Advocacy

Advocacy: WSAC Supports Counties

WSAC serves as a forum to build a statewide county legislative agenda. The fact that WSAC represents all 39 counties is key to building the coalitions needed to pass helpful legislation and likewise prevent harmful legislation. WSAC utilizes various tools to keep members up-to-date on legislative activities throughout the year.

View the WSAC Legislative Bill Tracker:

Resources

2025-26 County Legislative Priorities

In Washington, state government’s strength and the strength of the state’s 39 counties are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. State government’s success requires thriving, flexible, front-line implementation partners in counties. Counties’ success requires an active, resourceful, supportive partner in state government. Below, you’ll find how Washington’s 39 counties and Legislature can work together to make urgent progress on shared priorities in the 2025-26 Legislative Session.

2025-26 All Legislative Priorities

Legislative One-Pagers

Fiscal Sustainability

The Challenge

Counties are the least financially-diversified governments in the state. Property tax, with its limited growth potential, is our main revenue source.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

Public Defense Reform

The Challenge

The state must provide adequate funding to meeting existing and future requirements for trial court public defense. Counties cannot continue to shoulder the vast majority of this burden alone.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

Improving Behavioral Health

The Challenge

We must address systemic gaps and barriers that prevent people from accessing the services they need and make Medicaid work for community behavioral healthcare. Current Medicaid managed care policy defining adequate networks of behavioral healthcare does not recognize the full range and scope of behavioral health capacity needs.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

County Housing Strategies

The Challenge

Many of the homes our state needs to improve housing access and affordability will not be built in cities. In our state, 34% of residents live outside cities. Outside of King County, 44% of residents live outside cities. However, counties have limited tools to address the housing crisis.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

County Transportation System Viability

The Challenge

Counties are responsible for nearly half of our state’s roads and bridges, but the system in place for providing resources to maintain them remains inadequate.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

Support Rural County Coroners

The Challenge

In 2021, the legislature passed HB 1326, requiring counties with less than 40,000 people to have an independent coroner by 2025. This mandate impacts 13 rural counties where cost is a major obstacle.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

Clean Energy Project Benefits

The Challenge

When EFSEC issues a siting approval for a clean energy project and construction or operation begins, they prefer to work with local government service providers for help in inspections, reviews, and other technical requirements. However, local governments may face liability risks from violating their own development codes if the projects EFSEC oversees don’t conform to local land use regulations.

View the Fix: Download One-Pager

Legislative Steering Committee (LSC)

The Legislative Steering Committee (LSC) is composed of one member from each of WSAC’s member counties as well as each of the four County Executives. The LSC has two co-chairs that are appointed biennially by the WSAC President. Co-chairs may not also serve as members of the WSAC Executive Committee.  LSC members have frequent interaction, particularly during the state’s legislative session with legislators, agency staff, and representatives of other organizations.  In addition to setting the policy direction for the association through the Legislative Agenda, LSC members are expected to attend regular meetings during legislative session and to communicate with legislators regarding WSAC’s legislative priorities.

Download WSAC Policy Statement

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