing retailers to switch to thicker, more expensive plastic bags — which often have a higher environmental footprint — lawmakers raised the mandatory bag fee. Now some want to ban plastic checkout bags entirely and increase paper bag charges even further.
Families are paying more for bags they didn’t ask for, retailers are absorbing compliance costs, and environmental outcomes remain debatable at best. But Olympia Democrats remain committed to squeezing every last penny out of grocery trips in the name of sustainability theater.
Borrowing Billions While Infrastructure Crumbles
Meanwhile, transportation proposals highlight another Olympia tradition: borrowing enormous sums of money while core infrastructure continues to deteriorate.
The governor’s transportation plan includes billions in new borrowing for road preservation and ferry replacement. Yet critics note large portions of funding are still earmarked for projects like highway bike lanes and add-ons that don’t address Washington’s worsening road conditions.
Washington already carries some of the highest per-capita transportation debt in the region. But rather than reassessing spending priorities, lawmakers seem eager to add new layers of debt while claiming fiscal responsibility remains intact.
Climate Policy Math That Doesn’t Quite Add Up
Adding to the credibility gap, state officials recently admitted to a staggering error in calculating emissions reductions tied to climate programs. Originally touted as delivering massive environmental benefits, the actual emissions reductions turned out to be dramatically smaller than advertised.
Despite the massive miscalculation, lawmakers show little appetite for slowing down or reassessing costly climate mandates. Instead, they appear determined to press forward with policies that increase energy costs for families while relying heavily on optimistic projections that voters are increasingly learning to question.
The Common Thread: More Government, Higher Costs, Fewer Results
Taken individually, each proposal might be framed as a well-intentioned policy adjustment. Taken together, they paint a familiar Olympia picture: expanding bureaucratic authority, increasing taxes and fees, and layering new regulations onto an already expensive state economy.
Small businesses continue warning they’re reaching their breaking point. Families are absorbing higher daily costs. And taxpayers are being asked to trust that bigger government will somehow produce better results, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
The Session Is Just Getting Started
If early legislative activity is any indication, Washington residents should brace themselves. Democrats are pushing aggressive policy expansions across taxation, environmental mandates, regulatory authority, and transportation spending — all while facing another looming budget shortfall.
For Olympia Democrats, the answer rarely involves shrinking government or improving efficiency. Instead, the playbook remains consistent: spend more, regulate more, tax more, and hope voters don’t notice until after session adjourns.
Judging by the opening weeks of 2026, that playbook is alive, well, and being executed at full speed.
